Pepper - Cascabella

SKU:
CA$3.50
3.5 9 CA$3.50 - CA$9.00
Unavailable
per item
Approximately 120-180 seeds per gram.
Capsicum annuum
Lot# PH31331
The Cascabella pepper is a small, medium hot “Hungarian Hot Wax” pepper type.  It is 1500-4000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).    Plants grow 45-61 cm (18-24") tall and 41cm (16”) wide and have dark emerald green leaves on a sturdy bush habit.  Peppers are a short pendant type that average 2.5-7 cm (1¾-2½”) long by 2-2.5 cm (½-1”) wide.  They have thick flesh and mature from green to yellow to orange and finally red. Often used for pickling and for salads when the peppers are yellow.   .
Planting Instructions:   
  • Start indoors 6-10 weeks before your last spring frost.  Sow 4-5 seeds 6mm (¼”) deep in 10cm (4”) pots and cover lightly with soil medium and keep soil moist but not too wet.  We keep under lights at a temperature of 26.7-29˚C (80-85˚F).  Germination rates can vary drastically from 10 days to 21 days. Thin seedlings to 2-3 per pot.  Once seedlings develop their second set of true leaves, prune the first set of true leaves. Pruning the leaves forces secondary growth and creates a bushier plant. We do this on several leaf sets.  If seedlings become too leggy, place them in a cooler location.  This will slow them down and make their stems thicker.  Transplant seedlings when soil has warmed up to 15.6-18˚C (60-65˚F).  Plant transplants 30-61cm (12-24”) apart in or blocks each way.
  • Note:  Peat pots are not recommended for germinating peppers.  The pH may be too high and peat pots retain a lot of water that may drown the seeds.
  • Soil Conditions:  Well worked, rich, loose, well-drained soil. Ideal pH: 5.5-6.8
  • Planting Depth:   Sow seeds 6mm (¼) deep.
  • Germination:  14-21 days.
  • Height at Maturity:  Plants reach 45-61 cm (18-24") tall. Compact bush habit. Spread can be 41cm (16”) wide.
  • Days to Maturity:    75-90 days.
  • Watering:   Peppers require about 2.5cm (1”) of water per week. Allow water to completely soak the soil 15-20cm (6-8”) deep. This will ensure good growth. The amount of rain that falls during the week will help supplement how much you should water your garden.  Soil should remain moist.
  • Sun/Shade:  Full Sun     
  • Spacing after Thinning:   Plant transplants 30-61cm (12-24”) apart in rows or in blocks each way. 
Additional Information 
Cascabella Peppers are rated at 1500-4000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units).  Harvesting “Hot Peppers” is task that is best completed wearing latex or rubber gloves to prevent any accidents.  Hot peppers contain organic chemicals called capsaicinoids which can burn sensitive skin, your eyes, your mouth, and other sensitive areas. The best antidote for burning skin is to rub it with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.  Use a good pair of scissors to cut the peppers from the bush.  Picking them off usually will result in breaking off branches. To prolong a pepper harvest, cut peppers from the plant regularly.   Peppers are susceptible to rot, blossom end rot, anthracnose, tobacco mosaic virus, bacterial spot, and mildew.  Keep these in check and rotate pepper crops to different areas. Plant disease-resistant varieties. Keep the garden clean and free of weeds where pests and diseases can shelter. Destroy and dispose of infected plants before disease can spread.  Aphids, cutworms, and flea beetles are common pests for most garden plants and there are a variety of techniques and solutions for these, including a mild soap spray and the use of a water stream to remove aphids.  If cutworms are an issue, cut the tops and bottoms off of some plastic water bottles- then cut the remaining plastic tube into 3” pieces and place these 3” plastic circles around the bases off your seedlings, burying them at least 2” into the soil.  Row covers work well to keep flea beetles from your plants if they are well secured to the ground. 

Pepper seeds can be dipped in a dilute hydrogen peroxide mix (1 tsp hydrogen peroxide per cup water) for one minute to disinfect seeds prior to planting- this process helps get rid of any unwanted or potential bacterial or fungi that may be hitch hiking on your seeds. If your soil or seed sprouting setup is susceptible to mold growth this can be useful to kill mold spores.