
How many peppers does a Tabasco pepper plant produce?
On average, a Tabasco pepper plant produces about 30 peppers per plant. Fruit is continually produced for 4 to 16 weeks after flowering. You can encourage the pepper plant to produce more fruit by picking a few peppers while they’re still immature. Peppers may be harvested around 80 days post-germination.
How do you harvest tabasco peppers?
Harvest. Tabasco pepper plants will produce fruit continuously once they begin flowering. The peppers can be harvested as they ripen or removed a little early and allowed to ripen indoors. The more peppers you pick, the more the plant will produce; leaving the peppers on the plant to ripen will decrease production.
When do Tabasco pepper plants flower?
The plants begin flowering when they are three months old; depending on planting time, this is usually August or September. Each tabasco pepper plant develops both male and female flowers, so there is no worry about having plants of each sex. Insects pollinate the greenish-white to yellowish-white flowers.
Can tabasco peppers be grown indoors?
Tabasco peppers are relatively easy to grow in most climates. It’s even possible to enjoy fresh tabasco peppers year-round by growing a tabasco pepper plant in a pot indoors. In this article, you’ll find out how to grow tabasco peppers from seeds and in containers.

How fast do Tabasco peppers grow?
approximately 80 daysTabasco peppers start out green and ripen to orange and then red. It takes approximately 80 days after germination for them to fully mature. The tabasco plant can grow to 1.5 m (60 in) tall, with a cream or light yellow flower that will develop into upward-oriented fruits later in the growing season.
Are Tabasco peppers easy to grow?
Like many other plants in your garden, these peppers prefer full sun (at least six hours) and moist soil (water every other day). Easy to grow, Tabasco peppers are great for small gardens and patio pots. They are hot.
How do you know when Tabasco peppers are ready to pick?
Tabasco Pepper - When to Pick: You can pick Tabasco peppers when the the slender 1-1/2” pods are green, but they develop more flavor and heat if you let them fully ripen on the vine to their signature red color. So if you love flavor, make sure to grow some Tabasco pepper plants in your garden.
How long can a Tabasco pepper plant live?
between 3-8 yearsTabasco Peppers, Malaguetas, Thai Hot and many of the peppers grown in India. These peppers can live between 3-8 years. These plants typically produce the most peppers in their first year.
How often should you water tabasco peppers?
1. Keep the soil moist. Tabasco pepper plants do best in consistently moist soil, so water these plants every other day. During dry spells, water every day if the sun zaps moisture from the soil.
How big does a tabasco pepper get?
Harvest the Tabasco Peppers The peppers grow to one-half inch wide by 2 inches long. They start off as a light green color before turning yellow, then orange, and then finally red as they mature.
Can you eat raw tabasco peppers?
It's not meant to be eaten raw as it requires further heat to kill the bacteria. But, to further retain its crispness, you can half-cook the peppers in oil prior to freezing. Meanwhile, Tabasco hot sauce has a 5-years shelf-life.
Will tabasco peppers ripen off the vine?
Realistically, peppers do continue to ripen on their own after you've picked them, so even if you keep them in a small bin at room temperature, they should ripen up for you in about a week or two, though be sure to check on them periodically to make sure none of them goes bad.
How do you prune tabasco?
To top pepper plants, prune off all of the growing points about 3 to 4 weeks prior to the arrival of the first expected frost. This forces all of the remaining peppers to mature and develop to their full color. Use a pair of pruners to trim off the topmost 3 to 6 inches of every branch and side shoot.
How many times will a pepper plant produce?
A bell pepper plant can produce 6 to 8 fruits in a growing season. Hot pepper plants produce smaller fruit in larger numbers (I have seen dozens of hot peppers on a single plant). With excellent care (enough space between plants, good nutrition, proper watering, etc.), a pepper plant will produce even more fruit.
How many peppers do you get per plant?
On average, the bell pepper yield per plant is five to 10 peppers; however, some varieties will produce a few more or less. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says that eight to 10 plants are enough for a family of four.
Are green Tabasco peppers hot?
How Hot is the Tabasco Pepper? Tabasco peppers range in heat from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. Compare that to an average jalapeno pepper, which averages in at 5,000 SHU and you'll find the tabasco is 6-10 times hotter.
Will tabasco peppers ripen off the vine?
Realistically, peppers do continue to ripen on their own after you've picked them, so even if you keep them in a small bin at room temperature, they should ripen up for you in about a week or two, though be sure to check on them periodically to make sure none of them goes bad.
Where does tabasco peppers grow?
It is produced by McIlhenny Company of Avery Island in south Louisiana, having been created over 150 years ago by Edmund McIlhenny. Although tabasco peppers were initially grown only on Avery Island, they are now primarily cultivated in Central America, South America and Africa.
Can you eat tabasco peppers?
Enjoying Tabasco Peppers. Tabasco peppers are traditionally turned into salsas and hot sauces. They are also popular pickled in vinegar or turned into jellies. Still, you can toss them onto your favorite meals.
Are tabasco plants perennial?
Tabasco Pepper is a multi-branched erect annual or perennial plant that grows in the form of a shrub. It measures 4-6 feet tall and 1.5 to 2 feet wide. The flowers are white to greenish-white and bloom between August and September. The fruits grow erect and turn bright red when they mature.
What is Tabasco Hawaiian?
Tabasco Hawaiian: The Hawaiian variety of tabasco pepper is exactly what its name suggests—a cross between the Hawaiian hot pepper and the tabasco pepper.
What is tabasco pepper?
The standard tabasco pepper, known officially as capsicum frutescens, is the only variety of tabasco pepper that is commonly grown in North America. However, there are a few rare varieties of tabasco that are grown around the world. You may want to add a few of these to your pepper garden as well just so that you can compare and contrast ...
What is a short yellow tabasco pepper?
Tabasco Short Yellow: The short yellow tabasco pepper grows on a very small pepper plant. This variety grows only one foot high and wide, producing blunt-tipped, inch-long, yellow or orange fruit. Aside from the small green flowers that the plant blossoms into during the spring, this variety can easily be mistaken for the orange pekoe plant.
How many heat units does Tabasco pepper have?
The tabasco pepper hits the Scoville heat scale at 30,000 to 50,000 heat units. It’s mega spicy compared to the popular jalapeno , which clocks in at 2,500 to 10,000 heat units, much weaker than the tiny tabasco pepper.
How to transplant tabasco peppers?
Place the transplant into the soil, and position it about as deep into the ground as it was in the pot. Refill and position, gently packing in new soil around the plant. Water your transplanted tabasco pepper plant deeply to help settle the soil, and be ready to add in a bit more filler after the soil settles to fill in the area.
When was Tabasco sauce invented?
In 1868, a man named Edmund McIlhenny set out to change the trend toward blandness and created a recipe to spice things up that would quickly rise in popularity. Tabasco sauce is now the most popular pepper sauce in the world and is sold in more than 195 different countries and territories.
Where does Tabasco pepper come from?
Native to the Mexican state of Tabasco, the Tabasco pepper is a household name due to the famous hot sauce made in Avery Island, Louisiana. The compact, easy-to-grow pepper plant produces many clusters of tiny pepper pods nearly all year round, from late summer to early fall. The pepper pods start out yellow, green, or a pale yellow-green, ...
How long does it take for peppers to dry?
If neither a food dehydrator or oven is available, peppers can be dried naturally in the sun or even in a well-lit window. This process may take several days, even with hot dry conditions. Peppers can be placed on a flat surface in a sunny location. Turn periodically to ensure that they dry out evenly.
How to dry out peppers in the oven?
Otherwise, place your fresh peppers onto a cookie sheet and 'baking' at the lowest setting (approximately 150F or lower)with the oven for several hours to gradually dry out the peppers.
How hot should the soil be for pepper plants?
Wait until soil temperatures exceed 50 degrees F at all times before placing into the ground. Pepper plants should be fairly close to one another, so that there is slight contact between plants. MAINTAINING. Peppers need a steady supply of water for best performance.
How tall does a Tabasco pepper grow?
The tabasco plant can grow to nearly 60" tall, showing the cream or light yellow flower that will develop into upward-oriented fruits later in the growing season. Tabasco peppers are of a medium-hot heat level, with a Scoville rating between 30,000-50,000 units. Peppers can first be harvested at about 80 days after transplanting.
How long does it take for a tabasco pepper to mature?
Overview. Tabascos mature from green to yellow, and can first be harvested about 55 days after transplanting. Native to the Mexican state of Tabasco, the peppers are commonly used to infuse vinegar and are also the central seasoning in the hot sauce of the same name. The tabasco plant can grow to nearly 60" tall, ...
When do peppers turn green?
Peppers will turn green when starting to approach maturity. They can be harvested at this point, or allowed to ripen on the plant. If collected early, plants will continue to flower and fruit more frequently, though this early collection might result in differences in flavor if using fresh.
Can you store peppers in airtight containers?
Once peppers are slightly brittle and tough, they can be stored in airtight containers and saved for future use. Cut your favorite variety of pepper in half. All of the seeds inside are most likely viable and you can use them to grow the same variety of pepper in containers or in a sunny garden spot.
What is a Tabasco Pepper?
Tabasco peppers, or Capsicum frutescens, are native to the Mexican state of Tabasco. However, they’re perhaps best known for the famous hot sauce with the same name made in Avery Island, Louisiana.
How big do tabasco peppers grow?
Since they’re relatively compact plants, only growing to a size of 24-36 inches tall and 16-20 inches wide, tabasco peppers are perfect for container gardening. To allow enough space for the root system, grow tabasco pepper plants in a three- to five-gallon pot with drain holes at the bottom. Use a potting soil mix that is well-draining ...
What is the best pesticide for rabbits?
If you have a problem with rodents in your yard, tabasco peppers as rabbit deterrent work well. Basil repels thrips, flies, and mosquitoes. Flowering parsley attracts predatory wasps that prey on aphids. Chives, onions, and garlic deter aphids, rodents, and deer.
How long does it take for tabasco peppers to germinate?
Start tabasco pepper seeds indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost in your area. Germination takes about six to twelve days for different types of chili peppers.
How much sunlight does Tabasco pepper need?
They require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day to produce fruit.
How to preserve tabasco peppers?
To preserve the juicy quality and smoky flavor of tabasco peppers or the unique flavor or other kinds of peppers, freeze them or keep them in oil.
How long do banana peppers stay fresh?
To take advantage of the best flavor and quality, use the peppers when freshly picked. They stay fresh for several days when stored on the kitchen counter or in the refrigerator. When do banana peppers go bad? What about tabasco peppers?
What is Tabasco pepper?
Tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) is a perennial vegetable in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11. The edible fruit is used in sauces, as spicy flavoring or eaten whole. These little peppers are packed with nutrition, containing high amounts of capsaicin and vitamins A and C.
How to remove tabasco peppers from plant?
It is best to use scissors or pruning shears to remove the peppers, cutting the stem just above the pepper. Sterilize your cutting tools by dipping the blades in Lysol and rubbing alcohol. Protect your skin and eyes with gloves and safety goggles and wash thoroughly after handling or cutting up the peppers. While not one of the peppers with the most capsaicin, tabasco peppers rank at 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), according to the University of Florida, more than enough to burn any tender tissues, including your eyes and mouth.
How long does it take for tabasco peppers to sprout?
Seeds can be started indoors four weeks before the last frost. Seed germination is high, and they will begin sprouting 13 to 34 days after planting. Plant seedlings outdoors after the last frost of the season, once the ground has warmed up.
What type of soil do tabasco peppers like?
Acidic or alkaline soils are not a problem, as tabasco peppers tolerate pH levels as low as 4.3 to as high as 9.7. They prefer moist, well-draining soil. Mulch helps retain moisture and prevents weed growth.
What is the difference between balanced and vegetable fertilizer?
Use a fertilizer for vegetables rather than a balanced fertilizer. Vegetable fertilizers promote flower growth, while balanced fertilizers promote leafy growth . A balanced fertilizer will not make the plant taller, but the extra leafy growth may sacrifice pepper production.
When do tabasco peppers start flowering?
The plants begin flowering when they are three months old; depending on planting time, this is usually August or September. Each tabasco pepper plant develops both male and female flowers, so there is no worry about having plants of each sex. Insects pollinate the greenish-white to yellowish-white flowers.
How much sunlight does a 5 gallon pot need?
To reach these sizes, however, the plant needs at least six hours a day of direct sunlight. Drue Tibbits is a writer based in Central Florida, where she attended Florida Southern College.
Is Tabasco a Pepper That Home Gardeners Can Grow
This iconic hot pepper is native to the state of Tabasco in the coastal region of southeast Mexico. In this frost-free environment, it’s not uncommon for a Tabasco pepper plant to reach heights of nearly 6 feet (1.6 m.) tall.
How to Grow Tabasco Pepper Plants
Tabasco chili pepper seeds are readily available online. Most retailers offer the standard heirloom variety, but several cultivars have also been developed:
What are Tabasco Peppers?
Some peppers are more common than others. The bell pepper is most popular with its sweet, mild taste, while the habanero pepper and ghost pepper (Bhut jolokia) are famous for their super-hot flavor.
How long to cook Tabasco peppers in food processor?
Turn down the heat and simmer it for 15 minutes before pouring the mixture into a food processor. Blend the peppers until smooth, strain out the seeds, and then pour the hot sauce into a bottle or jar. Tabasco peppers are the perfect spiciness if you enjoy your food and pepper sauce with a lot of kick. Not only do they pack the heat, but these ...
How many heat units does a habanero pepper have?
The habanero has 350,000 heat units and the jalapeno averages 5,000 on the Scoville scale. While not the hottest pepper in the world, Tabasco peppers range from 30,000 to 50,000 on the Scoville scale and are more comparable to the cayenne pepper. These pepper plants grow quite bushy and reach a height of five feet.
What peppers grow well in a garden?
Jalapeno, serrano, and bell peppers are common in many home gardens, but Tabasco pepper plants are just as easy to grow. All these plants require is the right amount of sunshine and care, and they reward you with a bounty of green, orange, and bright red fruits at the end of the season. How long does it take for Tabasco pepper plants to grow, ...
How tall do Tabasco peppers grow?
These pepper plants grow quite bushy and reach a height of five feet. Their fruit size ranges from one to two inches long, and the color determines when to harvest Tabasco peppers.
How long to cook Tabasco sauce?
Homemade Tabasco Sauce. Combine the peppers, salt, and vinegar in a medium pot and bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer it for 15 minutes before pouring the mixture into a food processor. Blend the peppers until smooth, strain out the seeds, and then pour the hot sauce into a bottle or jar.
How to grow peppers from seed?
Carefully take the seedling out of the original container, set it in the dirt, and cover the bottom with soil. Give the plant good watering and cover the ground with mulch or organic matter. Begin harvesting the peppers after they produce fruit.
