Specialty Hot Peppers
Other Common Names Include:
Hot pepper, chili pepper – often named for various types and species (e.g. habanero, Szechuan, pablano, cayenne)
Latin Name: Capsicum annuum, Capsicum chinense
Plant Family: Solanaceae
Close Relatives: Bell peppers, eggplant, tomato, potato, tomatillo, goji
Uses and Markets: Culinary (e.g. salsa, chutney, and marinades). Specialty peppers are frequently consumed in equatorial countries around the world. Uses are specific to different regions and, in some cases, varieties.
Production Life Cycle in Ontario
Annual
Hardiness Zone
N/A
Special Notes
Agronomic requirements of specialty peppers are similar to those of bell peppers. For general agronomic requirements for peppers consult the OMAFRA Vegetable Guides.
Propagation method
Transplants from seeds.
Greenhouse Seeding/Propagation Dates
5-9 weeks before transplanting.
Field Seeding Date:
N/A
Field Transplanting Dates
Late spring, after risk of frost.
In-row spacing
45 cm
Between row spacing
100 cm
Optimal Soil temperature at planting
>15°C
Fertility
The Ontario recommendation for nitrogen is 35kg/ha pre-plant and 35kg/ha side-dressed after first fruit set. Broadcast and incorporate the recommended preplant nitrogen, along with the required phosphate and potash, prior to planting. Side-dress the remainder of the nitrogen after first fruit set. For fertigation scheduling consult the most recent version of OMAFRA’s vegetable production guide. Click here for phosphorus and potassium application guidelines and for more information on specialty crop fertility.
Soil type
Well-drained soil; all soil types.
Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Special requirements for growth habit
Peppers respond well to plastic mulch, row covers and drip irrigation.
Optimal Temperature Range
21 - 35°C
Temperature sensitivity
Frost sensitive
Irrigation requirements
Irrigation beneficial under normal Ontario conditions.
Days to harvest
60-75 days after transplanting, depending on variety.
Specialized equipment
None
Harvest
Harvest Scheduling
Multiple harvests from the same planting.
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Hand harvest
Quality parameters/grades
No established grades. Quality is determined by the market.
Additional Harvest Notes
Different markets prefer different size/maturity. Market research is essential prior to growing specialty peppers.
Post harvest
Special handling/curing:
After harvest, wash fresh market peppers in chlorinated water (100-150 ppm chlorine), to eliminate fruit rotting organisms.
Storage Conditions
Relative humidity (RH): 90-95%
Temperature: 7-13°C
Air Exchange: N/A
Duration: 14-21 days
Specific pests observed on this crop in Ontario (observations based on limited experience with this crop)
Insects and Invertebrates: Cutworms, tarnished plant bug, wireworms, aphids, European corn borer, pepper maggot, mites, stink bugs
Diseases: Damping-off, root rots, foliar blights (e.g. Alternaria, Botrytis, Anthracnose), powdery mildew, bacterial spot, bacterial soft rot, bacterial wilt, verticillium wilt, viruses (e.g. Cucumber mosaic, tomato spotted wilt), white mould (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), nematodes, phytophthora blight, Pseudomonas
Other:
Other Potential Pests: The following pests have not been observed on this crop in Ontario. However, they are either significant concerns for closely related plants in Ontario, or are reported on this crop in other production areas. This is not a comprehensive list of all potential pests. Not all of these pests will necessarily survive Ontario’s climate, but could potentially survive in a protected environment (e.g. greenhouse, storage facility).
Insects and Invertebrates: Brown marmorated stink bug
Diseases:
Other:
*Indicates pests commonly mentioned as causing significant damage or economic loss to this crop in other regions.
Comments
To date the following pests have been the most significant in Ontario: bacterial and fungal blights, European corn borer, pepper maggot. This plant is closely related to traditional varieties of pepper, and all pests of traditional peppers in Ontario are potential pests of specialty hot peppers, although their level of susceptibility may differ. For a comprehensive guide to pests and disorders of peppers in Ontario refer to Ontario CropIPM. It is important to note that not all pest control products registered on conventional bell peppers are registered on specialty peppers. This crop is in Crop Group 8-09: Fruiting Vegetables Group, subgroup 8-09B: Pepper/Eggplant Subgroup and subgroup 8-09C: Nonbell Pepper/Eggplant Subgroup. For more information on Crop Groups, refer to the Pest section. Always refer to product labels, and follow all directions specified on the label, before applying any pest control product. For more information, consult an OMAFRA specialist. For pest control products registered on this crop refer to OMAFRA Publication 838 Vegetable Crop Protection Guide.
None
- Bilal, A. and M. Brownbridge. 2010-2012 World crops project. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, unpublished.
- Elford, E., Filotas, M., Todd, J., and S. Westerveld. 2009. Non-traditional crops demonstration garden. OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Howard, R.J., Garland, J.A., and W.L. Seaman (eds.). 1994. Diseases and pests of vegetable crops in Canada: an illustrated compendium. Canadian Phytopathological Society and the Entomological Society of Canada.
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 2010. Vegetable production recommendations. Publication 363, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto.
- O’Sullivan, J., Grohs, R., and R. Riddle. 2004-2007 Vegetable Production Research Reports: Beets, Pickling Cucumbers and Peppers. University of Guelph, Dept. of Plant Agriculture, Simcoe, unpublished.
