Black Pepper Plant

Yes, it’s possible – you can grow your very own black pepper. The climbing vine of the Black Pepper Plant can be grown indoors, or outdoors when temperatures are above 65oF. An attractive plant, it has handsome leaves along the stems, and these are between 2 and 4 inches long, oval, tapering to a point. Grow it on a trellis, or up into an existing tree – it can climb as much as 12 feet tall. Once your plant is well-established it will flower, producing thin flower spikes from the stems, with small greenish-white flowers. Starting around 2 inches long, the spike elongates to 6 inches as the pepper-corns develop. Once the bottom few berries have turned red, harvest the whole spike, and let it dry in the sun – the berries will turn black. If left on the plant too long they will lose their pungent flavor. A mature stem can produce around 20 spikes or more. This is a tropical plant, so it should be grown in a warm place, with plenty of direct sunlight and high humidity. Plants can be put outdoors during warmer weather. It may take a while for your plant to bloom and crop, but once it does, think of the fun of harvesting your own pepper-corns.

• An attractive climbing vine that can be grown as a houseplant
• Flowers in summer, producing 20 or 30 spikes of flowers on a single plant
• Harvest when the first berries turn red, and dry in the sun
• Fertilize and water regularly during summer
• Grow in sunlight and high humidity

The Black Pepper Plant is not frost resistant, so it should be grown indoors during winter. Once night temperatures are over 65oF it can be placed outside. It could probably be grown outdoors in a sheltered spot in zone 10. Grow it in at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, so a sunny, south-facing window is ideal. Plant in regular houseplant soil and water as soon as the top of the soil begins to dry. Water less during winter, but always maintain high humidity around your plant – a kitchen or bathroom is ideal. Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer from spring through summer, every two weeks. Typical houseplant pests are possible, but maintaining high humidity and growing outdoors during hot weather will minimize them.