Edibles – Vegetables – Tabasco Hot Pepper

Tabasco Hot Pepper 

Botanical name: capsicum frutescens 

Beginner friendly?:  moderate 

Average size at maturity: about 2 ft in height with an 18 inch spread 

Hardy zone: zones 8-11 

Growth rate: reaches fully mature size in first growing season, grown as an annual vegetable 

Foliage color: green 

Flower color: white

Bloom time:  summer blooms, summer – fall harvest 

Pruning instructions: prune as needed from the spring – fall months 

Propagation methods: propagate by seed sowing 

Landscape use: vegetable garden, pollinator garden, herb garden

Special features: attracts pollinators, heat tolerant 

Light needs: 6 hours of sun per day 

Watering instructions: allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering sessions 

Fertilizing instructions : feed with compost before planting, use an organic fertilizer every 3 months throughout the growing season 

Best time to plant: spring, summer 

Best type of soil: sand, loam 

Companion plants: onions, basil, marigold, zinnias 

Toxicity level: toxic for pets if ingested and toxic for humans if ingested in large amounts in a short period of time 

Invasive species: no