Capsicum annuum - Gorria Pepper - Seeds

Description

• Solanaceae Solanales
• Mexico
• H 80cm x W 40cm
•  Z8 
• Annual, Ephemeral perennial
• Synonyms: Espelette pepper, Ezpeletako Biperra
• 1 Packet of 20 Seeds
  Gorria variety

-

Detail

Capsicum annuum var. Gorria is a mild chili pepper imported from Mexico to the Basque Country in the 16^th century

It is still cultivated there under the name "Piment d'Espelette"

Traditionally, it was used as a substitute for Pepper

The Gorria pepper grows as a small branched bush with abundant dark green foliage

It is cultivated as an annual plant, but it can be overwintered in a cold greenhouse protected from frost, and last for several years

Flowers bloom from June until weather cools in the fall - they are solitary white flowers typical of nightshades

They are followed by large green fruits 15-20cm long and 5 wide, drooping, becoming bright red when ripe

The strength of the Gorria pepper is modest

On the Simplified Scoville Scale (0 neutral to 10 explosive), it measures only 4 (hot)

By comparison, Sweet Pepper measures 0, the Black Pepper 6 (fiery), and the Tabasco Pepper 9 (volcanic)

The Moderate Strength of the Gorria Pepper makes it a pepper of choice for the palate of Westerners, unaccustomed to spicy cuisine, and allows to benefit from the aromas of the pepper without the torments of its burning

The fruit of Capsicum annuum has medicinal properties: Antidiarrheal, Antiemetic, Antihemorrhoidal, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Aperitif, Digestive, Sialagogue, Rubefacient

-

Cultivation

Sow in March or April, in a heated nursery, in pots, in seeding compost, 2 or 3 seeds per pot, buried 0.5-1cm

Keep the soil moist, warm and expose to the sun

Germination takes a fortnight or a little more

Remove the weaker seedlings when they have 2 true leaves, to keep only one plant per pot

Grow in the nursery to strengthen the plant

After the last frosts, plant in the ground, in rows 30cm apart, 30cm apart in the row

Choose an open site in full sun, well-worked draining soil amended with compost manure

Weed regularly, and water during periods of drought

Harvest as fruits ripen

Use Gorria Peppers fresh or after drying and grinding

Disease-free, pest-free

Fruit can rot on the plant in the late season when it rains a lot

-

Good to Know

Take some thread and a needle, and stick the stems of your peppers onto the thread and hang this decorative garland

This is the traditional way to dry Espelette pepper in the Basque Country

Once your peppers are dry, remove the stems and grind with a blender without worrying about the seeds

Store this powder in an airtight jar for later culinary use