Growing White Peppercorns at Home: Useful Properties of a Plant

Peppercorns are a familiar seasoning for our dishes. Sometimes not a single fish, meat and vegetable dish can do without it. And the most familiar to us is black pepper, a seasoning of black or dark brown wrinkled peas, up to 4 mm in diameter. It is crushed in different mills, and a unique bright spice is obtained. It turns out that black peppercorns are the unripe fruit. And white peppercorns is the same pepper, just ripe, and gets from this color after fermentation and drying.

White peppercorns: description and features of the plant

How white peppercorns grow: photo

It is difficult to imagine black pepper in the form of a tree-like liana that grows up to 15 meters. But this is exactly the case! In places of cultivation on an industrial scale, using special poles, restrictions are made for plant growth (up to 5 m).

Black pepper / Piper nigrum / gives small flowers, collected in elongated and falling inflorescences, similar to spikelets. Here peas ripen - the future spice! The leaves of the plant are oval, green, often with a grayish bloom.

The homeland of pepper is the tropical part of our Earth - this is Southeast Asia, the countries - Sri Lanka, India, Sumatra and Borneo. The main global supplier of Piper nigrum is Sumatra.

On the collection and processing of white peppercorns

White peppercorns: photo

As stated above, white pepper is a ripe pepper. It is in a mature state that it is harvested. Strange as it may seem, his red color speaks of his maturity! In fact, it is not the fruits themselves that become red, but their amniotic membranes.

To get rid of the shells, drupe peas are placed in sea or lime water and kept there until the shell peels off. Also, sometimes, instead of water, they spread the crop in the sun for a week and a half.

After the sun shines, the pepper is saturated with enzymes and acquires a unique aroma. Peas without a shell are thoroughly dried. The result is smooth, round gray or off-white peas.

How to grow white peppercorns at home

How white peppercorns grow: photo

It is possible to grow white peppercorns at home. It is not at all difficult if you create the optimal and familiar conditions for it.

Seeds for planting are suitable only for black peppercorns, white - does not sprout. Black peppercorns are not thermally processed (only natural drying is present). Therefore, they are distinguished by good germination.

Before planting, black peas are placed in water for a day. Meanwhile, a soil mixture is prepared from a heavy sod substrate, humus and sand. Next, peas-seeds are planted in containers with soil mixture.

White pepper seeds germinate at a temperature of 25-30 ° C and abundant watering. As soon as the first leaves appear, the plants are fed in the form of an aqueous solution of bird droppings (1:10). After 1-1.5 weeks, dive into separate pots. In June, they are transplanted into open ground.

It should be remembered that large peppercorns must be selected for sowing. The transplanted sprouts are placed away from direct sunlight. But at the same time, the place should be very bright.On summer days, it is better for the plant to be outdoors, in a place where there are no drafts.

As the root system grows, large pots are allocated to the plants. The pepper will bloom only in the 2nd year in May and will certainly bear fruit. On average, in our strip, peppers can reach 2 meters, so a support should be used for the vine.

In winter, it is better to keep white pepper on a lighted windowsill away from heating appliances (at + 18 ° C). In the summer months, the temperature regime should be 23-25 ​​° C. If your pepper lives on the south side, then shade is necessary so that the hot sun rays do not burn the plant.

The east or west window is the best place for the peas.

About watering, feeding, transplanting and reproduction of peppercorns

How white peppercorns grow: photo

This culture loves moist soil, so drying out of the soil is contraindicated for it. The plant rests during the winter months. It is almost never watered, but the humidity should be kept high.

To maintain air humidity, containers with plants can be placed in trays with damp pebbles. Spraying is carried out mainly in the summer months, rarely in the winter.

White pepper is fed using conventional mineral fertilizers applied to decorative deciduous houseplants. 1 time / 2 weeks during the period of active growth.

A young plant is transplanted every year, an adult - 1 time / 2 years. For transplanting, use a fresh soil mixture (the composition is indicated above) and a large container, at the bottom of which drainage is placed.

Interestingly, peppers will like plastic pots better, as the soil stays wet longer in them.

About the reproduction of white peppercorns

Reproduction of white pepper is carried out:

• cuttings,
• layering,
• dividing the bush.

1) In the first case, a stalk (or several) is prepared, on which there are 2-3 buds. Place the soil mixture, where one part with leafy soil and two parts with sand. Covering with polyethylene is carried out to create a greenhouse effect.

The temperature regime should be kept within 24 ° C. In 21 days, the root system will begin to develop. After that, the plants should be transplanted into separate containers with a diameter of at least 9 cm.

2) Layers are shoots that, pressing against the soil (can be purposefully fixed), take root and give growth to the root system. Especially if you water them well and create good lighting conditions. Next, a dive is carried out and transplanted into a separate pot container.

3) This method only works for an adult plant.

On the problems of growing peppercorns

How white peppercorns grow: photo

Exposing and stretching the stems - the plant does not have enough fertilizers and light.

With the brown color of the rims of the leaf plate, the plant does not have enough moisture (watering and air humidity).

Yellowing and wilting of leaves - too much moisture (for winter) or not enough fertilizer (for summer).

Burning out and faded leaves - the danger of direct sun exposure.

It should be remembered that the small white eggs on the back of the leaf blades do not carry any signs of disease or any problems.

About the beneficial and harmful properties of white peppercorns

A wonderful spice is obtained from white peppercorns. Compared to black pepper, it has less pungency and a more subtle taste and aroma. In addition, it goes well with fish and vegetables, great in lean meat.

One of the tricks of experienced chefs is to add it to ready-made dishes for a sophisticated taste.

In its native countries, white peppercorns are often referred to not just as a spice, but as a medicine. Locals use it as a warming ointment. And also as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, expectorant (together with honey).

White peppercorns accelerates metabolism and burning of calories, increases appetite, tidies up the nervous system (fights irritation and stress). Increases immunity and performance, thins blood and dissolves blood clots.

Frees the body from toxins, removes parasites. In addition, white pepper contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals.

Contraindications to the use of white peppercorns are gastritis, ulcers, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, anemia and allergies.

Grow white pepper at home, and you will enjoy not only the process and taste, but also the health benefits.

White pepper: photo

White peppercorns: photo