DETAILS
Overview
Hot Portugal chile peppers are elongated, curved to straight pods, averaging 12 to 20 centimeters in length, and have a conical shape that tapers to a point on the non-stem end. The pods may appear very twisted and curved, and the skin is wrinkled or smooth, waxy, and glossy, ripening from green to dark red when mature. Underneath the surface, the flesh is thin, crisp, and aqueous, encasing a central cavity filled with many round and flat, cream-colored seeds. Hot Portugal chile peppers have a subtle, sweet flavor mixed with a moderate to hot level of spice that lingers on the palate.
Sun Exposure
I need at least 4 hours of afternoon sun but can go all day
Growing Season
Dimensions
Height: 24-48”
Width: 16-18”
Spacing: 18-24”
Matures
- 65+75 Days
Maintenance Notes
Plants drop flowers when daytime temps soar above 90º F. Few pests bother peppers, but keep an eye out for aphids, slugs, pill bugs, and leafminers. Humid weather (especially in gardens with heavy soil that doesn’t drain well) can invite fungal diseases like leafspot.
Check image on plant tag (or at the top of this page) to learn what your pepper looks like when mature. Some peppers turn red, yellow, or other colors at maturity. Others are ready in the green stage, but will turn red if left on plants. Use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut peppers with a short stub of stem attached. Pulling peppers by hand can cause entire branches to break off. Fruits store longer for fresh use if you don’t remove the stem, which can create an open wound that’s ripe for spoiling.