Black pepper is a seasoning popular and beloved all over the world, present in the kitchen supplies of almost every housewife. How does peppercorn grow?
Useful properties of black pepper
An excellent seasoning for meat, fish and vegetable dishes, in addition to culinary use, has a lot of healing properties useful for the body.
Black pepper peas contain vitamins, essential oils, glycosides, useful for the body, thanks to which the plant is successfully used by traditional medicine for:
- strengthening the nervous system;
- body cleansing;
- normalization of digestion, liver and stomach;
- arousal of appetite;
- memory improvements.
In the era of antiquity, such a culture served as the equivalent when weighing pharmaceutical powders: exactly 460 grams should weigh 1000 peas of such a high-quality culture as black pepper. How does the "king of spices" grow in nature? Is it possible to grow it at home? What care does such an exotic culture require? Where does black pepper grow?
Description of malabar berry
In nature, black pepper, otherwise referred to as the "Malabar berry", is a perennial tree-like vine of the Pepper family with a long flexible stem and airy roots formed in the nodes. Mostly such a plant is found in forests, wraps around trees and is able to reach 15 meters. Its leaves are 80-100 mm long, grayish-green, leathery, alternate, ovoid. Small white flowers seemingly inconspicuous, collected in hanging small ears.
Fruits - spherical drupes placed in a hard shell, characterized by a burning taste. Initially green, over time they become red. It is during this period that the harvest is made. In the process of drying in the sun, the fruits change their color and turn into black pepper familiar to us.
How culture grows and bears fruit at home
The birthplace of pepper creeper is the Malabar coast of India. Also, the culture is successfully cultivated in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Java, Sri Lanka. In territories with the usual subtropical climate, it is able to please the crop twice a year for 20-50 years.
By the way, white pepper is the same black, only peeled from the pericarp mechanically. To obtain it, freshly picked ripened fruits need to be soaked in water for about 7 days. This operation helps to soak and soften the fetal membrane. Then it is separated and the released seeds are dried.
How does black pepper peas grow at home? Planting and caring for spicy crops are not particularly difficult. It is enough to provide the plant with the usual moist growth conditions, and the crop on the windowsill will please twice a year.
Cultivation of black pepper: features
For planting, seed peas purchased in the store are suitable as seed material, from which the most beautiful and largest peas should be selected, soaked in water for 24 hours, and then planted in a prepared container.
The optimal soil composition for the plant is a mixture of sand, humus, leaf and sod land in a ratio of 1: 1: 2: 4. Good drainage should be provided. Landing is preferably carried out in early summer. After about 3-4 weeks, you can watch your own black pepper appear from the ground. How does a young culture grow at home?
Black pepper - a plant that loves moisture and warmth; it is not adapted to frost. Therefore, an important factor in care is to ensure moisture. To do this, it is recommended to place the pot with room culture on a pallet with peat or wet expanded clay, and black pepper itself periodically sprayed with standing water at room temperature. The plant will respond to a lack of moisture with a brown color of the tips of the leaves; with its overabundance, especially dangerous in winter, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and gradually fade.
Choose a location
It is recommended to grow black pepper in a bright place, protected from direct sunlight. In indoor conditions, eastern and western windows are most suitable for this. The lack of light can be judged by the extension of the stems and their exposure.
When grown on the south side, the plant needs to provide shading. During active growth, the preferred air temperature is + 20-25 ° C. In winter, the indicator should not fall below +16 ° C. In winter, it is better to keep the plant on the windowsill, in the summer it should be taken out into the open air. In the first year of life, spicy culture can grow up to 2 meters. Flowering occurs in April-May. With proper care, black pepper will begin to bear fruit in the second year.
Rules for watering and feeding
From spring to autumn, the plant needs to provide abundant watering, which must be done as the top soil layer dries. In winter, the moisture supply must be reduced.
In the spring and summer, it is important to feed black pepper. How does culture grow during regular feeding? Timely provision with mineral fertilizers, carried out no more than 2 times a month, as a result will give a beautiful healthy plant, pleasing with own-grown spice fruits.
A transplant of young pepper is recommended every spring, for adult plants - every 2 years. Reproduction of black pepper is carried out by the method of cuttings, dividing the bush, layering and seeds.
Cooking Application
Universal spice is used in the preparation of meat, fish, sauces, gravy, first courses, marinades, vegetable salads. The greatest aroma is inherent in ground peas of pepper. It is recommended to add seasoning a few minutes before the dish is ready. It should be stored in a sealed package, otherwise the spice will quickly expire and lose valuable properties.