Black pepper: as it grows in nature and at home

Black pepper is a popular and beloved all over the world seasoning, present in the kitchen stores of almost every hostess. How grows black pepper peas?

Useful properties of black pepper

Excellent seasoning for meat, fish and vegetable dishes in addition to culinary use has a mass of beneficial for the body healing properties. Peas of black pepper contain in their composition vitamins useful for the body, essential oils, glycosides, thanks to which the plant is successfully used by folk medicine for:

• Strengthening the nervous system;
• Purification of the body;
• Normalization of digestion, liver and stomach work;
• Stimulation of appetite;
• Improve memory.

In the era of antiquity, this culture served as the equivalent for weighing apothecary powders: exactly 460 grams should weigh 1,000 peas of such a high-quality crop as black pepper. How does the "king of spices" grow in nature? Is it possible to grow it at home? What care does this exotic culture require? Where does black pepper grow?

Description of Malabar Berries

In nature, black pepper, otherwise known as "malabar berry", is a perennial tree-like liana of the Pepper family with a long flexible stalk and airy roots formed at the nodes. Predominantly, such a plant is found in forest tracts, it encircles trees and is capable of reaching 15 meters. The leaves are 80-100 mm long, greyish-green, leathery, regular, ovoid in shape. The small white flowers are externally unattractive, collected in drooping small ears. Fruits - placed in a hard shell spherical drupes, characterized by a burning taste. At first green, in time they get red. It is during this period that the harvest is collected. In the process of drying in the sun, the fruits change their color and turn into the usual black pepper.

How the culture grows and fructifies at home

The homeland of the pepper vine is the Malabar Coast of India. Also, the culture is successfully cultivated in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, the island of Java, Sri Lanka. In areas with a habitual subtropical climate, it can rejoice the crop twice a year for 20-50 years.

By the way, white pepper is the same black, only purified from the pericarp mechanically. To make it freshly picked ripened fruits should be soaked in water for about 7 days. This operation helps to soak and soften the fetal envelope. Then, it is separated and dried free seeds.

How does black pepper grow at home? Planting and caring for a spicy culture is not particularly difficult. It is enough to provide the plant with the usual moist growing conditions, and the harvest on the windowsill will be happy twice a year.

Growing black pepper: features

For planting as seed, the pepper purchased from the store will be suitable for peas, from which it is necessary to choose the most beautiful and large peas, soak in water for 24 hours, and then put in a prepared container.

The optimal soil composition for the plant is a mixture of sand, humus, leaf and turf ground in a ratio of 1: 1: 2: 4. Be sure to ensure good drainage. It is desirable to plant the landing in early summer. Approximately in 3-4 weeks it will be possible to observe, how black pepper appears from the ground. How does the young culture grow at home? Black pepper is a plant that loves moisture and warmth; To frost it is not adapted. Therefore, maintenance of moisture is an important factor of care. To do this, the pot with a room culture is recommended to be placed on a pallet with peat or wet claydite, and periodically sprinkle black pepper with standing water at room temperature. At a lack of moisture, the plant will react with the brown color of the tips of the leaves; With its overabundance, especially dangerous in the winter, the leaves will turn yellow and gradually fade.

Choose the location

Grow black pepper recommended in a bright place, protected from direct sunlight. In the room conditions, east and west windows are most suitable for this. The lack of light can be judged by stretching the stems and exposing them.

When grown on the southern side of the plant, it is required to provide shading. During active growth, the preferred air temperature is + 20-25 ^o C. In winter, the indicator should not fall below +16 ^o C. In winter, it is better to keep the plant on the windowsill, in the summer - take it 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 for the second year.

Rules for watering and dressing

From spring to autumn, the plant needs to provide abundant watering, which must be done as the upper soil layer dries up. In winter, the supply of moisture is required to be reduced.

In the spring-summer period it is important to feed black pepper. How does culture grow during regular supplementary feeding? Timely provision of mineral fertilizers, conducted no more than 2 times a month, as a result will give a beautiful healthy plant that pleases with its own grown spice fruits. It is recommended to transplant the young pepper every spring, for adult plants - every 2 years. Reproduction of black pepper is made by the method of propagation, division of the bush, layers and seeds.

Application in Cooking

Universal spice is used in the preparation of meat, fish, sauces, gravy, first courses, marinades, vegetable salads. The greatest flavor is inherent in ground peppercorns. Add seasoning is recommended a few minutes before the meal is ready. Store it should be in a sealed package, otherwise the spice will quickly exhale and lose valuable properties.