So why are we so excited about growing Shishito peppers this year?
Well, our love for these amazing peppers all started in Austin, Texas this past year.
One week later, we fell in love with them even more. And that was in the tiny town of Cave Creek, Arizona.
And that was that – we were hooked!
I can say with total confidence that not only will we be growing Shishito Peppers in our garden this year, but every single year from here on out!
Growing Shishito Peppers
So why all the fuss? Well, once you taste them, you will know EXACTLY why!
They quite simply make the most unique, healthy, tasty, and amazingly easy-to-prepare little pepper snack you could ever ask for.
With a bit of a surprise inside one or two as well.
We will get to the surprise part in a minute. But first, let’s talk about making those tasty appetizers.
The recipe is as simple as the dish is delicious:
(1) Start with a handful of fresh Shishito peppers.
(2) Next, coat the peppers with a drizzle of olive oil.
(3) Heat up the grill or a skillet on medium high, and let the magic begin.
(4) Let the Shishito peppers heat up until the skins blister and char a bit.
(5) To finish, remove from the heat, and sprinkle on a touch of sea salt or kosher salt. That is all there is to it!
Except to sit back and enjoy the most incredibly delicious and healthy snack you will ever put in your mouth.
The slightly sweet and yet mild green flavors are greatly enhanced by blistering and charring the skins.
You will find yourself eating one after another. And wanting even more!
Growing Shishito Peppers – The Pepper With A Surprise.
Shishito peppers are 2 to 4 inch, slightly wrinkled, thin-walled peppers.
The peppers are green, although if allowed to ripen longer, they will turn red.
Their flavor can best be described as a perfect mix of sweet and mild. But wait, now comes the surprise.
Or what we like to call the fun part.
Every single plant, for some reason, grows just a few of their little sweet and mild peppers to be hot.
Which ones? Well, you simply can’t tell and won’t know.
Until, of course, you are the lucky one to bite into it.
For the record, they are not blistering hot – but certainly hot enough to get a bit of unexpected zing!
The Ultimate Appetizer Pepper
It was news to us that these peppers have become a bit of a new appetizer fad out west. But we now know why!
We loved them so much, that every single night, we would look for them wherever we went.
We even found them in the Austin Airport on our last day. And you know we must love them if we were willing to pay airport food prices to have one more taste!
We knew then that they would be part of our 2019 Garden Plan.
Growing Shishito Peppers – The Basics
Almost all peppers have the same requirements for successful growth. And that includes Shishito peppers as well.
Seeds should be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before setting in the garden. Shishito seeds, like many hot pepper seeds, can take a bit longer to germinate. Seed Link : Shishito Pepper Seeds
In fact, some can take up to as many as 3 to 4 weeks to finally sprout.
Because of this, it’s always better to start hot pepper seeds a bit earlier than other vegetable seeds. See : Starting Seeds Indoors
Growing Shishito Peppers – Maintaining Plants
Start by planting in a sunny area with well-drained, fertile soil.
When planting, amend the soil with compost or worm castings. This gives the peppers plenty of nutrients as they grow. Product Link : Worm Castings
Finish by mulching each plant with a few inches of straw or compost. This helps keep the roots moist, and the plants protected from temperature swings.
Water is a big key for peppers. Make sure plants receive at least 1/4 gallon to 3/4 of a gallon of water per week. Either via rain, or by watering.
Whether planting in a container or in a garden setting, be sure to provide adequate support.
Plants can easily reach two feet in height. And with a full load of peppers, they can topple over in high winds or during a strong storm.
Last but not least, once the peppers begin to ripen, keep picking!
The more you pick, the more pepper blooms will appear. A plant that becomes overloaded with peppers will stop production of blooms.
So get those seeds ordered and get ready to start growing Shishito Peppers in your garden! And get ready for pure flavor heaven.
Here is to getting the hot one! Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary.
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with comments, questions, or to simply say hello! You can sign up for our free email list in the subscribe now box in the middle of this article. Follow us on Facebook here : OWG Facebook. This article may contain affiliate links.
