Pepper, Shishito

Wrinkles are IN!  Embrace all the wrinkles.  This trendy Japanese pepper is popular in restaurants, at farmers markets annnnndddd in home gardens! 

Shishitos are easy to grow, early to mature, and yield a heavy crop of wrinkly fruits.  Plants grow 24-30" tall and have thin-walled, 3-4" fruits that are known and loved for their slender, wrinkled appearance.  Almost always harvested and used green, but eventually matures red with a sweeter flavor.  The fruits have a bulbous end that some believe looks like the head of a lion (Shishi is the Japanese word for lion).  Rarr.   

Favorite way to enjoy shishitos:  blistered in a cast iron skillet with some oil, sprinkled with flaky salt and a squeeze of lemon. 
Flavor-wise, their smoky flavor is enhanced when grilled or roasted. Heat-wise, they're about 150x MILDER than a jalapeno.  No tears here.  Just joy + wrinkles.  

Pepper plants thrive in full sun and well-draining, fertile soil.  Mulching at the base of the plant suppresses weeds, retains soil moisture (especially when it's hot!) and prevents erosion.  

Show your plants some love so they can do the same for you!

Fertilize:
transplanting: apply a slow release, organic all purpose fertilizer (fave: Concentrates All Purpose Fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi aka 5-5-3)
encouraging flowers & fruit: apply an organic phosphorus booster, like Tidal Grow SeaPhos (NPK: 0-6-1.2)
Great for containers! 

• Days to Harvest: 75 (green), 90 (red)
• Companion Plants: Basil, Cilantro, Onions, Tomatoes
• Heirloom, Open Pollinated (OP)
• Plant Spacing: 12 - 18" 

Photo Credit: Jess Page, Kristen Kadow