The beautiful goat horn pepper is very popular in some parts of the world. The plants grow rapidly and they produce lots of goat horn peppers. This goat’s horn pepper (Capsicum annuum) is known for it’s very beautiful look and it’s good taste also. The beautiful and smooth ripe pods have a distinctive sweet taste followed by fast building long-lasting heat.
Goat horn pepper is a medium thick walled cayenne-type pepper with very good flavor and taste. The glossy red fruits (measuring between 4 and 6 inches) are curve and resemble a goat’s horn. That’s why this pepper is known as ‘goat horn pepper’.
The plants are compact, measuring between 2 feet and 3 feet. But they are very productive and can also be grown as an ornamental plant. The goat horn pepper plants are very easy to grow. They are spicy peppers and have a variety of uses. They are mostly popular for cooking various dishes (including Asian cuisine).
Uses
Goat horn pepper is excellent and used both fresh and dried for flavoring a variety of dishes. They are perfect for adding a zesty kick to stir-fry or Asian cuisine.
How to Start Growing Goat Horn Pepper?
Growing goat horn pepper is relatively easy and simple. Here we are trying to describe more information about growing goat horn pepper easily.
Find A Location
First of all, try to find a very good location in your garden or within your property for planting and growing goat horn pepper. High and fertile land with adequate drainage system is considered best for goat horn pepper production.
You can also grow these pepper in containers if you don’t have space. Growing peppers in containers in rooftop is gaining popularity gradually.
Purchase Seeds
After selecting a good area, purchase goat horn pepper seeds from any of your nearest seed supply stores. Today, many suppliers available, who are also selling seeds online through websites or app. So, you can also order the seeds online.
Best Time For Growing Goat Horn Pepper
The goat’s horn pepper can be grown throughout the year.
Soil Preparation
Preparing the soil perfectly is very important for getting good production from the plants. Prepare the soil by ploughing and adding lots of organic fertilizers.
Planting
The seeds should be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost. Then transplant the seedlings 12 to 16 inches apart, when the temperature reaches 21°C.
Caring
The goat’s horn pepper plants are very strong and hardy. They generally require less caring and other management. Although, taking good care of the plants will help the plants to grow well and produce more. Here we are describing the best caring steps for growing goat horn pepper.
Fertilizing: Adding enough organic fertilizer during the land preparation is enough for the production of goat’s horn pepper. Although, providing the plants with water-soluble fertilizer will be very good. Compost tea is a very good option for these plants.
Watering: Adequate watering is a must for good health of your plants. Try to water your plants frequently depending upon soil moisture.
Mulching: Mulching helps to retain moisture into the soil. It also helps to prevent the growth of weeds. Try to use organic materials for using as mulch.
Controlling Weeds: Controlling weeds is also very important. Because, weeds consume nutrients from the soil and your plants suffer. Manual weeding is recommended for goat’s horn plantation.
Pests & Diseases
Anthracnose, southern blight, and verticillium or fusarium wilt are the common diseases of the goat’s horn peppers. Common pests of these plants are aphids, spider mites, spittlebugs, leaf miners etc. And common fungi of the goat’s horn pepper is leaf spots. Consult with your local agriculture extension office or any local expert for controlling all these diseases, fungi and pests.
Harvesting
The fruits become ready for harvesting whey they are ripe. Although, you can harvest the green fruits. It’s actually depend on your uses and demand.
These are the common steps for growing and caring goat horn peppers. Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck and may God bless you!
