Growing

Growing Datil Peppers: A Delightful St. Augustine Cuisine

The Datil pepper is a part of St. Augustine cuisine in the United States since the 1700s, yet it is still a foreign topic outside of its local region. This pepper is highly unique to its climate, rarely being found outside of the St. Augustine area. It’s spicy, piquant, and with the right amount of care can be grown in the comfort of your own home.

Datil peppers have a unique growing season, typically starting their growth at the beginning of May and going through to October. During this time, peppers can mature in as little as a month, though they may take up to three months depending on the environment. Some sweeteners may even take three months to mature while others may only take one month or more. After October, some growers may cut back their plants and hope for a new yield the coming year, though not as plentiful as when the peppers first began.

For those keen on trying their hand at growing Datil peppers, the best method is often to use buckets and bark mulch, ensuring that the plants are watered twice to three times per day. As the peppers mature, they can turn a green, yellow or golden yellow-orange shade, and reach lengths of two to three inches when fully grown.

So, if you want to take part in this wonderful St. Augustine cuisine tradition, why not give growing Datil peppers a go? It’s satisfying, fun to do, and will give your meals an extra kick of spice!