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James Burghardt
Solanaceae
CAPSICUM annuum 'Czechoslovakian Black'( Longum Group)
Czechoslovakian Black Pepper, Hot Pepper
Tasty and ornamental, the moderately spicy fruits of this Czechoslovakian heirloom pepper are black-purple aging to glossy red. The tall, upright plants have purple-tinged leaves and stems.
First cultivated and selected by Native Americans thousands of years ago, peppers are bushy, brittle-stemmed annual vegetables with thin oval leaves and small five-petaled flowers. The lavender-purple blooms of 'Czechoslovakian Black' are followed by pendent, conical, 2.5-inch (6-cm) fruits with thick, pungently flavored flesh. The bright red flesh contrasts with the black skin of the immature fruits. The hollow, chambered interior of each fruit is divided by spongy ribbing that holds many small, flattened, rounded seeds, which are hotter than its flesh.
Full sun, warmth, ample spacing, and fertile well-drained soil are required for peppers to grow and produce well. Harvest of this early-ripening pepper begins about 60 days after seedlings are planted. The fruits are excellent for slicing fresh into salads, salsas, and sauces. The are also good for drying or pickling. Harvest continues until hard frost, or into winter in frost-free conditions. Vascular wilts and fungal diseases can be a problem in subpar conditions.
Pinch off early flower buds to encourage stronger branching and roots. Heavily fruiting plants may break apart under the weight if not staked for support. Harvest ripe fruit daily to encourage new blossoms to form. Care must be taken with plants grown by nurseries for ornamental purposes; they may have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals not suitable for edible plants.
Hot peppers get their heat from the compound capsaicin – the higher its concentration, the hotter the pepper. Capsaicin concentration is measured and expressed in Scoville units. The Scoville rating of 'Czechoslovakian Black' is about 3000 units, equivalent to a mild jalapeno pepper. For more information about the Scoville Scale see http://www.chilliworld.com/FactFile/Scoville_Scale.asp
12 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
30"-36" / 76.2cm - 91.4cm
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
Spring, Summer, Fall, Indeterminate
Mexico, Central America, South America
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam
Fast
Average Water
Upright/Erect
Spring, Summer, Fall
Insignificant
Purple, Lavender, Violet
Purple, Dark Red, Orange Red, Black
Green, Purple, Dark Green
Green, Purple, Dark Green, Black
No
Single
Yes
Medium
Glossy
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
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