Grow Cubanelle for their sweet, mild yet rich flavour. Grow for their funky twisted & wrinkled shapes – each is unique. Grow for their wonderful colours – light green to yellows then on to orange-reds. Grow because they are delicious at every stage – they can be 10-15cm long. Grow to enjoy them in salads, casseroles, on pizza, in salsa, roasted, stuffed and, above all, fried - which brings all that flavour alive. No wonder as they are also known as Italian Frying Pepper – try a touch of olive oil and salt.
Sow: start by sowing indoors or under glass mid-Feb/June using seed compost and just cover (3-5mm). You can use gentle heat whilst germinating18-20°C. You can spray the surface with a dilute copper-based fungicide to keep the surface moist but don’t overdo this.
Grow: pot on as needed (adding slow-release fertiliser) so they do not become pot-bound & water the soil but don’t let them be waterlogged. Harden off to plant out in June/July in full sun. Fit 3 plants in a grow bag, plant in containers or in a greenhouse. Pick when green, for a hint of warmth let them change to orange-red.
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