How to Grow Black Pepper Plant | Growing Peppercorn

Sheri Dorn is a versatile homesteader and culinary artist with a strong focus on organic and heirloom gardening. Holding a Master's degree in Culinary Arts, she combines her love for cooking and gardening in a unique way. Sheri is an active contributor to online gardening communities and enjoys quality outdoor time with her family and pets.
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Learn How to Grow Black Pepper (peppercorn) in your garden! It is one of the most popular and essential spices in the world.

How to Grow Black Pepper Plant
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The black pepper plant is native to South India and extensively cultivated in other tropical regions like Brazil, Myanmar, and Indonesia. It is one of the most commonly grown spices in the world. Keep reading this article to learn How to Grow Black Pepper!

USDA Zones: 10 -11

Difficulty: Hard

Other Names: Blanc Poivre, Extrait de Poivre, Grain de Poivre, Hu Jiao, Kali Mirchi, Kali Mirch, Kosho, Krishna, Marich, Maricha, Pepe, Pepper, Pepper Extract, Pepper Plant, Peppercorn, Pfeffer, Pimenta, Pimienta, Pimienta Negra y Pimienta Blanca, Piper, Piper nigrum, Piperine, Poivre, Poivre Noir, Poivre Noir et Blanc, Poivre Noir et Poivre Blanc, Poivrier, Vellaja, White Pepper.

Wondering where does black pepper come from? Click here


Right Growing Conditions for Black Pepper

Black pepper loves extremely hot and humid climates, where the temperature never falls below 60 F (16 C). So, if you live in a warm area, you can easily cultivate this spice.

It has beautiful heart-shaped leaves (like betel leaf), it grows on support from hanging aerial roots and produces small spike-like white flowers in summer before setting fruits.

Learn about the best pot-growing spices here


How to Grow Black Pepper Plant?

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You can grow it from seeds, but ensure they are fresh as they are viable for a concise period.

  • To propagate it from seeds, fill the container with a quality potting mix that contains a good amount of organic matter.
  • Use your finger to poke holes, each 1/2 inch deep and about 1 to 1.5 inches apart.
  • Drop a seed in each hole, then cover it with soil.
  • Water the seeds often and keep the soil moist.

Note: You can also propagate it from cuttings. 


Requirements for Growing Black Pepper

How to Grow Black Pepper Plant 2
Image Credit: Reluctant Trading

Location

While planting pepper plants, always choose a location that remains humid and gets plenty of bright but indirect sunlight.

If planting in a sunny area, use a shade cloth that filters the sunlight to at least 50%. If growing in a cool climate, provide full sun.

The temperature must be maintained constantly at around 75 to 85 Fahrenheit (24-30 C) for the plant to grow well. However, the pepper plant can tolerate temperatures between 50 F-104 F (10-40 C)

Soil

Black Pepper plants do best in fertile and medium clayey soil that retains slight moisture. Good drainage is always essential when growing black pepper in a pot or ground.

Waterlogged soil can damage the plant. Soil pH level could be anywhere between 5.5 and 7; add lime if the soil is too acidic and sulfur if alkaline.

Watering

Be sure to always give the pepper plant plenty of water to keep the soil slightly moist. Ensure you do not allow the soil to dry out between watering spells.

Check out some clever ways to use spices and herbs in the garden here


Black Pepper Plant Care

Growing black pepper

Humidity

The Peppercorn plant loves humidity; the more, the better. For this, mist the plant often with water. If you’re growing it in pots, place them on a saucer filled with water, this will also increase the humidity level.

Fertilizer

When growing in the ground, apply 10 kilograms of well-rotted manure or compost per year to a mature plant so that the soil remains rich in nutrients. In pots, side-dress the plants with compost.

Fertilize it with balanced 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 slow-release fertilizer, according to the product’s instruction, at the beginning of the growing season. The application of Epsom salt is also beneficial.

Mulching

Do mulching with organic matter to prevent evaporation and weeds.

Pests and diseases

The most common disease that infects it is root rot due to overwatering. In pests, it can be attacked by aphids, slugs, and scale insects. Also, beware of spider mites during indoor cultivation.

Want to grow jalapenos in pots? Click here


Harvesting Black Pepper

How to Grow Black Pepper Plant 3
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You can harvest black, white, or green peppers from a single plant. The color depends on the different degrees of maturation. When the pepper is left on the plant, it becomes red after ripening. At this stage, picking and drying them in the sun for 3-5 days make them black.

You can also remove the outer red covering of the pepper, which will reveal a white center. It can then be grounded into a white powder, i.e., white pepper.

Pepper fruit is harvested before maturity and dried in the hot sun. After drying, it becomes wrinkled and black.

Learn about the growing chili pepper in pots here

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26 COMMENTS

  1. I want to grow black pepper on my field.ours temperature goes to 45 c.can it be possible to grow the same with drip irrigain. I’m from madhya pradesh. My place is Burhanpur.please help.

    • I have land in Ram Nagar Uttrakhand. I want to grow black pepper. Will u please tell me from where i can get the plantation and technical know how.

  2. Dear sir
    Greetings
    I had black pepper plant the plant got damaged from the center of the stem now I have cut it and planted the cutting
    Do you think it will grow
    Please advice
    Regards
    Shivkumar

  3. I m ManMohan from himachal una I want to grow black pepper in my area is it possible for me & please tell me how it possible massage send me in my email

  4. We have about 100 acres that we’re going to do an RV park on and we were hoping to plant those plants to help to tour the mosquitoes and ticks. Our climate is typically between 50 and 90° we are in North Central Florida will that be an acceptable application for this plant and will let Guitar or the checks and the mosquitoes? Email and so I

    • Hi Ms.Anderson, i am Mr.Vibin from Kerala(Officially known as the land of spices) , India. I have extensive knowledge in the cultivation and harvest of bush Pepper Plants. Feel free to contact me on my mail id captainvibinvenugopal@gmail.com
      or my whatsapp +60 13-867 4038
      or my cellphone +91-8921100757 and we will work in tandem to realize your vision making this yet an other multi million dollar venture… Thank you.

  5. …” add lime if the soil is too acidic and sulfur if alkaline.”
    This should be the other way around…
    If too alkaline add lime (which is an acid)
    If too acidic add sulfur (a base) :)

  6. How are you. I am in zimbabwe and i want to grow black pepper. The problem is i have never seen anyone growing it here, and how can i get the seeds for a trial. I would appreciate if you help me getting the seeds

  7. Can I plant black peppercorn I buy in store? I have a small home garden and would like to grow black pepper and any other spices I can grow in South Louisiana, USA

  8. Hi! I live in Sweden but grow food, tropical plants etc of different kinds indoors. But hard to come across things like spices to grow att home. How can I get hold of seeds or cuttings to get started to grow pepper spices here? Awesome if someone can help. Also if anyone interested in trading seeds, cuttings or else that would be fun! Leave a comment or email me at gramofon1@hotmail.com
    Thank you!
    Angie from Sweden
    Peace, love and plants ❤️✌️

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