Description
| Seeds | 20 seeds $3.75 |
|---|
Nardello Sweet Italian (Sweet Pepper)
Heritage: Southern Italy, Ruoti (Basilicata region)
In the late 1800’s Guiseppe Nardello arrived in New York with his wife and eleven children. He also brought with him, a handful of their favourite pepper seeds. Guiseppe acclimated this wonderful pepper into a cooler climate, and the rest is history. Eventually seeds were donated to the Seeds Savers Exchange USA in the late 1970’s by son Jimmy Nardello.
Delicate-looking plants grow to 2’ (60cm) in height and have a tendency to spread. The fruit is long and tapered growing up to 10” (25cm) long. Maturing from green to bright lipstick-red, the thin-fleshed walls are sweet, but with a hint of smoke. A good frying, and sandwich pepper that also is well-suited for drying. A lovely family heirloom with a heart-warming story. Matures in 70-80 days. (130 seeds/g)
Tips for Growing Perfect Peppers! Peppers require a long, warm/hot growing season. To get a head start in cooler climates, seed should be started indoors, 6-8 weeks before transplanting. Sow seeds 1/4” (0.5 cm) deep in sterile pots. Pepper seedlings are not all that hardy, or vigorous so watch for signs of too much water, or disease. As the weather warms, harden-off by setting plants outside for a few hours each day. Transplant outdoors 12-18” (30-45cm) apart only when variable spring weather has stabilized and the temperature has warmed. Provide adequate water and fertilizer and for best results pick the first peppers as soon as they reach edible size. This will help encourage growth and productivity. The most suitable companion plants for Peppers are; carrots, basil, and okra. Depending on the variety, peppers usually germinate within 10-21days (75-95ºF/24-35ºC). Note: Don’t be disappointed. Peppers are a touchy cultivator with lower germination rates than other vegetables.
