How to Grow Hot Pepper 'Aji Amarillo'
Capsicum baccatum 'Aji Amarillo'
Capsicum baccatum 'Aji Amarillo' is a vibrant warm-season pepper prized for its fruity flavor and bright yellow fruit. Gardeners grow this heirloom variety to add colorful heat and distinct taste profiles to salads, sauces, and salsas throughout the summer growing season.
📷 Wikipedia: Capsicum baccatumStarting Hot Pepper 'Aji Amarillo': indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Hot Pepper 'Aji Amarillo' is not usually started indoors.
Do not sow directly in the garden before the last frost; wait until soil is warm and all danger of freezing has passed to move seedlings outdoors.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before starting seeds indoors six weeks before your last expected frost. Sow seeds one-quarter inch deep in seed trays, as they take fourteen to twenty-eight days to germinate. Keep the medium consistently moist during this period until strong seedlings emerge.
Space plants twenty-four to thirty inches apart to ensure good air circulation. Provide full sun exposure and water consistently, aiming for one to two inches per week, especially while fruiting. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and feed the soil occasionally with balanced fertilizer.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and pepper weevils; use insecticidal soap or neem oil if infestations occur. Prevent bacterial spot, anthracnose, and powdery mildew by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest the fruit ninety to one hundred days after transplanting when they turn a vibrant yellow.
When to Plant Hot Pepper 'Aji Amarillo'
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | October – September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | September – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | August – October |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 11 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 12 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 13 | January | — | May – July |
Companion Plants for Hot Pepper 'Aji Amarillo'
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially enhancing pepper flavor
Loosens soil around pepper roots and doesn't compete for nutrients or space
Repels aphids and may improve pepper growth and flavor through root interactions
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural pest-repelling compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away from peppers
Repels cucumber beetles and provides ground cover while deterring various pests
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Similar growing requirements and can share support structures, mutual pest confusion
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone, a toxic compound that stunts pepper growth and can kill plants
Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and may stunt pepper development
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
