Shishito Pepper

Latin name: Capsicum annuum

Days to Sprout: 10-28 

😋 Ready for Full Dose of plant food with true leaves or roots .5-inch long

Thin to: 1 plant per yCube

Days to Maturity: 75-100

💡 Light Zone: High

Plant Size: 2 ft

Care Level: Advanced

Shishito peppers are native to Japan and get their name from the Japanese shishi for “lion” and togarashi for “chile pepper”. Some say the lion reference relates to the shape of the pepper’s tip, while others say it speaks to the variety’s ability to surprise your taste buds at random with spice!

Shishito peppers are loved for their thin walls, wrinkly shape, and mild flavor…with the exception of about 1 in 10-20 peppers, which can end up quite spicy! Typically harvested while green, you may also let the pipers ripen to red, when they are more likely to grow spicy. The compounds that give chile peppers their heat are called capsaicinoids, and higher concentrations make the plant more pungent. The heat is ranked on the Scoville Scale which measures each pepper in Scoville heat units (SHU). Bell peppers are rated as 0 SHU while the world's hottest pepper, the Carolina Reaper, is rated at 2,200,000 SHU. Shishito peppers typically range only up to 200 SHU, but can spike to 1,000 SHU on individual peppers!

Shishito peppers’ thin walls mean they cook faster than other peppers, so they’re best when exposed to heat quickly like in a tempura, sautee, or on the grill. Cook them whole without removing the seeds as they’re softer than bell pepper seeds. Pair with sesame oil/seeds, yoghurt, and fresh herbs.

💡Temperature: Prefers warmer temperatures (70-85°F).

🐝 Pollination: Peppers require pollination. Flowers develop 4-6 weeks after sprouting. Remove the first set of flower buds that grow to encourage root and foliage development by pinching from behind the buds. When the next flowers appear, hand-pollinate them by gently shaking the entire plant, or gently disturb the inside of blossoms with your finger or a small brush.

⭕ Support: We suggest using our Plant Belt to support the plant and its heavy fruit as it matures.

✂️ Pruning: These peppers require pruning. Snip away yellow or brown leaves if they appear, and trim branches to ensure the plant stays within the Gardyn’s light. Check the roots monthly and trim any that are brown or extending past the yPod. 

🔎 Plant Health: Gardyn peppers are prolific producers, even if they show signs of edema, a harmless disorder. Aphids are a common pest, but you can use our prevention tricks to keep pests at bay!

🌶️ Harvest: Harvest when peppers are 3.5-4 inches long. Harvest earlier when peppers are green for a mild flavor or later, when peppers turn red, for an increased chance of heat. Harvest by cutting at peppers' individual stems.

Our Plant Health & Nutrition Team thoroughly tests each variety we offer to bring you the most flavorful and high-quality plants. We regularly rotate our plant portfolio, so please note, availability varies.