Pimento
What is Pimento?
Pimento is a classic heart-shaped sweet pepper with intense sweetness and soft flesh. A real favourite for roasted peppers, pickling and charcuterie.
Background and name
Pimento is the Spanish word for pepper and is often used for the peppers found in stuffed olives or in pimentón spices. This variety is grown mainly for its aroma and meatiness.
Appearance and growth habit
The plant is 60–80 cm tall, with rounded, heart-shaped fruits that grow 8–10 cm long. They ripen from green to an intense red.
Flavour and uses of Pimento
Very sweet, mild and soft in texture. Ideal for roasting, peeling and using in sandwiches, sauces and tapenades.
Serving ideas for Pimento
Roast in the oven and peel, blend into a pepper paste or use in a minced meat filling. It also works well pickled in vinegar or oil.
How to grow Pimento
Pimento is a Capsicum annuum and is sown between February and April. It gives the best results in a greenhouse, but also copes in warm spots outdoors. Give it plenty of water and support for the fruit-bearing branches.
Price is for 6 sweet pepper seeds
Sow in moist seed compost and keep warm, at about 25–30°C for best germination. The compost should be moist but not wet. A propagator helps to keep the air humid. Once the seedlings have grown a little and developed their second pair of leaves, you can lower the temperature to about 20°C and move them out of the propagator. They do well on a sunny windowsill, or in a greenhouse and outdoors in summer. For best results, soak the seeds in Growhelper for 12–24 hours before sowing.
