Black Pepper Plant for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on June 1, 2022

Planting instructions

Black pepper plants are climbing vines, so you’ll need to provide support for this plant in the form of a trellis or some other type of garden structure. This plant also needs to live where the weather is consistently warm. Nearly everyone living in the United States will need to grow this plant indoors for most or all of the year to keep it alive. Your black pepper plant will also need soil that can hold some moisture and plenty of daily sunlight.

Watering and nutrients

A black pepper plant enjoys consistent soil moisture, which means you should water your plant about once per week or once every other week during the growing season. A sure sign that your black pepper plant needs water is that the first layer of soil in which it grows has become dry. Fertilize this plant about once per month during the spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer mix. You can reduce both water and fertilization during the late fall and winter.

Pollination

Black pepper plants are self-pollinating; they hold both male and female reproductive parts on a single plant. This plant can rely on insects to move pollen from one flower to another. However, these plants also show an astounding ability to pollinate without the aid of insects, wind, or human intervention. In many cases, the pollen from one flower simply falls into another lower flower on the same plant. But while pollination can occur through these means, many gardeners choose to hand-pollinate their black pepper plants, especially when they grow indoors.

Pruning

One convenient aspect of the black pepper plant is that it will survive with minimal pruning or no pruning at all. But pruning can be beneficial in some cases. Mainly, you’ll want to use pruning cuts to remove diseased and damaged parts of the plant. You may also want to prune to control the size of your black pepper plant as this species can climb beyond its intended growing area. Regardless of your goal, make sure you always use a sterile pruning tool to keep your plant as healthy as can be.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Two of the most common diseases that a black pepper plant may experience are root rot and charcoal rot. Both of these problems will manifest themselves with visible symptoms, including discoloration and deformities to the leaves and stems. Anthracnose can also cause complications for black pepper plants, including yellow spots and cracking fruit. Pests like pepper lace bugs and mealybugs may also attack a black pepper plant. However, you can often get rid of these issues with an insecticide.

Harvesting

Black pepper plants produce clusters of small fruits that you can harvest multiple times per year. These fruits are green to begin with but will ripen to become bright red. Harvest when the fruits are fully red, then allow them to dry in the sun. Once the fruits have turned black and become relatively hard, they will be ready for you to use. Typically, you’ll want to grind these fruits before you add them to your food.

Achieving maximum results

Many gardeners who grow the black pepper plant underestimate how much warmth this plant needs. The black pepper plant will not survive in areas colder than zone 12, which is why you’ll likely need to grow it indoors. The indoor growing location you choose should remain above 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Those who grow this plant should also be ready for ongoing harvests. The black pepper plant can flower and fruit continuously, which makes for many peppercorns for you to pick and eat.

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