Do you like spicy food? Then you surely like chilli. HoweverMaybe you don’t know that there are different types of peppers, including the cherry bomb. What do you know of him?
With the scientific name Capsicum annuum, we are going to introduce you to this variety of pepper or hot pepper so that, if you have the opportunity, you can find it, differentiate it, cultivate it and, if you dare, try it too. Go for it?
How is the cherry bomb
First of all, and what we are going to start with, is to know more about the cherry bomb. Although we have already told you about its scientific name, in this case there are other more common names by which it is also known: cherry pepper, cherry pepper, sweet cherry pepper or Hungarian cherry.
It is native to Central and South America. Its natural habitat is often both warm and humid, so it can be grown in many parts of the world. For example, in Europe it is usually put in gardens.
Aesthetically you have a plant that is not too tall in height, since it will be close to 50-60 centimeters. The fruit it bears is that of a chili pepper, not too big, but more like a cherry or a cherry tomato. Its flavor is mild, but be aware that it can be very delicate because it has a touch of spiciness that can range from very mild to stronger (depending on the crop, plant, etc.). At first, these peppers are green, and as they ripen, they turn red. In addition, inside you can find many seeds, these are cream colored and round in shape.
How to grow a cherry bomb in the garden
If you have an orchard and a place to plant the cherry bomb, and if you also like spicy things, we are going to leave you a guide so you can do it. Here you will find everything you need to produce a production in 2-3 months. Do you dare to try?
location and temperature
You should know that The bomb cherry pepper plant needs sunlight to grow properly. Now, it’s not always that easy. And it is that, if it is too hot, it is better to put it in a semi-shaded place than in one with direct sun.
And it is that the ideal temperature to have this plant and for it to germinate is between 18 and 32 degrees Celsius. Whereas if you want it to grow, it will have to be between 14 and 25ºC. This will help you a little in choosing the best location for the plant.
Substrate
Be sure to give it soil that maintains moisture, but at the same time has good drainage. If you also add compost, it will stimulate its growth. Thus, we recommend that you make a mixture with all of these before planting them. A little trick that many professionals use is to “warm up” the soil before putting the seeds or seedlings in it.
You will see, you will only need, a week before planting, to place a black plastic on the ground so that it warms up during these days. And why is it done? This way you will speed up the germination and also have a higher probability of it succeeding.
Irrigation
Being the plant that it is, and considering how important it is to keep it moist, we can’t doubt that you need to be aware of when it needs water. It is not practical for the soil to dry out, so we recommend following an irrigation schedule.
Also, if the weather in your area is warm during the day, but cool (and humid) at night, this will be perfect and you’ll have no problem getting it to work.
It means yes, it needs some humidity, at least at night. If you see that you cannot provide it naturally, you will need to opt for a humidor or similar to ensure that the fruits it gives are of the best possible quality.
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As we mentioned in the part on the substrate, compost is the best fertilizer for the cherry bomb because in this way you will give it the energy it needs to grow, develop and fruit, which is the objective that you have set yourself.
In the spring and summer it will grow, so if you planted it, it may not need more fertilizer. But if you find that the plant is going to have a fairly large production, to prevent it from exhausting itself in a short time (and not coming out all the peppers), it would be good to give it at least once a little more of compost. Of course, don’t put it on first thing in the morning, it’s better at the end of the day because that way you make sure that the sun can’t affect it too much and, with it, force the plant.
Plagues and diseases
Cherry bomb is a plant that has problems with pests and diseases. It’s not as hardy as other plants, which means you’ll need to be very aware of that.
In the case of pests, the most important and which have a very negative effect on it are red spider mites, beetles, pepper weevils, aphids, thrips or leaf miners.
On the other hand, diseases that you should be more aware of root rot, mildew, black mold, wilt or pod rot.
fruit picking
About 2-3 months after planting them, and if all went well, you will already have these peppers to pick. In general, they are usually about 6 centimeters long and 3 in diameter. Of course, there can be smaller or larger.
When you notice them starting to turn red, they are starting to ripen.
As you can see Cherry Bomb is not a hard to care for pepper variety and if you like things spicy this might be one of your favorites. If you try, tell us how it went for you?