Pimento and pimiento are two common names for a strain of Capsicum annuum, or sweet peppers, commonly grown across Spain and Portugal. The small, heart-shaped fruit bear a resemblance to bell peppers, to which they are closely related, but the flesh possesses a stronger flavor and they are seldom eaten raw. Like all species of peppers, pimentos grow effortlessly from seed and will bear harvestable fruit in 80 days. The plants are susceptible to sunburn and must be lightly shaded once they set fruit to keep the plants vigorous and healthy.
Instructions
1. Start pimento seeds six to eight weeks before the last frost in spring to ensure the plants are well-established when planted in the garden.
2. Fill 4-inch peat pots with sterile potting soil. Arrange the peat pots in a 1-inch-deep tray. Pour 1/8 cup of water into each pot.
3. Sow two pimento seeds 1/4 inch deep in each peat pot. Firm the soil over the seeds.
4. Set the tray near a large window where the pimento seeds will receive six to eight hours of direct sun each day.
5. Apply bottom heat to the peat pots using a propagation mat set to 75 degrees F. Lower the heat to 65 degrees F at night.
6. Spray each peat pot with a plant mister whenever the soil dries out just below the surface. Maintain a moderate level of moisture in the soil during germination.
7. Watch for sprouting in seven to 10 days. Remove the less vigorous of the two pimento seedlings from each pot.
8. Prepare a bed outdoors for the pimento seedlings once temperatures top 70 degrees F during the day and all danger of frost has passed.
9. Work the soil of a sunny, draining bed using a rotary tiller or hand-held cultivator. Amend the bed to a depth of 6 inches with an equal measure of compost if the soil is clay-based.
10. Plant the peat pots 25 to 30 inches apart once the pimento plants grow to at least 6 inches in height.
11. Hang 30-percent shade cloth above the pimento plants as soon as daytime temperatures reach 78 degrees F. Suspend the cloth 24 to 48 inches above the plants.
12. Water the pimento plants regularly to maintain moderate in the soil at a depth of 2 inches. Apply a 1-inch-thick layer of mulch around the base of each plant to decrease the amount of water needed.
13. Feed the pimento plants as soon as they set fruit. Apply a 12-12-12 ratio fertilizer to the soil around the base of the plants. Follow the label directions for the best results.
14. Harvest the pimentos approximately 80 days after seeding. Gather them as soon as they turn solid red and take on a shiny, lustrous skin texture.
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