{"product_id":"zimbabwe-birds-eye-pepper-seeds-piri-piri","title":"Zimbabwe Bird's Eye Pepper \"Piri Piri\" (Capsicum frutescens) Seeds – Fiery African Bird Chili, Heavy-Bearing Bushes, Perfect for Hot Sauce","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e10+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Fiery African Chili Built for Hot Sauce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePiri piri means \"pepper pepper\" in Swahili, and the name says it all. This small, sharp, fiery chili has been the heart of African hot sauces for generations, grown on heavy-bearing bushes that cover themselves in tiny, upright pods. Zimbabwe Bird's Eye is a classic of the type, a potent little pepper with bright, clean heat and a flavor that blends beautifully with garlic, lemon, and oil. A few plants will keep a hot sauce maker supplied all season long, and the bushes can live for years with a little protection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Zimbabwe Bird's Eye Pepper?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe hot sauce maker wanting a productive, fiery chili for homemade piri piri and hot sauce.\u003cbr\u003eThe chili grower wanting a heavy-bearing, small-fruited African pepper.\u003cbr\u003eThe grill cook wanting a classic chili for peri-peri chicken and marinades.\u003cbr\u003eThe container gardener wanting a bushy chili that thrives in a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This African Bird Chili Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eCapsicum frutescens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Zimbabwe Bird's Eye' is an African bird chili, a very hot, small-fruited pepper that bears heavily on bushy plants. Fruit are small and slender, standing upright on the plant and ripening from green to bright red, and they carry sharp, clean, fiery heat. The name bird's eye comes from the pods' size, and birds readily eat the fruit and spread the seeds, since they don't feel the heat. Unlike many peppers, \u003cem\u003eCapsicum frutescens\u003c\/em\u003e is a woody, short-lived perennial in frost-free climates, so plants can live for several years when protected from cold. The peppers are used fresh, dried, pickled, or blended into hot sauces. Grown as a warm-season annual, perennial in the warmest climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Garden \u0026amp; Kitchen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePiri piri hot sauce:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blend fresh peppers with garlic, lemon, vinegar, and oil for classic African-style sauce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFermented hot sauce:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ferment peppers in brine before blending for deeper, tangier flavor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarinades and grilling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use in marinades for chicken, fish, and grilled meats.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrying and flakes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry ripe peppers and crush into fiery homemade flakes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePickling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pack whole peppers into vinegar for a hot condiment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContainer growing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grow in a large pot and overwinter indoors to keep the plant going.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Zimbabwe Bird's Eye Pepper Seeds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart method:\u003c\/strong\u003e Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before last frost; this pepper needs a long, warm season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow, often 10 to 28 days; keep seed consistently warm and moist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Germinates best between 80 and 90°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTransplanting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Move outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil is consistently warm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart; they grow into full, bushy plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun; heat and sun build pungency and ripen fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich, well-drained soil with good fertility supports the heaviest fruit set.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Consistent, even moisture; avoid letting plants dry out during fruiting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Typically ready for ripe red fruit in roughly 90 to 120 days from transplant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pick when fruit turns bright red, or green for milder, grassier heat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverwintering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Move potted plants indoors before frost to keep them going.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very hot; wear gloves, avoid touching your eyes, and keep away from children and pets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the chili behind African hot sauce, small pods, big heat, and bushes that bear heavily all season long. Zimbabwe Bird's Eye Pepper blends into piri piri sauce, dries into fiery flakes, and keeps producing when you bring the pot indoors for winter. Start it early and warm, give it sun, and handle it with respect. Grow the pepper that puts the fire in the sauce.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54667530010942,"sku":"11693","price":3.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/Untitleddesign-1500.png?v=1792665670","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/zimbabwe-birds-eye-pepper-seeds-piri-piri","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}