I have had this black pepper vine growing for two years now. Keeping it in a pot to offer winter protection. Beautiful plant but I am impatiently waiting for it to bloom. Any suggestions from past experiences?
Black Pepper Vine Piper Nigrum Waiting for Blooms?
Mine looks exactly the same way...never seen a bloom though!!
They are beautiful aren't they. I got mine from a man in the Houston area. His bloomed and seeded in a flower bed. Mine puts out tendrils and I wonder if it would root from them. I would like to make a crop just once.... Oh well. pod
i have not grown them, i hope this links will help both of u to learn about the plant ... http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/pepper.html , http://www.krishiworld.com/html/condi_spices2.html
good luck! ma vie
Thank you Ma Vie, those are very nice links, I will bookmark them. pod
I got mine at the Antique Rose Garden last year. I have 2 pictures of it in my journal.
Thanks for the links ma vie!
Kauai What a nice journal you have. I am still learning my way around and get sidetracked. I may have to work on one this winter. I see your black pepper vine is in a pot. You protect it in winter? Greenhouse? I will have to tour your journal... Thanks pod
Do you see what I see????
Looka here. Just yesterday I discovered.... Funny how the little things excite us!
Woo Hoo!!!!!!!
Guess we better wait on lighting the grill?
Well, I can answer at least one of my questions. Yes, the runners will root. Mine is loaded with blooms and I am holding my breath...
"Southern Herb Growing" states "we have grown pepper for years and have seen many blooms, but they have never produced fruit, probably because we lack a particular insect for pollination." Any one in the south had any luck?
Mine is doing good too!!!
Really! Yours is dark colored. I will have to look closely tommorrow. I am jealous! Good for you. Should I light the grill yet?
Most of them are white, but that one just turned dark!!
I know a little bit about Piper species and I'm sorry to say I'm not sure what you have there is Piper nigrum. The fruit and flowers look like Piper retrofractum or possibly Piper longum.
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=10692
The flower spikes of Piper nigrum are longer and thinner
http://toptropicals.com/pics/garden/m1/Aroma/Piper_nigrum066.jpg
Also the leaves look paler green with more horizontal venation, where as Piper nigrum leaves have marked verticle venation.
http://www.botanypictures.com/plantimages/piper%20nigrum%2006%20jmpg.JPG
Actually the other possibility is Piper betel, which is commonly grown in SE Asia for its leaves which are used as a vegetable. I'm leaning towards that option actually. Have a look;
http://www.gaudiyadiscussions.com/~malati/kasvit/tambula2.jpg
Regards,
jamus
Hi Jamus ~ Thank you for all your research, I have to admit after touring your links that I believe you are correct. Piper betel looks like the one I am growing. I am disappointed. You say the leaves are the vegetable? Do you know how they are prepared?
Hi podster, I'm really not sure. I suppose they are just steamed or blanched before serving? I couldn't tell you for certain.
I have grown betel pepper and black pepper, I lost both plants last winter when I didn't have a warm place to keep them. I won't try to grow those plants again until I have a glasshouse, (who know when that will be).
The only Piper I can successfully grow and survives our winter without a hicough is Piper auritum (quite a hardy plant as long as temperatures don't drop below freezing).
If you want to try growing black pepper I'm sure there are mail order nurseries which can supply it in your country. Here in Australia there are several who sell Piper nigrum.
Morning, I appreciate the info. I like to grow the unusual plants and think I am never too old to learn. I agree on the greenhouse, but I say 'some day'. I just have a small shelter that I try to keep plants warm and protected. If we have a tough winter, it won't be good. I am surprised in your zone that you lost some plants last year.
I read your exchanges with envy and then shared your disappointment. I tried to germinate some peppercorns (no not from the grocery, I bought them on-line from a seed vendor) but had no germination. Here in the relatively frigid north I would grow it as a houseplant along with my passion fruit vine. With all you've learned, is there any reason not to try? I don't expect to become an exporter of pepper but it would make a neat exercise to go along with my saffron crocus experiment (which failed last fall but should yield a bountiful harvest this year - however I will settle for a single bloom).
Hi escubed ~ It is a bit of a disappointment but a beautiful plant. I also had bought some seeds from an ebay seller located in Maine, I believe. When they didn't sprout, I emailed and asked how long the germination time was. Amazingly I was told 3 weeks to a year. She might have been correct but boy did I feel skunked! Wondered if they came from a peppercorn tin... If you are interested, I will be glad to look at the runners that are trying to root and see if I can pot one up for you. I will be glad to if you care to pay postage? If so, dmail me...