The black pepper plant is native to South India and extensively cultivated in other tropical regions like Brazil, Myanmar, and Indonesia. It is one of the most commonly grown spices in the world. Keep reading this article to learn How to Grow Black Pepper!

USDA Zones: 10 -11

Difficulty: Hard

Other Names: Blanc Poivre, Extrait de Poivre, Grain de Poivre, Hu Jiao, Kali Mirchi, Kali Mirch, Kosho, Krishna, Marich, Maricha, Pepe, Pepper, Pepper Extract, Pepper Plant, Peppercorn, Pfeffer, Pimenta, Pimienta, Pimienta Negra y Pimienta Blanca, Piper, Piper nigrum, Piperine, Poivre, Poivre Noir, Poivre Noir et Blanc, Poivre Noir et Poivre Blanc, Poivrier, Vellaja, White Pepper.

Wondering where does black pepper come from? Click here

Right Growing Conditions for Black Pepper

Black pepper loves extremely hot and humid climates, where the temperature never falls below 60 F (16 C). So, if you live in a warm area, you can easily cultivate this spice.

It has beautiful heart-shaped leaves (like betel leaf), it grows on support from hanging aerial roots and produces small spike-like white flowers in summer before setting fruits.

Learn about the best pot-growing spices here

How to Grow Black Pepper Plant?

You can grow it from seeds, but ensure they are fresh as they are viable for a concise period.

  • To propagate it from seeds, fill the container with a quality potting mix that contains a good amount of organic matter.
  • Use your finger to poke holes, each 1/2 inch deep and about 1 to 1.5 inches apart.
  • Drop a seed in each hole, then cover it with soil.
  • Water the seeds often and keep the soil moist.

Note: You can also propagate it from cuttings. 

Requirements for Growing Black Pepper

Location

While planting pepper plants, always choose a location that remains humid and gets plenty of bright but indirect sunlight.

If planting in a sunny area, use a shade cloth that filters the sunlight to at least 50%. If growing in a cool climate, provide full sun.

The temperature must be maintained constantly at around 75 to 85 Fahrenheit (24-30 C) for the plant to grow well. However, the pepper plant can tolerate temperatures between 50 F-104 F (10-40 C)

Soil

Black Pepper plants do best in fertile and medium clayey soil that retains slight moisture. Good drainage is always essential when growing black pepper in a pot or ground.

Waterlogged soil can damage the plant. Soil pH level could be anywhere between 5.5 and 7; add lime if the soil is too acidic and sulfur if alkaline.

Watering

Be sure to always give the pepper plant plenty of water to keep the soil slightly moist. Ensure you do not allow the soil to dry out between watering spells.

Check out some clever ways to use spices and herbs in the garden here

Black Pepper Plant Care

Humidity

The Peppercorn plant loves humidity; the more, the better. For this, mist the plant often with water. If you’re growing it in pots, place them on a saucer filled with water, this will also increase the humidity level.

Fertilizer

When growing in the ground, apply 10 kilograms of well-rotted manure or compost per year to a mature plant so that the soil remains rich in nutrients. In pots, side-dress the plants with compost.

Fertilize it with balanced 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 slow-release fertilizer, according to the product’s instruction, at the beginning of the growing season. The application of Epsom salt is also beneficial.

Mulching

Do mulching with organic matter to prevent evaporation and weeds.

Pests and diseases

The most common disease that infects it is root rot due to overwatering. In pests, it can be attacked by aphids, slugs, and scale insects. Also, beware of spider mites during indoor cultivation.

Want to grow jalapenos in pots? Click here

Harvesting Black Pepper

You can harvest black, white, or green peppers from a single plant. The color depends on the different degrees of maturation. When the pepper is left on the plant, it becomes red after ripening. At this stage, picking and drying them in the sun for 3-5 days make them black.

You can also remove the outer red covering of the pepper, which will reveal a white center. It can then be grounded into a white powder, i.e., white pepper.

Pepper fruit is harvested before maturity and dried in the hot sun. After drying, it becomes wrinkled and black.

To learn in detail about harvesting and processing, read this guide.

Learn about the growing chili pepper in pots here

  • Rajendra Thakur

  • May 18, 2016 At 2:28 am

  • I want to grow black pepper on my field.ours temperature goes to 45 c.can it be possible to grow the same with drip irrigain. I’m from madhya pradesh. My place is Burhanpur.please help.

  • Reply

  • mohan chandra

  • July 2, 2018 At 9:17 am

  • I have land in Ram Nagar Uttrakhand. I want to grow black pepper. Will u please tell me from where i can get the plantation and technical know how.

  • Reply

  • Shivkumar

  • June 6, 2016 At 9:54 pm

  • Dear sir

  • Greetings

  • I had black pepper plant the plant got damaged from the center of the stem now I have cut it and planted the cutting

  • Do you think it will grow

  • Please advice

  • Regards

  • Shivkumar

  • Reply

  • ManMohan Singh

  • December 22, 2016 At 2:19 pm

  • I m ManMohan from himachal una I want to grow black pepper in my area is it possible for me & please tell me how it possible massage send me in my email

  • Reply

  • ffds

  • November 18, 2018 At 5:30 pm

  • most expensive? must be a shitty article if they can’t get that right!!!!!!!

  • Reply

  • Ahaifarms

  • December 5, 2018 At 9:40 pm

  • I am in Nigeria and want to grow black pepper farm. How can I get the planting materials.

  • Can it do well here on Nigeria?

  • Reply

  • Barbara Anderson

  • April 29, 2019 At 7:37 pm

  • We have about 100 acres that we’re going to do an RV park on and we were hoping to plant those plants to help to tour the mosquitoes and ticks. Our climate is typically between 50 and 90° we are in North Central Florida will that be an acceptable application for this plant and will let Guitar or the checks and the mosquitoes? Email and so I

  • Reply

  • Vibin

  • November 17, 2019 At 9:25 pm

  • Hi Ms.Anderson, i am Mr.Vibin from Kerala(Officially known as the land of spices) , India. I have extensive knowledge in the cultivation and harvest of bush Pepper Plants. Feel free to contact me on my mail id captainvibinvenugopa[email protected]

  • or my whatsapp +60 13-867 4038

  • or my cellphone +91-8921100757 and we will work in tandem to realize your vision making this yet an other multi million dollar venture… Thank you.

  • Reply

  • emmanuel constantine

  • May 25, 2019 At 3:17 am

  • how can i get market im in tanzania i have a lot of tone

  • Reply

  • Sol

  • December 25, 2019 At 2:44 pm

  • Okk nice we can talk

  • Reply

  • Onyekachi

  • October 16, 2021 At 11:44 am

  • I need your contact

  • Reply

  • Benjamin Willis

  • October 11, 2019 At 12:35 am

  • …” add lime if the soil is too acidic and sulfur if alkaline.”

  • This should be the other way around…

  • If too alkaline add lime (which is an acid)

  • If too acidic add sulfur (a base) :)

  • Reply

  • Katock

  • January 5, 2020 At 12:01 pm

  • You are incorrect on so many levels.

  • Reply

  • Nathan

  • November 30, 2020 At 9:28 am

  • You are mistaken, lime is a base and sulfur is an acid

  • If too alkaline add sulfur (an acid)

  • If too acidic add lime (a base)

  • The article had it right

  • Reply

  • Vishakha Poddar

  • October 11, 2020 At 10:57 pm

  • How do i know whether the soil is acidic or alkaline or its ph level

  • Reply

  • Gamuchirai Takawira

  • November 4, 2020 At 3:18 am

  • How are you. I am in zimbabwe and i want to grow black pepper. The problem is i have never seen anyone growing it here, and how can i get the seeds for a trial. I would appreciate if you help me getting the seeds

  • Reply

  • अरुण कोर्डे

  • April 26, 2021 At 9:44 pm

  • Whether to use black pepper at home fo cultivating black pepper plant.

  • Reply

  • siva

  • September 6, 2021 At 5:47 pm

  • Can anybody send a pepper plant by post from kerala

  • Reply

  • Mary

  • August 13, 2022 At 3:55 am

  • This is cool.

  • Reply

  • Alice

  • August 18, 2022 At 8:42 am

  • Can I plant black peppercorn I buy in store? I have a small home garden and would like to grow black pepper and any other spices I can grow in South Louisiana, USA

  • Reply

  • Angelica

  • October 2, 2022 At 3:05 am

  • Hi! I live in Sweden but grow food, tropical plants etc of different kinds indoors. But hard to come across things like spices to grow att home. How can I get hold of seeds or cuttings to get started to grow pepper spices here? Awesome if someone can help. Also if anyone interested in trading seeds, cuttings or else that would be fun! Leave a comment or email me at [email protected]

  • Thank you!

  • Angie from Sweden

  • Peace, love and plants ❤️✌️

  • Reply

  • mumbai to pune car

  • November 26, 2022 At 11:18 pm

  • This should be the other way around…

  • If too alkaline add lime (which is an acid)

  • If too acidic add sulfur (a base) :)

  • Reply

  • Vntidu

  • January 12, 2023 At 7:47 am

  • Wow great article

  • Reply

  • mohan chandra

  • July 2, 2018 At 9:17 am

  • I have land in Ram Nagar Uttrakhand. I want to grow black pepper. Will u please tell me from where i can get the plantation and technical know how.

  • Reply

I want to grow black pepper on my field.ours temperature goes to 45 c.can it be possible to grow the same with drip irrigain. I’m from madhya pradesh. My place is Burhanpur.please help.

I have land in Ram Nagar Uttrakhand. I want to grow black pepper. Will u please tell me from where i can get the plantation and technical know how.

Dear sir Greetings I had black pepper plant the plant got damaged from the center of the stem now I have cut it and planted the cutting Do you think it will grow Please advice Regards Shivkumar

I m ManMohan from himachal una I want to grow black pepper in my area is it possible for me & please tell me how it possible massage send me in my email

most expensive? must be a shitty article if they can’t get that right!!!!!!!

I am in Nigeria and want to grow black pepper farm. How can I get the planting materials. Can it do well here on Nigeria?

  • Vibin
  • November 17, 2019 At 9:25 pm
  • Hi Ms.Anderson, i am Mr.Vibin from Kerala(Officially known as the land of spices) , India. I have extensive knowledge in the cultivation and harvest of bush Pepper Plants. Feel free to contact me on my mail id captainvibinvenugopa[email protected]
  • or my whatsapp +60 13-867 4038
  • or my cellphone +91-8921100757 and we will work in tandem to realize your vision making this yet an other multi million dollar venture… Thank you.
  • Reply

We have about 100 acres that we’re going to do an RV park on and we were hoping to plant those plants to help to tour the mosquitoes and ticks. Our climate is typically between 50 and 90° we are in North Central Florida will that be an acceptable application for this plant and will let Guitar or the checks and the mosquitoes? Email and so I

Hi Ms.Anderson, i am Mr.Vibin from Kerala(Officially known as the land of spices) , India. I have extensive knowledge in the cultivation and harvest of bush Pepper Plants. Feel free to contact me on my mail id captainvibinvenugopa[email protected] or my whatsapp +60 13-867 4038 or my cellphone +91-8921100757 and we will work in tandem to realize your vision making this yet an other multi million dollar venture… Thank you.

  • Sol
  • December 25, 2019 At 2:44 pm
  • Okk nice we can talk
  • Reply
  • Onyekachi
  • October 16, 2021 At 11:44 am
  • I need your contact
  • Reply

how can i get market im in tanzania i have a lot of tone

Okk nice we can talk

I need your contact

  • Katock
  • January 5, 2020 At 12:01 pm
  • You are incorrect on so many levels.
  • Reply
  • Nathan
  • November 30, 2020 At 9:28 am
  • You are mistaken, lime is a base and sulfur is an acid
  • If too alkaline add sulfur (an acid)
  • If too acidic add lime (a base)
  • The article had it right
  • Reply

…” add lime if the soil is too acidic and sulfur if alkaline.” This should be the other way around… If too alkaline add lime (which is an acid) If too acidic add sulfur (a base) :)

You are incorrect on so many levels.

You are mistaken, lime is a base and sulfur is an acid If too alkaline add sulfur (an acid) If too acidic add lime (a base) The article had it right

How do i know whether the soil is acidic or alkaline or its ph level

How are you. I am in zimbabwe and i want to grow black pepper. The problem is i have never seen anyone growing it here, and how can i get the seeds for a trial. I would appreciate if you help me getting the seeds

Whether to use black pepper at home fo cultivating black pepper plant.

Can anybody send a pepper plant by post from kerala

This is cool.

Can I plant black peppercorn I buy in store? I have a small home garden and would like to grow black pepper and any other spices I can grow in South Louisiana, USA

Hi! I live in Sweden but grow food, tropical plants etc of different kinds indoors. But hard to come across things like spices to grow att home. How can I get hold of seeds or cuttings to get started to grow pepper spices here? Awesome if someone can help. Also if anyone interested in trading seeds, cuttings or else that would be fun! Leave a comment or email me at [email protected] Thank you! Angie from Sweden Peace, love and plants ❤️✌️

This should be the other way around… If too alkaline add lime (which is an acid) If too acidic add sulfur (a base) :)

Wow great article

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.