Kakadu Pepper: Variety Characteristics and Description, Reviews (Photos)

The Kakadu pepper is native to Bulgaria. Its fans are drawn primarily to its flavor and nutritional properties. However, growing this variety indoors requires considering many factors, as this plant is quite demanding. For this reason, Kakadu pepper enthusiasts choose this variety because it can withstand the weather conditions of the area where it will be grown. Gardeners want to combine the plant's low maintenance with its high yield, which they are currently successfully achieving.

For this reason, Kakadu is the most common and popular variety grown by pepper lovers in our country. Due to its unique characteristics, including its unique chemical composition, it is considered one of the healthiest pepper varieties.

Characteristics of Kakadu pepper

The Kakadu pepper is a mid-season variety that is quite sensitive to sunlight and heat, but is quite fussy about growing conditions and principles. During its period of rapid growth and maturation, the pepper grows up to one and a half meters in height, and at this time, it has a rather unusual appearance. In appearance, the pepper resembles a wide-spreading bush, lacking leaves at the base. Kakadu peppers are quite large and quite heavy, weighing between 300 and 500 g.

The first fruits on the Kakadu pepper appear fairly quickly after planting—just 2-2.5 months later. However, as experienced gardeners have noted, this plant can begin bearing fruit even earlier than expected, literally a few weeks before the scheduled time.

The Kakadu's love of warmth is crucial, so experts and professional gardeners recommend planting it in locations with a near-tropical climate. The plant is very sensitive to this and is wary of even short-term temperature fluctuations.

What are the care requirements for Kakadu peppers?

The best time to plant Kakadu is mid- to late March. If you purchase pre-treated seeds, you don't need to spend time pre-treating them yourself; you can begin planting right away.

First, prepare the containers in which you plan to plant the pepper seeds, filling them with potting soil. Choose the soil carefully – it should be porous and light, well-aerated to provide oxygen, and fertile. It's also recommended to add mineral fertilizer and compost before planting. This will eliminate the need to fertilize the Kakadu pepper immediately after sowing the seeds.

The seeds should be planted at a relatively shallow depth and preferably moistened immediately, which is best done with a spray bottle. Over the next week, you need to maintain a favorable atmosphere for the seeds to germinate. It's crucial to avoid temperature fluctuations.

As soon as your plant produces its first shoots, the room temperature should be adjusted. The temperature should be lowered to 18 degrees Celsius, or if this is not possible where the Kakadu pepper is growing, move it to a room where the temperature is at this level. Water the pepper daily. Warm water is essential, and as soon as the seedlings produce their first six leaves, the plant is ready for transplanting outdoors.

To ensure high-quality care for your Kakadu pepper, it is very important to follow these rules:

1. Peppers need to be watered regularly. Once the first shoots appear, the plant no longer requires daily watering, so a few times a week is sufficient. However, don't skimp – it's best to water so that the water is literally visible above the soil beneath the plant.
2. It's important to fertilize the plant regularly. Ideally, do this at least once or twice a week. The first time, you can add chicken manure to the soil, and in subsequent times, use a mixture of manure with phosphorus and potassium salt added.
3. A mandatory requirement is to secure the plant with special nets. It is recommended to tie it up in the right places and prune sideways or weak shoots. This will allow the plant to be properly shaped later.

Pests and diseases of Kakadu pepper

However, even timely and proper care of the Kakadu pepper doesn't guarantee it won't be susceptible to diseases or harmful bacteria. Some diseases can strike your plant even during the initial ripening period, and if the necessary measures aren't taken promptly, the plant will die.

Kakadu peppers are susceptible to blossom-end rot, which can occur due to sudden temperature changes or irregular watering. This can only be avoided through timely spraying and fertilizing. Careful attention to plant care is essential.

Regarding pests, it's important to know that mites and aphids are particularly fond of Kakadu peppers. To eliminate them, regularly spray the plant with an ash-water solution, which can be made at home, or use ready-made chemicals purchased from the manufacturer. However, it's important to note that pesticides should not be used in the early stages of the plant's development, as this will kill the pepper.

What are the benefits of Kakadu pepper?

In terms of ornamental value, the Kakadu pepper is comparable to many other plants. Its spreading habit and height, resembling a small tree, can delight you as much as a flower bed. Kakadu peppers are ideal as a food additive to summer salads, and they can also be used in various dishes, such as stuffing or as a side dish. Moreover, if you decide to freeze the vegetable for the winter, the plant will retain its beneficial properties throughout this period. Kakadu peppers can be prepared in a variety of ways, and each will reveal its unique flavor.

Interesting! Kakadu pepper contains 6 times more vitamin C than lemon.

Reviews of Kakadu pepper

Many gardeners note very important characteristics of the Kakadu pepper:

• This culture is suitable for use in many types of cooking, the range of its use for food purposes is practically unlimited;
• When growing peppers, pinching out the side shoots is necessary;
• Kakadu pepper seeds germinate very quickly;
• Pepper quickly adapts to climatic conditions and gets used to the soil;
• The plant ripens quickly and produces fruit quickly.

For this reason, most gardeners tend to grow the Kakadu variety rather than other varieties of pepper crops.