Aleppo pepper
Capsicum annuum
Also known asHalaby pepper · Pul biber (Turkish) · Maraş biber (Turkish for the related Maraş pepper)
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates. Strict on light; outside the DLI band, yields drop sharply.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 5–12 (winter low around -29°C)
- Frost
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Perlite (Expanded volcanic glass) | neutral / inert | very low | low |
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.8 |
| flowering | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2.2 |
| fruiting | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2.4 |
Companion-growing notes
- Heavy uptake of potassium, calcium. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC.
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A manageable hydroponic crop in warm, bright conditions. Hold EC around 1.8-2.6 mS/cm and pH near 5.8-6.5. Run temperatures about 21–30°C with full sun or strong light, on the order of 22-30 mol/m2/day. Plants reach roughly 1.2 m and do better staked. Fruit ripens about 80 to 90 days from transplant. Keep calcium steady against blossom end rot and raise potassium through fruiting. Since the value is in the dried flake, processing matters: ripen pods to deep red, halve and de-seed them, then dry slowly, sun-drying over several days or a dehydrator near 55–65°C, stopping while the flakes still hold a little moisture. Crush coarsely; a touch of olive oil worked in mimics the traditional oily texture. Stored sealed, the flakes keep for a year or more. Growing your own sidesteps a real problem in the market, where much commercial Aleppo has been adulterated or swapped for other dried chillies since the Syrian war disrupted supply.