chinense Current Consensus on Aji Panca?

NJChilehead · Monday at 2:57 PM

Hi Everyone,

I have potentially squeezed one more pepper onto my grow list next year, the Aji Panca. It sounds so interesting that I had to! I'm curious what the consensus is on ease of growing, productivity, and earliness? After reading through some GLOGS and threads where it is mentioned, it sounds like it might have some unique characteristics or potential challenges. Thanks so much for your advice!

Marturo · Monday at 3:44 PM

I wish I had pictures however the description should do it.
My two plants grew very large, tall & wide. each plant had 1 pod & no more flowers it looked as if they tapped into a N20-0-0 fertilizer source.
I ended up removing them so the smaller plants in back could get light. The 2 pods got ripe & looked, smelled & tasted fantastic.

Like the Chili Chilaca aka pasilla bajio,it takes too long in my terroir for this late type peppers.

Chili chalaca. right before a killing frost, note pods are dark green not ripe black.

CaneDog · Monday at 7:43 PM

It's always been slow for me. Matures like the chinense it is; ripens like the baccatum it sounds like. I've gotten decent production before, but it's been hit or miss for me from season to season.

ahayastani · Monday at 8:05 PM

NJChilehead said:
Hi Everyone,

I have potentially squeezed one more pepper onto my grow list next year, the Aji Panca. It sounds so interesting that I had to! I'm curious what the consensus is on ease of growing, productivity, and earliness? After reading through some GLOGS and threads where it is mentioned, it sounds like it might have some unique characteristics or potential challenges. Thanks so much for your advice!

I grew Aji panca, not a bad pepper. Big plant, not really early, rather productive. I would grow it again.

NJChilehead · Tuesday at 11:53 AM

@ahayastani @CaneDog @Marturo thanks for the input. Did you recognize if it has any eccentricities as far as sun, moisture, fertilizer or other growing conditions, or is is best treated like other chinenses (full sun, rich soil, etc.)?

ahayastani · Tuesday at 12:24 PM

NJChilehead said:
@ahayastani @CaneDog @Marturo thanks for the input. Did you recognize if it has any eccentricities as far as sun, moisture, fertilizer or other growing conditions, or is is best treated like other chinenses (full sun, rich soil, etc.)?

Not a fifi plant at all, al least under my growing conditions. At some point, the plant become too big for its container and I had to water more frequently.

CaneDog · Tuesday at 12:41 PM

Not really. My strategy is to avoid being late in getting it going and to get it into a final home with decent root room early on.

Marturo · Tuesday at 1:16 PM

NJChilehead said:
(full sun, rich soil, etc.)?

And plenty of room to spread out by itself.
If the seeds I saved from this years 2 pod panca crop, I will do a germination test, & if their good maybe grow 1 plant next season.

Bou · Tuesday at 2:29 PM

Huge plant and as others have already said far from being early. Not suitable for my short growing season...

NJChilehead · Tuesday at 5:12 PM

Okay thanks folks. I'll give it a shot.