chilies

Ø  The chili pepper, a hotly pungent variety of Capsicum was first cultivated by the people of Central and South America in around 3000BC.

Ø     Columbus brought seeds back to Europe in 1493, and from there it has spread to the cuisines of the entire world.

   The pre-Hispanic Americans believed the chili to contain medicinal qualities and modern science has confirmed the nutritional values

Chili pepper: Usages & Health

Culinary uses

Decoration
Medicinal: Arthritis pain, diabetic neuropathy, & headaches

High amounts of vit C, carotene (provit A), vit B, & vit B₆

Very high in K and high in Mg and Fe

Types of Chilies          

 Sweet Chili

Mexican Hot Chili                                             

Chili Baby Hot

Jalapeno Chili                                                     Bell Chili Red/Green

Green Chili                                                          Red Chili

Chili pepper: Varieties

1.     Mild - 

2.     Warm -

3.     Medium -

4.     Hot -

5.     Very Hot -

Growing Areas in Pakistan

Sindh                       89.7 %

Punjab                       6.3 %

Balochistan               3.4 %

KPK                            0.6 % 

Punjab                    Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Multan,         Sheikhapura, Khanewal, Vehari and Bahawal Nagar

Sindh                      Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Badin, and Sanghar

Balochistan            Killa Saifullah, Khuzdar, Loralai and Musa Khel.

KPK                        Mohmand Agency, Bajour, Dir and Kohat.

In Pakistan, only two species viz. Capsicum annum and Capsicum frutescens are known and most of the cultivated varieties belong to the species Capsicum annum.

Province-wise nursery sowing and transplanting times

Province	Nursery sowing time	Transplanting time	Harvesting time
Punjab Plains	October	February	May to August
	February/March	April/May	July to October
		March/April	July to December
Sindh	December	Last week of January	April to August
	January/ February	March/April	August to November
	June/July	July/August	November/December
	September/ October	October/ November	February to April
KPK	November	February/March	June to November
Baluchistan Plains	October to February	February/April	August to November
Hilly Areas	April	May/June	September to December
	December	Last week of January	From April to August