DIY : Kitchen Minis

Kitchen Mini’s are the latest and greatest newcomers to add to your must-have vegetable list this spring! Many gardeners have limited room in their homes, relying on balcony or patio space to grow some flowering plants and container veggies. Ready to grow and enjoy? Kitchen Mini’s are the answer!

The beauty of these little pots of cherry tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers is that they can be grown indoors in a sunny window, or outside on the patio once all danger of frost is past. If you are also pressed for sunlight, they can be grown under full spectrum LED grow lights as well. The plants are bred to be compact, and when you purchase them most are in the flowering and fruiting stage already! Once mature, you can enjoy the tomatoes and peppers, compost the plants and purchase more. If you have the room, I recommend you buy new plants every two to three weeks for a continual supply. Each plant’s harvest usually lasts about a month to six weeks.

Kitchen Mini’s are meant to be kept in their original pot and should not be planted out in the garden. If the soil level in the pot goes down as you water, you can always top it up with some fresh soil.

Kitchen Mini’s have been bred to focus on producing great flavors, stress resistance and to have a long shelf life. All varieties of tomato and peppers need 6-8 hours of full sun per day.

Please check the plant tags for mature height and spread information. Some varieties may need staking. Water when soil feels dry to the touch. If you keep the plants on the dry side they will produce more flowers. Remember to empty the drainage trays after watering. Do not let the pots sit in water. Feed every two weeks with a water soluble veggie or tomato fertilizer. Water your plants first and then again with the fertilizer water. Never fertilize a dry plant.

Tomatoes and peppers are self-pollinating plants. Outdoors, pollination is not a problem. If your plants are inside, it is a good idea to help out with the pollinating process. Pollen is at its peak from noon to 3 p.m. With a tiny soft paint brush or q-tip, gently transfer pollen from flower to flower. Use a new brush or swab for each plant. Lightly shake the plant as well or vibrate the pot with an electric toothbrush. Air movement from open windows is helpful as well.

Kitchen Mini’s – Tomatoes – (Solanum lycopersicum)

Siam – A sweet, red cherry tomato. It is a determinate tomato – producing its fruit all at once. Height: 30 – 45 cm. Spread: 25 – 30 cm. May need staking.

Red Velvet – A sweet, red cherry tomato. A determinate variety. No pruning is necessary. Red Velvet likes to dry out somewhat – water when the first two inches of top soil feels dry to the touch. Height: 15 – 20 cm. Spread: 15 – 20 cm.

Micro Tom - A red cherry tomato. Height: 10 - 15 cm. Spread: 10 – 15 cm. A very tiny plant covered with red, sweet, bite sized tomatoes. They are usually 2.54 cm. in diameter. A determinate variety.

Cocoa – Fruit is burgundy in color when ripe. Sweet, very tasty. A determinate variety. Height: 20 cm. Spread: 20 cm. Keep soil on the dry side. This mini tomato can get heavy with fruit! Stake with a 30 cm. wooden skewer or chop stick.

Sweet Peppers (Capsicum annuum) – The Fresh Bites Series – Kitchen Mini’s

This series of mini peppers includes Fresh Bites Orange, Red and Yellow. They are a zero on the Scoville (SHU) heat scale. Height: 30 - 38 cm. Spread: 15 – 20 cm. Can be used in a myriad of recipes and eaten fresh as well.

Fresh Bites Peppers should be kept inside in a sunny window until our nights reach 12 -23 C. They need a well-drained soil. Heat and drought tolerant. Water only when there is a slight wilt to the leaves and the top 5 cm. of the soil is dry. Peppers like their fertilizer! Water every two weeks with a water soluble veggie fertilizer. When fertilizing, water your peppers with clear water first. Let it drain through then follow up with the water soluble veggie fertilizer.

Hot Peppers ( Capsicum annuum) – Kitchen Mini’s

The hot peppers make up the largest group in the Kitchen Mini’s selection.

As we all know, hot peppers add a spicy kick to any recipe. They can be eaten fresh or dried. Please follow care instructions as per Sweet Peppers.

These hot peppers start out green and depending on variety, mature into colors of yellow, orange, and red. Take note that each pepper variety may have all ripening colors on the plant at the same time.

Hot Burrito – Heat Scale: 1 out of 5. Mildly spicy. Height: 18-23 cm. Fruit begins as lime green then transitions to bright red when ripe.

Adobo – Heat Scale: 2 out of 5. Cone-shaped, hot banana type red pepper when ripe. Thick walls and slightly sweet when ripe with a mild to medium heat. Height: 30-36 cm. Spread: 20-25 cm.

Hot Faqita - Heat Scale: 3 out of 5. A fleshy, spicy pepper. Height: 25-30 cm. Spread: 20-25 cm. Long tapered lime green fruit matures to red.

Cosmo – Heat Scale: 2 out of 5. Height: 25-30 cm. Spread: 20-25 cm. Purple to red when mature. Snack-sized fruit. Purple to red when fully ripe.

Hot Joker - Heat Scale: 2 out of 5 Height: 30-36 cm. Spread: 20-25 cm. Fruit begins with a lime green color and brightens to a bright red when ripe. Deep red when dried.

Tamale – Heat Scale: 2 out of 5 Height: 15-20 cm. Spread: 20 cm. A jalapeno type with a blunt conical shape. Red when ripe. Thick walled pepper, crisp and juicy.

Pinata - Heat Scale: 3 out of 5 Height: 20-25 cm. Spread: 20-25 cm. Ripening color begins with a lime green to red at maturity. Thin walls.

Taquito – This is a very small pepper plant. Heat Scale: 3 out of 5. Cone-shaped peppers that ripen from green to bright red.

Lemon Zest – Spiciest of the Kitchen Mini’s Hot Peppers. Heat Scale: 5 out of 5. A Habanero variety. Height: 30-36 cm. Spread: 30-36 cm. Its fruit is fully ripe when lemon yellow.

FYI: The Kitchen Mini’s group of vegetables have been bred specifically for container growing. All are non GMO and growth regulators have not been used.

Kitchen Mini’s are brought to you in North America by the Pan American Seed Company.

In spring of 2024 look for Quick Snack Edible Potted Cucumber in the Kitchen Mini family!

Thrips love pepper plants. Place some sticky cards among your pepper pots and change these cards regularly.

Tomato and Pepper leaves and stems are toxic to humans and pets. Unripe tomatoes are toxic to cats and dogs.