NuMex Easter is a compact ornamental Capsicum annuum developed at New Mexico State University. Clusters of upright fruits change from lavender through pale yellow to light orange, giving the plant its pastel display. It won an All-America Selections bedding plant award in 2014. Its heat is not quantified in NMSU's cultivar table.
History & lineage
NMSU lists NuMex Easter as a 2010 release from its ornamental chilli programme. All-America Selections recognised it as a national bedding plant winner in 2014. Its compact growth and pastel fruit colours make it suitable for containers and edging.
Culinary uses
Primarily grown for its ornamental fruit display. Its heat has not been established by the breeder's published cultivar table, so it should not be described as reliably mild or recommended for generous use on that basis.
Growing it in the UK
Annuum is the forgiving group, and the right place to start. Seed germinates readily in warmth, the season is short enough to finish outdoors in a good summer, and February to early March is soon enough to sow. Germination is given as 7-14 days. 80 days to maturity is an ordinary season here — sow in February and it will ripen without a fight.
At 13–15 cm it is a windowsill or small-pot plant — a 3-litre pot is plenty, and it will not need staking. The compact habit makes it a good container plant and an easy one to keep on a windowsill. The record puts the yield at heavy, so start feeding weekly with something high in potassium as soon as the first fruit sets — a plant carrying that much will run out of steam otherwise.
Read from this variety's own record — the figures are in the panel opposite.
