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Shishimai・獅子舞
Shishimai・獅子舞
Shishimai・獅子舞
Capsicum annuum (F1 Hybrid)

Shishimai・獅子舞

50-60 days from transplanting
Regular price $5.90

Shipping calculated at checkout

Varietal
Seed Count

Shishimai is a variety of shishito pepper. The fruits are bright green and bite-sized, not spicy in taste but distinctly peppery. It is harvested green (before turning red) for peak flavor. 

Shishi means “lion” and Mai means “dance”. Shishimai is a festive dance performed in lion costumes at celebrations and festivals during the New Year. The performing lion “bites” children to ward off bad luck, improve academics, and bring good health.

Why shishi? The two split ends of the pepper resemble a lion with its mouth open.

It's best to start Shishimai indoors and transplant outdoors. Transplants should be placed 12 inches apart, leaving ample room for growth. As the plant grows, it’s best to prune the first 2-5 flowers to promote growth. Harvest once the peppers reach 3-5 inches in length.

Shishimai L3 is the first shishito variety to have the L3 gene. The L3 gene is responsible for the hypersensitive response in Capsicum in plants against the infection of tobamoviruses. The resistance conferred by this gene is one of the most effective so far described against tobamoviruses. 

Note: When Shishimai is overly mature the peppers will turn red and can become hot.

Growing Information
  • Suitable temperature for germination: 75-85℉
  • Suitable temperature for growing: 77-88℉
  • Soil pH: 6.5-7.5
  • Days to maturity: 50-60 days from transplanting

Germination

  • Transplanting required. Sow 1-2 seeds per cell into a 72-cell tray in 1/4-1/2" deep and cover gently. Thin to one plant per cell after germination.
  • Maintain soil moisture. Dry-wet cycles and overwatering can prevent germination.
  • Water as needed once first true leaves emerge; allow soil to dry between watering.

Transplanting

  • Check for readiness between 55–65 days after germination by gently pulling on the base of the stem to see if the roots hold the soil together.
  • Transplant to 18" spacing with 18-24" between rows.
  • Transplant shock: leaves may turn yellow after transplant but will return to normal after 10-14 days.

Maintenance

  • Pruning: remove first 3-5 flowers to promote vegetative growth and encourage higher yields.
  • Avoid overwatering; can cause peppers to enter dormancy.
  • Cultivate to prevent weed growth and use best management practices for pests.

Harvest

  • Harvest at 3-5" when deep green.
  • Continually harvest 2–3 times per week. Delayed harvest can prevent fruit set and decrease yields.
  • Over-mature fruits will turn red and become spicy.

Cooking Information

Shishimai are best suited for light cooking methods like grilling, sautéing, roasting, and frying. The pepper’s skin blisters easily, giving it a beautiful char when grilled. Try them seared in a cast iron skillet with sesame oil and finished with a squeeze of lemon and sea salt for a savory and satisfying starter dish.

Safety Tip: Poke holes when frying to prevent the peppers from exploding.

Shipping & Taxes

Shipping and taxes are calculated at checkout. Depending on your state, your seeds may be tax-exempt.
Satisfaction Guarantee

The Oishii Nippon Project is committed to your success, every step of the way.

We want you, our customer, to be 100% satisfied with all of our unique vegetable seeds. If anything you purchase from us proves unsatisfactory, we will either replace the item or refund the purchase price.
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