Growing Peppercorns for Black or White Pepper: A Long-Term Project

Peppercorn (Piper nigrum) is a tropical vine that fruits after four years. Black pepper: soak berries until skins blacken, then dry whole. White pepper: soak until skins slip off, revealing white seeds. In a backyard greenhouse it's possible, but the vine's size and four-year wait make it a project for only the most dedicated gardeners.