The Plant

• Chilaca, or pasilla plant, has smooth, oval to lance-shaped small leaves. The plant grows 3 to 5 feet tall and just under 2 feet wide. Full-sun conditions are necessary for the plant to produce fruit. The time from seed to bloom averages 70 days. Pasilla plant is hardy in United States Department of Agriculture Zone 8 to Zone 11 but can be grown in the summer elsewhere if it's started indoors. The fruits are long and narrow, and up to 6 to 8 inches long.
  
  

Care of Pasilla Plants

• In Zone 8 to Zone 11, where temperatures are high, the pasilla can be grown in a partial-shade location, but all other areas require full sun. Pepper plants need at least an inch of water per week, but they must be in well-drained soil. It is best to apply water slowly over several minutes so the plant has time to absorb it before it runs off. Peppers need nitrogen fertilizer or manure incorporated into the soil at planting and then a high-phosphorus fertilizer applied just before bud break.
  
  

Uses of Pasilla

• Pasilla is one of the three main peppers used in the classic sauce molé. The sauce has sweet, smoky, spicy and chocolaty flavors all mixed together. The medium spice level of the pasilla means it is ideal for any seasoning purpose. It also makes an excellent pickled pepper that can be eaten out of hand. Pasillas are easy to dry, and smoking them takes some of the spice out of the fruit. The smallest pasillas are the hottest, and the larger ones approach Anaheim peppers in shape and in mildness.
  
  

Planting

• Plant pasilla seeds inside at least four weeks before the date of the last frost. In cooler climates, the earlier you start them, the better the chance you will have peppers. Temperatures need to remain between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure germination. Transplant the pepper seedlings to a sunny, well-drained garden bed that has had plenty of organic matter incorporated. Plant the peppers 12 inches or more apart. Watch for pests and disease, and take appropriate action before the other plants are infected.