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Growing Sweet Chocolate Peppers in the Vegetable Garden

To plant these peppers, you will need to start the planting process about 6-8 weeks before your area’s last frost date. Plant the seeds in either a well-draining soil or in a seed starting mix like Minute Soil Coco Clair. The pH of the soil should be about 6.5. Plant the seeds about 0.25 inches deep. Try to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You can check whether you need to water your plants by sticking your finger into the soil - if it feels dry, then give your plants some water, but make sure not to overwater. If the soil looks wet, then wait for it to dry out a bit before you water your plants next. Plant the seeds in this soil in a seed starting tray and keep it in a very warm area, somewhere around 80-90 F. You can use a grow light to keep this area warmer. The seedlings should emerge within 7-10 days. Plant your seedlings in a sunny location that has well-draining soil, ideally somewhere you haven’t grown nightshades in a while, to make sure the soil has plenty of nutrients. Plant the rows about 2-3 feet apart, and plant individual plants about 12-18 inches apart. Dig a hole and make sure the roots are covered completely!

Keep a close eye on your peppers throughout the growing process to make sure they are healthy and growing correctly! You should be watering them consistently. The soil should be moist beneath the surface, but make sure not to overwater them. You can stick your finger in the soil to see how the moisture levels are beneath the surface. You can sprinkle some mulch around the base of the plant to keep the moisture in and suppress any weeds. You can also try treating them to a fertilizer packed with phosphorus and calcium for that extra boost of nutrients they need. Don't forget to give your plants a little support with stakes or trellises to keep them standing tall as they start to grow fruit. Companion planting with plants like marigolds and basil can help keep pests away and bring pollinators to your garden. And keep an eye on your peppers - if you spot any pests or diseases, make sure to treat them immediately!

Harvesting Sweet Chocolate Peppers

You'll know your peppers are ready for harvest when they are about 8-10 inches long. They will be a bright red or green color. When you’re harvesting, use a pair of scissors or a knife to cut the peppers off the plant, leaving a small stem. Make sure you’re gentle and don’t damage the plant. They’ll be ready somewhere between 75-100 days after transplanting. Because they’re a sweet variety, wait for the peppers to ripen completely so they’re not bitter.

About Sweet Chocolate Pepper Garden Seeds

These peppers were bred by Elwyn Meader and introduced by the University of New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station in 1965.

These peppers ripen from green to chocolate brown on the outside, and are a bright red inside.

Sweet Chocolate peppers are suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Sweet Chocolate peppers are tasty stuffed with quinoa, rice, beans, cheese, or meat. You can even bake them in a skillet with an egg inside. The peppers are also delicious when roasted, peeled, and pureed and used as a dip with hummus or in a sandwich."

- Chelsea Hafer, True Leaf Market Writer

Other Resources

• Scoville Heat Scale

Sweet Chocolate Pepper Seeds Per Package:

• 300 mg packet - Approximately 50 Seeds
• 0.25 oz - Approximately 1,250 Seeds
• 1 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 5,000 Seeds
• 4 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 20,000 Seeds
• 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 80,000 Seeds
• 5 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 400,000 Seeds

Non-GMO Sweet Chocolate Pepper seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.