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Growing Merlot Peppers in the Vegetable Garden

To grow your peppers, prepare your seed starting trays and plant the seeds. Start the process about 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. You can use either well-draining soil or go for a seed starting mix like Minute Soil Coco Clair - both work well for seed starting. Plant those seeds about 0.25 inches deep into the soil and keep it nicely moist, but don't drown them! A handy trick is to stick your finger into the soil - if it feels dry, give the seeds a drink, but if it's wet, wait for a bit for the soil to dry out. Keep your peppers in a warm spot for germination, somewhere around 80-90 F. You can use a grow light to create a warmer space that will help them germinate. After about 7-10 days, they should germinate, and you can move them to a cooler spot so they can be hardened off before you plant them in the garden. 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!

Let's talk about giving your peppers the treatment they need to grow into thriving plants. Consistent watering is key, especially during dry spells - these peppers don't like to be thirsty! You can try giving your plants a fertilizer full of phosphorus and calcium to help promote their growth. 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. You can also try companion planting - plant some marigolds and basil alongside your peppers to attract pollinators and keep the pests at bay. You can add mulch around the base of your plants to help keep the soil moist and suppress weeds. And keep an eye on your peppers - if you spot any pests or diseases, make sure to treat them immediately!

Harvesting Merlot Peppers

These peppers are full size when they’ve grown about 5 inches in diameter. They will be a deep purple, and they should have a somewhat glossy sheen. They’ll be ripe somewhere between 60 and 69 days after transplanting. When the peppers have grown to their full size and color, you can harvest them with garden shears or a knife by cutting off the peppers, leaving a small stem on the pepper. Be sure to be gentle with the plant so you don’t damage the plant and it can keep producing fruit. Because this is a sweet variety, try not to harvest them too early, because they won’t have their full sweet flavor. Also try to avoid leaving them on the plant for too long, because overripe peppers might be a little bit bitter. Store them in a cool and dry place.

About Merlot Pepper Garden Seeds

These dark purple bell peppers were bred for their early yield and unique flavor! They are also high yielding and drought tolerant, making them a reliable addition to your garden.

These peppers look similar to an eggplant, but their sweet flavor and crunchy texture make them suitable for eating raw as a snack or in salads! Try adding them to stir fries or even grilling them.

These pepper plants can grow pretty tall, so it’s best to grow them in greenhouses, raised beds, or large pots with plenty of support.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Be sure not to plant hot peppers and sweet peppers close together, as this can lead to cross-pollination!"

- Chelsea Hafer, True Leaf Market Writer

Other Resources

• Scoville Heat Scale

Merlot Pepper Seeds Per Package:

• 300 mg packet - Approximately 40 Seeds
• .25 oz - Approximately 1,000 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 4,000 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 16,000 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 64,000 Seeds

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