Pepper Seeds - Hot - Black Hungarian
70-79 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Black Hungarian Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, hot-type pepper with mild heat levels. 1,500 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Black Hungarian pepper is a type of pepper plant that produces mildly hot, black-colored fruits that are the shape of a Jalapeño. ~5,000 seeds/oz.
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Growing Black Hungarian Peppers in the Vegetable Garden
To get a head start, begin sowing Black Hungarian pepper seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost in your area. This gives the plants ample time to develop strong roots and foliage before facing outdoor elements. Sow the seeds about .25 inch deep in a sterile, seed-starting mix. Ensure the soil temperature is kept around 70-80 F, which is ideal for germination. Keep the soil consistently moist, but be careful not to overwater as this can lead to fungal issues like damping off.
As your seedlings grow and the threat of frost diminishes, it's time to prepare them for outdoor life. This process, known as hardening off, involves gradually exposing the seedlings to outdoor conditions. Start by placing them outside in a protected area for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their exposure to sun and wind over a period of 7-10 days. This careful acclimatization helps prevent transplant shock.
Once hardened off, transplant the seedlings into your garden or a large container. Choose a sunny location as peppers require full sun to produce robust yields. Space the plants about 18-24 inches apart in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Water them thoroughly on planting to settle the soil around the roots and help reduce stress.
Regular watering is crucial for maintaining healthy pepper plants, especially during the hotter days of summer. Aim to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Mulching around the base of the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Begin feeding the plants about a month after transplanting, using a balanced fertilizer like a 10-10-10 NPK ratio. Continue feeding every 4-6 weeks. As the plants begin to flower and set fruit, consider switching to a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content to promote healthy fruit development.
Harvesting Black Hungarian Peppers
These peppers are usually ready to harvest about 70-90 days after transplanting. Initially, the peppers appear black and can be harvested at this stage if you prefer. However, wait until they ripen to a rich red for full flavor. Use scissors or pruning shears to cut the peppers from the plant to avoid damaging the stems.
About Black Hungarian Pepper Garden Seeds
The unique color and moderate heat of Black Hungarian peppers make them excellent for culinary use. Try incorporating them into a homemade hot sauce or slicing them for use in salads, pizzas, or sandwiches. Their striking color can also make a visually appealing chili oil.
These peppers are well-suited for container gardening. Ensure that containers have a minimum of 5 gallons of soil are at least 12 inches deep and have good drainage to prevent root rot.
The Black Hungarian pepper, with its unique aesthetic and culinary properties, likely developed from a desire for visually striking as well as tasty hot peppers.
These peppers are relatively mild, ranking low on the Scoville scale (1,500-2,500 SHU), which puts them at the same level as a mild jalapeno.
One unique recipe for Black Hungarian peppers is to make a Black Hungarian pepper jelly, which can be an excellent addition to a charcuterie board. Their mild heat also makes them perfect for infusing vinegar or oil to create flavored condiments.
Black Hungarian peppers grow about 30-36" tall. Mild heat and great flavor. We dry the peppers and grind them into our own spicy Organic Hungarian paprika. I honestly didn't know what to expect from these peppers and should have planted out more, because now we are addicted to the sweet-hot-spicy flavor. We don't recommend transplanting them out till late May or early June. At harvest, remove the seed cut into strips and dry on a fruit dryer for making your own paprika. Once they are really dry, we zip them up in a coffee grinder. You need a lot of peppers to make just a tiny bit of powder so plan ahead.
Stories From Our Gardeners
"I recommend interplanting pepper plants with chives, pole beans, and marigolds for a robust and diverse edible garden experience."
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- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
Other Resources
Black Hungarian Pepper Seeds Per Package:
300 mg - Wholesale - Approximately 52 Seeds
0.25 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 1,250 Seeds
1 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 5,000 Seeds
4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 20,000 Seeds
Non-GMO Black Hungarian Pepper seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Capsicum annuum |
| Pepper Type: | Hot - These peppers all have some heat and usually rank at least 100, but usually 500 or more on the Scoville scale and have heat ranging from mild to extremely hot. |
| Black Hungarian Pepper Color: | Red, Purple, Black |
Growing Info
| Hardiness Zone: | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Technically a tender perennial, but commonly grown as an annual. Perennial in zones 10 and 11. |
| Days to Maturity: | 70-79 (from transplant) |
| Days to Germination: | 7-10 |
| Seeding Depth: | 0.25 inch |
| Plant Spacing: | 18 to 24 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 24 to 36 inches |
| Plant Height: | 24 to 36 inches |
| Growth Habit: | Upright |
| Soil Preference: | Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.5 pH), and moisture retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting, similar to tomatoes. Peppers also need sufficient amounts of phosphorus and calcium. We recommend using a balanced fertilizer for the best results. |
| Temperature Preference: | Warmer (70-85 F). During high heat, foliar and flower development slow or pause until temperatures return to the preferred range. |
| Light Preference: | Full Sun |
Other
| Direct Sow: | No |
| Start Indoors: | Yes Start Indoors 7-9 weeks before your last spring frost date. Harden off and transplant when seedlings are 6-8 inches tall. Bury the stem slightly deeper than the root ball. Avoid planting hot and sweet peppers right next to each other, as they can cross-pollinate, potentially affecting the flavors of your harvested peppers. |
| Pepper Pollination: | Peppers have perfect flowers (male and female parts) and will self-pollinate. However, wind and pollinator activity may increase success rates of fertilization and fruit production. |
| Plant Width: | 18 to 24 inches |
| Deer Resistant: | No |
| Scoville Heat Units: | # to # |
| Heat Level: | Mild - 100 to 2,500 on the Scoville Scale. Example: Poblano Ancho or Pepperoncini |
| Growth Speed: | Mid - Ready for harvest around 76 to 90 days from transplant. |
| Germination Temperature: | 80-90 F |
| Pests and Diseases: | Peppers are commonly susceptible to cutworms, aphids, flea beetles, bacterial spot, Phytophthora, sunscald, and blossom end rot. To avoid or reduce problems with pests and diseases, stick to a regular watering schedule (drip irrigation is preferred), plant into well-draining soils, and utilize practices such as crop rotation. When taking pest control measures, consider utilizing integrated pest management principles by using mechanical removal, biological control, and other cultural practices before turning to chemical agents. |
| Garden Size: | Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed, Container |