An Italian heirloom sweet pepper variety growing about 60cm tall and bearing large yields of round, blood red, pimento-type peppers, 7-8cm in diameter. The flesh is very thick and crisp and the flavour is sweet. The fruits are usually stuffed with meat or cheese in Italian cooking
0.5-1 metres
0.1-0.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Best grown inside on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse, but can be grown outside once all danger of frost has passed; select a sunny, sheltered position and grow in containers, peat-free growing bags or in open ground. Water regularly and feed with a high potassium liquid fertiliser once the first fruit has set. See How to grow: peppers for further cultivation details
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
No pruning required; pinch out growing tips of plants when they are about 20cm tall to encourage bushiness
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, whitefly, aphids, slugs and snails
May be susceptible to grey mould and blossom end rot