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Sandia Seed Company

Manzano / Orange Rocoto - Heirloom Pepper Seeds

Manzano / Orange Rocoto - Heirloom Pepper Seeds

Regular price $ 3.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $ 3.99 USD
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Manzano or Orange Rocoto originates in South America and grows on the Andean mountain slopes. It is among the oldest of domesticated chiles being cultivated for thousands of years.

This pepper, also known as the "Apple Chile," is very unique because it has black seeds, and hairy leaves. It blooms with beautiful purple six-point star shaped flowers. It has a small 2” apple shape, and pod flesh is thick, and the flavor is sweet with a citrus taste. Unlike most chiles it does fine in cooler weather and prefers partial shade instead of full sun. They actually prefer growing in temperatures between 45-60˚ F, so some shade is necessary if grown in hotter climates. Learn more about growing these cold-tolerant peppers » 

They are long-lived plants, and, if protected from frost the plants can produce for 15 years and grow more than 10’ high. Robust vines can be trellised like a grape.

Capsicum pubescens (100 days) Heirloom - Open-pollinated

Heat Level: Very Very Hot  Scoville 30,000

~ Packet contains 10 seeds. 

In early spring, start seeds indoors 8 weeks prior to warm nightly temperatures. Place the seeds in seedling mix and cover 1/4” deep. Provide 85°F bottom heat, bright light and keep moist at all times. Seeds will germinate in 21 - 42 days. Transplant seedlings into pots and grow until there are 6 true leaves on the plant. Plant them directly into rich warm soil. Grow in partial shade. Harvest peppers when they are orange.

Germination Tip: Soak seeds for 2 days in water before planting in a very moist seedling mix with a plastic dome on top until they germinate. Lift dome daily for air exchange. 

The Manzano are difficult to germinate. They like 85 degrees soil in the day and 70 degrees soil at night. They are a landrace chile and have not been bred to pop up out of the soil. They decide when the environment is right for growing and completing their lifecycle. We also soak the Manzano seeds in a cup of room temperature tea overnight to soften the seed coat and also apply diluted Superthrive to the seedling mix each week when watering.


All of our seeds are GMO-free.

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Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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J
JJ
Vigorous and Viny

For the MANZANO / ORANGE ROCOTO - HEIRLOOM PEPPER SEEDS... This had germination of 80%. And did better in a little shade. Our elevation in Hawaii is 3800' ASL with abundant rain and cold nights, and cool days. 50 F to 70 F. This was a vigorous grower, and strangely a bit viny, as it kept growing longer and longer. Took cuttings on the leggy ends and all cuttings survived and produced fruit. Peppers were tasty and not very spicy. Not much survives with our tremendous rain but this little champ did. Still growing big and strong a year later!

D
Daniel M.
Nice looking plant

These Rocoto plants are very nice looking with purple blooms and emerald leaves. Wish I had a sunroom or greenhouse to grow them in, I hear they can be long-lived plants if protected from freezing. Great thick peppers, with beautiful orange color. I grew them in partial shade and they grew quite large!

J
James Robert
Unique pepper seeds to grow

These are beautiful plants that does well in partial shade. We protect them with a hoop house in the fall to keep them going past a few frosts, they don't seem to mind a little bit of cold weather this way.

H
Heather
Beautiful plant that blooms in late summer

I planted these Rocoto peppers in my partial-shade vegetable garden, and it has thrived. It grows like a vine, and is quite beautiful with emerald green fuzzy leaves. It just started blooming in August, and is now fruiting here in Colorado (late September). It seems to be growing better now than all summer, I think it likes this cooler weather. I am excited for the peppers to come, hope they ripen before the first snow. I hear these tolerate a little bit of frost, so I will keep you updated how they do once we get freezing temps. I'm excited to grow these because they'ree the only pepper that I can grow in my shadier beds! We have lots of trees... so not a lot of full sun!

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