Chocolate Cherry Pepper Seeds – Heirloom | Stuffing, Pickling & Canning (Capsicum annuum)

Chocolate Cherry is a delightful heirloom pepper that combines the charming golf-ball shape of a cherry pepper with a rich, chocolate-brown color and complex flavor. Small 1–1.5-inch round fruits ripen from dark green to a deep chocolate brown on compact, branching 2-foot plants. Heat varies pod to pod — some mild, some with a pleasant kick — making every bite an adventure. Outstanding for stuffing with cream cheese, pickling, canning, and fresh eating.

Variety Details

• Species: Capsicum annuum
• Type: Heirloom
• Pod Size: 1–1.5 inches in diameter; flattened round, cherry-shaped
• Color Progression: Dark green → Chocolate brown
• Heat Level: Mild to medium — variable by pod
• Plant Height: 24 inches; compact and branching
• Best Use: Stuffing, pickling, canning, fresh salads

Starting Seeds

• Start indoors 8 weeks before last expected spring frost
• Sow ¼ inch deep; maintain soil at 80–85°F until germination
• Provide 12–16 hours of light daily
• Transplant outdoors when daytime temps reach 60–65°F and nights stay above 50°F
• Space 12–16 inches apart; harden off before transplanting to prevent shock
• Grows well in containers and raised beds

Growing Tips

• Full sun; keep soil evenly moist and mulched
• Provide shade if extreme heat causes wilting

Harvest

Harvest at green for milder flavor, or allow to ripen fully to chocolate brown for peak taste. Pick early — mature peppers signal the plant to stop producing. Always cut with scissors; never pull.