Red Manzano Hot Pepper Seeds - Rocoto, Capsicum pubescens

Grow thick-walled, apple-shaped peppers with fruity flavor and a lively bite. Red Manzano, also known as Rocoto or Apple Chile, is a Capsicum pubescens pepper associated with the Andean highlands. Its distinctive dark seeds and fleshy pods set it apart from familiar bell peppers and many other chilies.

What you receive

Seeds for growing Red Manzano peppers, not fresh pepper pods or live plants. Choose 10, 25, or 100 seeds from the available options.

Variety details

• Botanical name: Capsicum pubescens
• Common names: Red Manzano, Rocoto, and Apple Chile
• Fruit: Apple-shaped pods with thick, juicy walls
• Ripe color: Red
• Seeds: Naturally dark brown to black
• Heat: Hot; intensity varies with growing conditions and individual fruit
• Growth: Frost-tender perennial, often grown seasonally where winters are cold

Starting from seed

1. Start indoors approximately 10–12 weeks before your expected last frost, allowing extra time where growing seasons are short.
2. Sow about 1/4 inch deep in a fine, free-draining seed-starting mix.
3. Keep the mix evenly moist, not saturated, and aim for a soil temperature around 75–80°F.
4. Allow approximately 2–4 weeks for germination, sometimes longer. Provide bright light as seedlings emerge.
5. Transplant into larger pots as needed and gradually acclimate plants to outdoor conditions before planting out after frost danger has passed.

Planting and ongoing care

Choose fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Provide good light and consistent moisture, with relief from intense afternoon heat in very hot climates. Water when the upper soil begins to dry, avoiding both prolonged dryness and waterlogged roots.

A sturdy stake or trellis can support the spreading branches as fruit develops. For container growing, use a large pot with drainage holes; a 5–10-gallon container provides room for root development. Feed according to the label of a suitable vegetable fertilizer.

Harvest and kitchen use

Allow fruit to turn red for fully ripe flavor. Cut peppers from the plant with clean scissors rather than pulling them from the branches. Their thick flesh works well in fresh hot salsa, stuffed-pepper dishes, and roasted preparations.

Wash harvested peppers before use. Start with a small amount when cooking and adjust to your preferred heat level.

Overwintering and safe handling

Protect plants from frost. Where space and conditions allow, container plants can be moved to a bright, frost-free location for overwintering. Longevity and future harvests depend on care and growing conditions; a specific lifespan is not guaranteed.

Hot pepper precautions: Wear gloves when handling cut peppers and seeds. Wash hands and tools thoroughly, avoid touching your eyes or face, and keep planting seeds away from children and pets. Seeds are supplied for planting, not direct consumption.