Himo Togarashi Pepper Seeds – Rare Japanese Heirloom String Pepper, Sweet & Mild, Nara Traditional Vegetable, 80–90 Days

Himo Togarashi – Japanese String Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Himo Togarashi is one of Japan’s most distinctive specialty peppers — a designated Yamato Dento Yasai (Nara Prefecture traditional vegetable) with centuries of use in Japanese cuisine. The name himo means “strings,” describing the way these slender, thread-like peppers hang in cascading clusters from the plant. Each pepper grows 4–6 inches long and less than ¼ inch wide — thinner than a pencil — and ripens from green to red with absolutely no heat. Sweet, delicate, and beautifully ornamental, Himo Togarashi is prized for its elegant flavor in traditional Japanese dishes.

Excellent for ohitashi, tempura, yakitori, sautéed with sea salt, stir-fries, soups, and salads. An extraordinary find for Japanese cuisine enthusiasts and specialty gardeners.

Pepper Details

• Variety: Himo Togarashi — Japanese Heirloom String Pepper
• Designation: Yamato Dento Yasai (Nara Prefecture Traditional Vegetable)
• Size: 4–6" long, ¼" wide — slender, hanging clusters
• Color: Green → Red at maturity
• Heat: None — completely sweet and mild
• Days to Maturity: 80–90 days
• Best Use: Ohitashi, tempura, yakitori, stir-fries, soups, salads, fresh eating

Growing Instructions

• Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Keep soil warm — seeds will not germinate in cool soil.
• Harden off seedlings carefully before transplanting outdoors.
• Transplant in late spring/summer when soil is consistently above 60°F, in a warm, sunny location with fertile, well-drained soil.
• For containers: use a 12" pot with potting soil, compost, perlite, and sphagnum moss. Set a small tomato cage for support.
• Fertilize every two weeks with half-strength liquid tomato fertilizer once blooms appear. Avoid excess nitrogen — it promotes foliage at the expense of fruit.

Harvesting & Storage

• Harvest young (about 4") for best tenderness and mild flavor. Larger peppers may develop tougher skin.
• Harvest promptly to keep the plant producing continuously.
• Overwinter tip: In fall, cut back to 3–4" above soil and store in a cool, dark place. Resume outdoors after frost danger passes.

Select your desired seed quantity above. Organically grown, heirloom, open-pollinated.