Honduras Wild Chili Pepper Seeds – Bay Islands Mutton Pepper (Capsicum annuum), Seasoning Variety

The Authentic Flavor of Honduras — A Beloved Caribbean Seasoning Pepper

Honduras Wild Chili is a distinctive and culturally significant pepper indigenous to the Bay Islands of Honduras, where it is known as the mutton pepper and is an irreplaceable component of traditional Honduran cuisine. This late-season variety (Capsicum annuum) produces mildly hot, small fruits — 1 to 1.5" long × 0.5–0.625" wide — with medium-thick flesh that ripens from green to vibrant red on compact, upright to slightly pendant plants reaching 24–30" tall. A true seasoning pepper: bright, flavorful, and aromatic with moderate heat rather than overwhelming fire.

Highlights

• Heirloom variety indigenous to the Bay Islands of Honduras
• Small mild-to-hot fruits: 1–1.5" long; matures green to red
• Late season — matures in 80–90 days
• Plant height: 24–30"; blooms summer; full sun
• Excellent fresh, dried, and as a seasoning base
• Companion plants: Marjoram, Tomato, Marigold

In the Kitchen

Use Honduras Wild Chili as a seasoning pepper in traditional Caribbean stews, rice dishes, and marinades. Its aromatic, moderately hot flavor adds depth without overpowering. Excellent in salsas, pickled preparations, and slow-cooked meat dishes. Harvest green for fresh, grassy flavor; allow to ripen red for a sweeter, more complex heat.

Growing Guide

• Start indoors: 6 weeks before last frost (or 8 weeks before transplanting); sow ¼" deep in organic seed-starting mix
• Germination: Requires warm soil — use a heat mat; peppers can take 1 week to 1 month to germinate
• Harden off gradually: begin with wind protection and a few hours of sun, increasing over 1–2 weeks
• Transplant outdoors when soil is consistently warm and nights stay above 55°F; full sun location
• Spacing: 18–24" apart; rows spaced adequately for airflow
• Containers: 5-gallon pots minimum; excellent for year-round growing in warm climates
• Fertilize: Avoid excess nitrogen; use slow-release fertilizer at transplanting
• Harvest: With garden scissors when fully mature to avoid damaging the plant; pick regularly to encourage new fruit set