Grow Red Pequin Pepper Seeds, a small but powerful heirloom chile known for intense heat, smoky-citrus flavor, and compact growth. Popular in traditional salsas, sauces, dried spice mixes, and pickling, Red Pequin peppers pack heat far greater than their size, making them a favorite for authentic chile growers.
These Non-GMO Red Pequin Pepper Seeds produce small upright peppers that ripen from green to deep red. Plants are compact but highly productive, thriving in warm climates, garden containers, raised beds, and outdoor rows. Known for consistent yields and complex flavor, Red Pequin is ideal for hot cuisine lovers and home gardeners seeking authentic spice.
Features
- Very hot, citrus-smoky heirloom pepper variety.
- Small upright chile peppers with strong spicy flavor.
- Non-GMO, open-pollinated seeds.
- Perfect for salsas, spicy sauces, drying, and pickling.
- Compact, high-yield plants suitable for containers and gardens.
- Thrives in hot climates with steady fruit production.
- Slow to germinate but long-lived once established.
Specifications
- Plant Name: Red Pequin Pepper (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum)
- Plant Type: Warm-season hot chile pepper
- Heat Level: Very hot (40,000–60,000+ SHU)
- Flavor Profile: Smoky, citrusy, spicy
- Growth Habit: Compact bushy plant with upright fruits
- Seed Type: Open-pollinated, Non-GMO, Heirloom
- USDA Zones: Best in Zones 4–12 as a summer annual
- Growing Season: Late spring through summer
- Sun Requirement: Full sun
- Days to Maturity: 90–120 days
- Germination Temperature: 80°F–95°F (27°C–35°C) — slow germination
- Plant Height: 18–36 inches
- Plant Spacing: 12–18 inches apart
- Soil Preference: Warm, well-drained fertile soil
- Water Requirement: Moderate watering at soil level
- Support Needed: Optional for heavy fruiting
- Growth Advantage: Long-lived plants with steady high yields
Planting Guide
- Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before the last frost.
- Sow ¼ inch deep in warm seed-starting mix.
- Maintain 80°F–95°F soil temperature for germination.
- Expect slow germination; be patient.
- Transplant outdoors after frost when weather remains warm.
- Plant in full sun, spacing 12–18 inches apart.
- Water at soil base to avoid stressing leaves.
- Harvest when peppers turn deep red for best flavor.
- Use dried, fresh, ground, or pickled for spicy cooking.
