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Pepper Seeds - Hot Pepper - Fish Pepper

A showpiece that cooks. Variegated foliage, traffic-stopping pods, and bright medium heat honoring African American culinary tradition.
Sustainability features Details
1-Year Warranty
Non-GMO / BE Policy Details
seeds / pkt

Description


A feast for the eyes and the pan. Fish Pepper is a historic Capsicum annuum with variegated leaves, striped pods, and a bright, sea-friendly flavor that made it a favorite in Chesapeake seafood kitchens. Heat ranges from mild to medium-hot depending on maturity, with a clean, peppery snap that lifts creamy dishes and vinegars without overwhelming them.

Plants are compact and striking, usually 2 to 3 feet tall with mottled green-and-cream foliage. Every flush of blossoms gives way to short, tapered pods about 2 to 3 inches long that change color in painterly stages: pale green and cream, then striped and mottled, then orange, and finally red. Walls are medium-thin, which makes the pods quick to cook and ideal for drying into flakes with handsome speckling.

In the kitchen, fish peppers are famous for what they do at different stages. Pick immature pale pods for white sauces and chowders where color matters, or use ripe red pods for spicier relishes, pickles, and pepper oils. The flavor is bright and herbal with a light fruit note, perfect for seafood, crab cakes, oysters, and quick sautés. Dried flakes are beautiful in finishing salts and rubs, while fresh rings bring gentle fire to slaws and tacos.

The variety carries deep cultural roots. Fish pepper arose in African American and Afro-Indigenous foodways of the mid-Atlantic in the 1800s, especially in Black oyster houses and catering kitchens of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Seed was stewarded within those communities, then preserved through family seedkeepers and later shared with collectors, keeping the story alive for modern gardeners. To grow Fish Pepper is to honor that lineage and to bring a piece of Chesapeake culinary history to your garden.

$200 USD $350
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Minimum Seed Count
25
Heat
Hot
Scoville Heat Units
5,000–30,000 SHU
Soil pH
6.0–6.5
Soil Type
Loamy
Sunlight
Full sun
Plant Spacing
18 in
Row Spacing
24 in
Support
Stake
Ideal Soil Temp
80–90°F
Seed Depth
1/4 in
Sprouts in
10-21 Days
Life Cycle
Annual
Frost Hardy
Tender
Scientific Name
Capsicum annuum
Maturity
80-89 Days (from transplant)
Grow Location
In-ground bed, Raised bed, Containers, Greenhouse, High Tunnel, Community garden
Non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge

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Deliver to United States
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Sunlight
Tip: Midday/afternoon sun is strongest. Dappled shade lowers yield.
Water access
Most crops prefer even moisture; let top 1–2" dry slightly between waterings.
Space
Season length
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Soil & temperature
Warm-season crops prefer warm soil; cool crops bolt in heat—adjust timing.

Shipped from U.S.A.

Our seeds are grown and sourced from the US. They're then packed and shipped from Colerain NC.

Triple tested

We regularly test the quality and germination rate of our seeds. We're so confident that our seeds are backed by a 1 year warranty!

Soil Readiness

for Pepper Plants (Capsicum spp.)

Where to get a soil test

Best option: your state’s Cooperative Extension soil testing lab.

Tip: Arid/alkaline regions (e.g., AZ, NM, UT, parts of CA) often use Olsen (bicarbonate) for phosphorus.
Adjusts P (ppm) target & interpretation.
Target 6.2–6.8
Ideal 4–8%
Target 40–60 ppm (Mehlich-3)
Target 150–200 ppm
Ok ≥ 1000 ppm
Ok ≥ 120 ppm
For pH adjustment size
For “shopping list” amounts
Interprets P by extractant; assumes ppm. Results are approximate.
Enter at least one value above, then Calculate.

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