Product Overview
Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry Pepper is a compact, sweet mini bell pepper known for its striking variegated foliage and colourful fruit. Plants form a tidy upright habit (18 to 24 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide) with green and white patterned leaves that stand out early in the season. As the peppers develop, they begin green with creamy white stripes, then gradually shift to deep chocolate and cherry red tones as they reach full maturity.
Fruit is small and thick-walled, typically 3.5 to 3.75 inches long and 2.5 to 2.75 inches wide, averaging 3.5 to 4.5 ounces. The flavour is sweet and crisp, and the peppers can be enjoyed at any stage — from the green-striped phase to fully ripe. This variety matures early, taking about 55 to 60 days from transplant to harvest green, and 70 to 75 days for full colour.
Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry performs well in both containers and garden beds, thriving in full sun with moderate water and regular feeding every two weeks. Plants are easy to manage, productive, and ornamental enough to use in patio plantings, all while producing delicious mini bells perfect for snacking or adding fresh to meals.
Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
| Days to Maturity | 55–60 days to green fruit; 70–75 days for full colour |
| Plant Size | 18–24" tall, 12–18" wide |
| Exposure | Full sun |
| Start Indoors | Start 8–10 weeks before last frost. Transplant outdoors once nights stay consistently warm. |
| Direct Sow | Not recommended in cold climates — better to start indoors; but in warm zones with long seasons, sow outdoors after frost when soil is warm. |
| Seed Depth / Germination | Sow about ¼" deep. Germinates in 10–25 days under warm soil temperatures. |
| Spacing | Space plants 12–18" apart; rows or containers spaced so plants have 18–24" between stems for airflow. |
| Soil & Water | Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Keep soil evenly moist, especially during flowering and fruit set. |
| Special Traits | Compact, container-friendly growth habit; variegated foliage and striking colour-shifting fruit make it both ornamental and productive. |
| Flavor & Uses | Sweet and crisp fresh from the garden — delicious raw, chopped into salads, stir-fried, roasted, or used fresh in salsas, snacks or summer dishes. |
| Harvest | Harvest when fruit reaches full size. For a sweeter taste, allow fruit to color fully; pick regularly to encourage continued production. |
