VegetablePepper
Corno Di Toro Rosso Pepper
Corno Di Toro Rosso is an Italian heirloom pepper that grows distinctive 8-10 inch curved fruits shaped like a bull's horn, ripening from green to a brilliant red. This open-pollinated annual thrives in zones 4-13 and reaches harvest in 100-109 days, delivering a mild, sweet pepper with virtually no heat (0-500 Scoville Heat Units). The plant grows as a compact upright bush reaching 18-24 inches tall, making it surprisingly adaptable to containers, raised beds, and garden plots alike.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
These Italian bulls-horns are stunning to look at and even better to eat, with a clean, straightforward sweetness and tender flesh. The plant tolerates drought well and produces abundantly through the season, offering the flexibility to harvest at the green stage for a different flavor or wait for the full red maturity. Open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year to year, reconnecting with a gardening tradition that Italian families have maintained for generations.
Common Uses
Corno Di Toro Rosso excels when roasted whole over flame or in the oven, where the thin walls collapse into sweet, silky flesh that's perfect for peeling and dressing with olive oil and herbs. The peppers are equally at home sliced raw in salads, stuffed with grains or cheese, or preserved by roasting and freezing for winter use. The mildness and tender texture make it a favorite for dishes where the pepper should shine rather than add heat.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, keeping soil warm and consistently moist until germination. Transplant seedlings into larger containers under grow lights or in a sunny window once true leaves appear.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days by exposing them to outdoor conditions in increasing increments. Transplant outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60°F, burying the stem slightly deeper than it was growing in the pot. Space plants 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting 100-109 days after transplanting. Peppers can be picked at the green stage for a slightly different flavor, or left on the plant to ripen fully to red. Harvest by cutting with pruners rather than pulling, as yanking can damage the brittle branches. The mature red peppers will be soft to gentle pressure and develop their full sweetness at this stage.
Pruning
This upright, naturally compact pepper requires minimal pruning. You can remove lower leaves once plants are established to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, and pinching out the first flower cluster encourages branching and a bushier plant. Beyond that, let the plant grow naturally in its 18-24 inch form.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Corno Di Toro Rosso carries the legacy of Italian heirloom peppers, specifically cultivated in Italy where the distinctive horn shape and mild character made it a kitchen staple. The name itself, meaning 'bull's horn red,' reflects the regional significance of this pepper in Italian agriculture and food culture. As an open-pollinated heirloom, it represents a living connection to traditional seed-saving practices, preserved and shared among gardeners who value genetic diversity and culinary heritage.”