Sweet Pepper
Corno Di Toro peppers are Italian horn peppers that grow 30-36 inches tall and produce long, slender fruits ready to harvest in 80 days. These plants thrive in full sun and reward patient gardeners with heavy yields of distinctive peppers that develop from green to red as they mature. Starting seeds indoors 2 months before warm weather arrives ensures you'll have robust transplants ready to move into the garden once night temperatures stay above 50°F.
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
36in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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These peppers produce abundantly on sturdy plants that need staking to support the weight of their heavy crop. The long, horn-shaped fruits are uniquely Italian in character, and the plants respond well to consistent moisture and regular fertilization. Plan for 80 days from transplanting to first harvest, and you'll be rewarded with prolific production throughout the season.
These peppers are used fresh in Italian cooking and cooking traditions where their distinctive horn shape and tender flesh make them valuable for roasting, grilling, and stuffing. Their elongated form and relatively thin walls render them particularly suited to charring over flame and using in Mediterranean dishes.
Start seeds indoors about 2 months before night temperatures consistently stay above 50-55°F (10-13°C). Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in seed starting mix. Keep the medium moist but not soggy and maintain very warm conditions between 80-85°F (27-29°C). Provide strong light until seedlings are ready to move outdoors. When seedlings reach 2 inches tall, transplant them 3 inches apart into deeper containers and maintain temperatures around 70-75°F (21-24°C). Feed with half-strength fertilizer weekly until conditions are warm enough to gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor temperatures.
Transplant outdoors only when night temperatures stay reliably above 50°F (10°C) and use only robust seedlings with well-developed root systems. Prepare soil thoroughly by mixing in aged manure or compost. Space plants 3 inches apart in the garden bed. Mulch around plants to maintain even soil moisture and help regulate soil temperature.
Peppers are ready to harvest approximately 80 days after transplanting. Pick fruits when they reach full size; they can be harvested green or left to mature to red on the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued flowering and fruit production throughout the growing season.
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