VegetablePepper
Sweet Chocolate Pepper
Sweet Chocolate Pepper is an heirloom sweet pepper that ripens from green to a striking deep chocolate brown on the outside, with brick-red flesh within. Bred by Elwyn Meader and introduced by the University of New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station in 1965, this open-pollinated variety produces abundant medium-sized, thick-walled fruit on upright plants that reach 24-36 inches tall. Ready to harvest in 60-69 days from transplant, it thrives in zones 4-13 and delivers zero heat with pure, uncomplicated sweetness that makes it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking an heirloom with genuine character and visual drama.
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
36 in
Height
24 in
Width
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
36in H x 24in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The chocolate-brown exterior of this pepper is so distinctive that it creates immediate visual interest in the garden and on the plate, ripening to scarlet red when fully mature. The flesh is thick and sweet with a crunchy texture, making it exceptional for fresh slicing where its unusual coloring draws attention. As an early maturing variety that fruits prolifically on compact plants, it rewards gardeners in shorter growing seasons while remaining productive even in longer ones, and its open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seed year after year.
Common Uses
Sweet Chocolate Pepper shines as a fresh slicing pepper for salads, where its unusual chocolate-brown coloring creates visual interest and its sweet, crunchy flesh delivers genuine flavor without any heat. The thick walls and substantial fruit make it suitable for raw eating, and some gardeners use it for drying or storing, though the catalog sources emphasize its role as a fresh market pepper.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, keeping soil between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Peppers need steady warmth to germinate well; they won't progress in cool soil. Transplant seedlings into individual pots once they develop true leaves.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed thoroughly. Space plants 18-24 inches apart in rows 36-48 inches apart, depending on your preferred spacing system.
Harvesting
Peppers mature in 60-69 days from transplant. You can harvest when peppers reach full size and develop their distinctive chocolate-brown color, or wait until they deepen to scarlet red for maximum sweetness. The fruit will feel firm to the touch when ready. Harvest using a sharp knife or pruners to cut the pepper from the stem, leaving the plant intact for continued production.
Pruning
Sweet Chocolate Pepper grows naturally upright and compact at 24-36 inches tall, requiring minimal pruning. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain airflow. Pinching out the first flower cluster when plants are young can encourage more robust branching, though this delay is optional for gardeners prioritizing earlier harvests.
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
“Sweet Chocolate Pepper emerged from deliberate breeding work at the University of New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, where horticulturist Elwyn Meader developed this variety and introduced it to gardeners in 1965. Meader's work focused on creating sweet peppers suited to cooler climates, and this cultivar represents that mission directly, combining early maturity with reliable production. Its journey from university breeding program to heirloom status reflects a broader movement toward preserving open-pollinated varieties that perform well in diverse growing conditions.”