Black Hungarian Pepper is a heirloom hot pepper that produces striking black fruits shaped like jalapeños, packed with 1,500 to 2,500 Scoville Heat Units of mild heat. This open-pollinated Capsicum annuum reaches 18 to 30 inches tall and matures in just 70 to 79 days from transplant, making it reliable for most growing seasons. Hardy in zones 4 through 13, it thrives in full sun and adapts beautifully to containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses, giving gardeners flexibility in how they grow it.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
—
Width
18 in
Spacing
70–79
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Black Hungarian apart is its distinctive appearance and versatility. The dark, jalapeño-shaped peppers are visually stunning on upright plants, and the mild heat level makes this variety approachable for gardeners who want flavor without overwhelming spice. It's genuinely open-pollinated, which means you can save seeds year after year, preserving a piece of heirloom gardening tradition in your own plot.
Common Uses
Black Hungarian Peppers are excellent for cooking at their immature black stage, when they deliver mild heat and distinctive flavor. They work beautifully in stir-fries, salsas, and fresh preparations, and many gardeners also leave them on the plant to fully ripen to red for a sweeter, mature flavor. The peppers are well-suited to fresh eating, roasting, and drying.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-spring
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start Black Hungarian Pepper seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch in warm soil (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for germination). Keep the seed starting mix consistently moist and provide bottom heat if possible to speed germination. Seeds typically emerge in 7 to 14 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date, when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees. Harden off plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space them 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, or adjust spacing based on your container or raised bed setup.
Harvesting
Black Hungarian Peppers reach harvest maturity 70 to 79 days after transplanting. Pick them at the immature black stage for a distinctive color and mild heat, or leave them on the plant longer to ripen to red for increased sweetness. Peppers are ready to harvest when they feel firm and have developed their full dark color. Use scissors or pruners to cut peppers cleanly from the plant rather than pulling them, which can damage branches.
Pruning
Black Hungarian Pepper doesn't require heavy pruning, but removing lower leaves as the plant grows can improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Pinching off the first flower or two when plants are young encourages branching and a bushier, more productive form. The upright growth habit means plants naturally support themselves well.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum L.
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Black Hungarian Pepper carries the genetics and character of Eastern European pepper-growing traditions, where such varieties were cultivated and selected for specific heat profiles and fruit shapes suited to regional cuisine. As an open-pollinated heirloom, it represents seeds passed down through generations of gardeners and farmers who valued its reliable performance and distinctive black fruit. The variety has been preserved and distributed through seed catalogs, ensuring that home gardeners today can grow the same plants their predecessors did.”