Born from a farming couple's determination to save a beloved hybrid pepper from disappearing into the commercial seed void, Bridge to Paris carries both the sweet, thick-walled excellence of its predecessor and a remarkable story of seed preservation. These vigorous plants stretch to 40 inches tall and produce an abundance of large, bell pepper-like fruits that ripen from green to deep red over 88 days. With their first-rate sweet flavor and meaty texture, these peppers excel fresh or frozen, making them a treasured addition to any garden focused on both flavor and food security.
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40in H x ?in W
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What sets Bridge to Paris apart is its journey from hybrid obscurity to open-pollinated treasure through the dedicated work of seed savers who spent years stabilizing its genetics. These remarkably productive plants can reach up to 36 feet in height according to some sources, though typically grow to 40 inches, and produce large peppers with exceptionally thick, bell pepper-like skin. The flavor is outstanding when fully ripe to deep red, offering that perfect sweet pepper taste that made the original La Paris hybrid so beloved by farmers.
These substantial peppers shine both fresh and preserved, with their thick, meaty walls making them ideal for stuffing, roasting, or adding substantial pepper flavor to stir-fries and salads. Their exceptional sweetness when fully red makes them perfect for raw preparations, while their substantial flesh freezes beautifully for year-round cooking. The large size and abundant production from just a few plants makes them particularly valuable for households wanting to preserve pepper harvests.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date in a very warm location, ideally maintaining 80°F for optimal germination. Once seedlings develop, keep them in a well-ventilated area at 70°F or warmer, being careful not to overwater as peppers are sensitive to soggy conditions. When seedlings have 2 sets of true leaves, transplant them to 4-inch pots to allow proper root development.
Transplant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed, placing plants in rich, well-amended soil. Space plants 18 inches apart with adequate room between rows for the large mature size. Apply half a cup of complete fertilizer and a shovelful of compost around each plant at transplanting.
Direct sowing is not recommended for this variety.
Begin harvesting once the peppers start to fill out and reach good size, though the flavor reaches its peak when fruits ripen to deep red. The peppers can be used at any stage but develop their characteristic sweet, rich flavor only when fully mature. Look for thick-walled, firm fruits that have reached their full size potential on these vigorous plants.
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“The Bridge to Paris pepper emerged from a tale of agricultural determination when a local farming couple faced the loss of their favorite hybrid pepper, 'La Paris,' to the fickle commercial seed trade. Rather than accept its disappearance, they embarked on the painstaking process of developing their own seed, spending years untangling the hybrid's genetics like a knotted string of pearls to create a stable, open-pollinated variety. Their success produced a pepper very close to the original La Paris but in a form that could be saved and shared. The seeds then traveled with farm interns until they found a home at Phillies Bridge Farm, who passed them to their local seed library. This community effort to preserve exceptional genetics earned the variety recognition as one of Glynwood's Kitchen Cultivars, cementing its place in the seed saving movement.”