VegetablePepper
Biquinho Red Pepper
These charming Brazilian treasures produce teardrop-shaped peppers that look like tiny beaks, earning their Portuguese name 'little beak.' Biquinho Red peppers ripen to vibrant red, delivering a uniquely fruity, mildly spicy flavor at just 500-1,000 Scoville units. Compact plants reach 18-24 inches tall and wide, making them perfect for containers, while thriving in zones 4-13. Ready to harvest in about 75 days, though some sources report up to 99 days for full maturity.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, High Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
24 in
Width
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
24in H x 24in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The ornamental beauty of these peppers matches their culinary value perfectly. Each plant produces an abundance of bright red, one-inch teardrops that start green before ripening to their signature crimson. Their mild heat and distinctive fruity character make them incredibly versatile in the kitchen, while their striking appearance serves as both garden centerpiece and conversation starter. The late-season harvest arrives in waves, providing plenty of peppers for both fresh eating and preserving.
Common Uses
These versatile peppers excel in pickling, where their fruity character shines through sweet and salty brines. They make exceptional pizza toppers, salsa ingredients, and garnishes for fresh bread. Beyond pickling, they're perfect for making pepper jellies to accompany cheeses and grilled meats, infusing vinegars and oils for flavored condiments, or drying into powder for seasoning blends.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost. Sow at 1/4 inch depth in seed-starting mix and maintain soil temperature of 80-85°F using a heat mat for optimal germination. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged throughout the germination period.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions, starting in shaded, protected areas for a few hours daily before increasing direct sunlight exposure. Transplant after all danger of frost has passed, spacing plants 18-24 inches apart in sunny locations with well-draining soil.
Harvesting
Harvest peppers 75 days after transplanting when they ripen from green to vibrant red, though the harvest window may extend to 99 days for some plants. Use scissors or pruners to snip peppers from the plant to avoid damaging delicate branches. For milder flavor, peppers can be picked slightly earlier while still developing their red color. The late-season harvest typically arrives in waves, providing abundant fruit for processing.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum chinense
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
History & Origin
“Biquinho peppers originated in Brazil, where they became cherished in South American cuisine for their distinctive flavor and ornamental appeal. These heirloom peppers traveled from Brazilian gardens to capture the hearts of gardeners worldwide, carrying with them generations of traditional preparation methods and culinary applications that reflect their deep roots in Brazilian food culture.”