This Hungarian heirloom transforms from creamy white to brilliant red in your garden, delivering the authentic paprika experience your spice rack has been missing. Alma Paprika peppers mature in 70-79 days (though some sources suggest up to 80) into apple-shaped beauties with thick walls perfect for drying and grinding. These compact 18-24 inch plants thrive in zones 4-13, bringing both ornamental charm and culinary tradition to containers or garden beds with their dramatic color progression and sweet, smoky heat.
18
Full Sun
High
4-13
24in H x ?in W
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High
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The Alma Paprika stands apart for its dual-purpose nature and stunning visual appeal. Its apple-shaped fruits progress through creamy white and orange stages before reaching their final bright red maturity, creating a living display of pepper development. The thick walls make this variety exceptional for traditional paprika powder production, while the sweet flavor with a hint of smoky heat in the seeds offers kitchen versatility that fresh market peppers simply cannot match.
Alma Paprika excels in both fresh and dried applications, though its true calling lies in traditional spice making. Fresh peppers can be sliced into salads, stuffed, grilled, or pickled, taking advantage of their thick walls and sweet flavor. When fully ripened to red, these peppers shine when dried and ground into homemade paprika powder, creating a sweet yet spicy seasoning with 2,000-3,000 Scoville Heat Units. The dried peppers can also be used whole to flavor sauces and stews, infusing dishes with their distinctive smoky sweetness.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8-12 weeks before the anticipated transplant date, using sterile seed starting mix and planting at 1/4 inch depth. Maintain soil temperature of 70-85°F for optimal germination. Peppers develop more slowly than tomatoes, so don't worry if seedlings stall for a couple weeks after sprouting before developing true leaves. Once seedlings have 2 sets of true leaves, transplant to 4-inch pots.
Transplant after nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50°F. Harden off seedlings gradually over 1-2 weeks to prevent shock. Space plants 18 inches apart in well-draining soil, incorporating balanced slow-release fertilizer or organic compost at planting time.
Direct sowing is not recommended for this variety.
Alma Paprika offers flexible harvesting timing based on your culinary needs. Harvest at the creamy white stage for milder, sweeter flavor, or wait for full red maturity to maximize sweetness, heat, and vitamin content. Peppers are ready when firm to the touch and easily pull away with gentle pressure. Cut peppers from plants using scissors or a sharp knife to avoid damaging branches. Regular harvesting throughout the 70-79 day maturity window encourages continued production.
With their naturally upright growth habit reaching 18-24 inches, Alma Paprika plants typically require minimal pruning. Remove any damaged or diseased foliage and consider light pruning of lower branches to improve air circulation around the base of the plant.
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“Originating from Hungary, the Alma Paprika carries the deep culinary heritage of traditional paprika powder production. This heirloom variety was specifically bred for its thick flesh and robust flavor profile, designed to create the authentic paprika that defines Hungarian cuisine. The variety represents centuries of careful selection by Hungarian growers who understood that the best paprika peppers needed substantial walls for proper drying and grinding, ensuring the sweet yet smoky character that makes Hungarian paprika world-renowned.”