VegetablePepper
Wa Mae Wo Pepper
Wa Mae Wo is a Korean hybrid pepper that bridges tradition and practicality, maturing in just 100-109 days to produce hot peppers suited for multiple culinary roles. This upright plant grows 30-36 inches tall in full sun across zones 4-13, thriving in moderate water and slightly acidic soil. From fresh eating at the immature stage to dried red peppers ground into flakes or fermented into pickles, this variety delivers the versatility Korean cooks have relied on for generations.
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
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
This early-maturing Korean hybrid moves from seed to harvest in just over 100 days, making it practical even for shorter growing seasons. The peppers shift through multiple culinary personalities as they mature: eaten fresh when young and tender, or allowed to ripen fully red for drying and grinding into the aromatic flakes used throughout Korean cooking. Its upright growth habit keeps plants compact at 30-36 inches, fitting neatly into garden beds, raised containers, or greenhouse space without sprawling demands.
Common Uses
This pepper excels at multiple stages of maturity, making it genuinely versatile in the kitchen. Harvest young peppers (called put in Korean) for fresh eating, slicing into stir-fries or serving as a peppery side dish. Allow peppers to mature fully red for drying whole or ground into gochutgaru, the essential Korean red pepper flake. The mature red peppers are also ideal for fermented pickling, where their heat and flavor intensify through the fermentation process.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors in warmth, maintaining soil temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Begin seeds 6-8 weeks before your last frost date to allow seedlings time to develop strong growth before transplanting.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all frost danger has passed and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows spaced 36 inches apart, allowing adequate room for the upright growth habit.
Harvesting
Harvest young peppers (put) at any stage for fresh eating, when they're still tender and green. For dried pepper production, allow peppers to mature fully on the plant until they turn deep red (hong gochu), typically around 100-109 days from transplant. Red, mature peppers can be harvested fresh for immediate use, dried whole for storage, or ground into flakes. Pinch or cut peppers cleanly from the stem rather than pulling to avoid damaging the plant.
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
“Wa Mae Wo comes from Korea's long tradition of pepper cultivation, specifically part of the Yeori Gochu lineage. This hybrid was developed to combine early maturity with the hot pungency Korean cuisine demands, allowing gardeners in cooler climates to achieve full ripeness before frost arrives. The variety carries forward centuries of Korean pepper breeding, where peppers have been essential to fermented foods, dried preparations, and fresh cooking.”