VegetablePepper
Chianti Pepper
Chianti is an early-maturing hybrid sweet pepper that brings Italian sophistication to North American gardens. This F1 hybrid transitions from green to a gorgeous scarlet red in just 60 to 70 days from transplant, producing blocky, thick-walled fruits measuring 4 inches wide by 3 inches tall. Thriving across hardiness zones 4 through 13 in full sun, Chianti reaches a compact 15 to 18 inches tall, making it equally at home in garden beds, raised plots, and even greenhouse containers. It packs zero heat and excellent flavor into a pepper that's one of the earliest of its kind to reach maturity.
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
18 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Chianti stands out for its remarkable speed to harvest combined with fruit quality that doesn't feel rushed. The thick walls and substantial weight give you a pepper that slices cleanly and cooks evenly, while the early maturity (65 to 70 days) means you're harvesting scarlet beauties by mid-summer even in cooler zones. Its compact upright growth fits seamlessly into tight spaces, and the ability to adapt across zones 4 through 13 makes it genuinely region-agnostic.
Common Uses
Chianti peppers work beautifully in fresh preparations where their thick walls and good weight shine, sliced raw for salads, roasted whole until the skin blisters, or stuffed with grains and vegetables. The sweet, heat-free character makes them approachable for all palates, and their blocky shape holds fillings reliably without splitting.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow at a depth of 1/4 inch in seed-starting mix and maintain soil temperature around 70 to 80°F for germination. Keep consistently moist but not soggy. Seedlings should emerge in 7 to 14 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when soil temperatures have warmed to at least 60°F. Space plants 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows.
Harvesting
Chianti peppers reach harvest-ready size at 60 to 69 days from transplant. You can pick them at the mature green stage, but they fully develop their sweet flavor and scarlet-red color with a few more days on the plant. Peppers should feel firm and substantial in your hand, measuring roughly 4 inches wide by 3 inches tall when ready. Slice them from the stem with a sharp knife rather than pulling to avoid damaging the plant.
Pruning
Minimal pruning is needed given the upright, compact habit. Pinching off the first flower cluster before plants set fruit can encourage bushier growth and earlier overall flowering. Remove any dead or diseased foliage as the season progresses.
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)