Lemon Drop Chile Pepper is a Capsicum baccatum cultivar that brings bright, citrusy heat to gardens in zones 9-11. Growing 20-24 inches tall, these open-pollinated plants reach harvest in about 100 days, rewarding patient gardeners with peppers that live up to their name: small, intensely flavored fruits with a distinctive lemon character. This frost-tender variety thrives in full sun with moderate watering and prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (6.0-7.0 pH). Starting from seed indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting gives you the best chance at a productive season.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
24in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The Lemon Drop's true character emerges in its flavor: a peppery heat paired with unmistakable citrus notes that set it apart from standard chile peppers. These compact plants stay manageable at 20-24 inches, making them suited to both garden beds and containers. The open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seed from your best plants year to year, building a strain perfectly adapted to your local growing conditions.
Lemon Drop peppers excel in fresh applications where their bright citrus-forward flavor can shine. Use them in salsas, hot sauces, and marinades where the lemon notes complement fish or poultry. They're also exceptional dried and powdered for a unique spice blend, or pickled whole to preserve their distinctive character through winter.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your transplant date. Maintain soil temperature at 70°F for germination, though seeds will germinate faster in warmer conditions up to 90°F. Keep the seed starting mix consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 2-4 weeks after your average last frost date, once daytime temperatures reach at least 70°F and nighttime temperatures stay around 55°F or above. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows that are also 24 inches apart. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before planting.
Direct sowing is possible only in mild climates; sow outside 2-4 weeks after your average last frost date when soil temperature reaches at least 70°F. In mild winter climates, you can also sow in late summer for a fall and winter crop.
Peppers are ready to harvest approximately 100 days after transplanting. Pick fruits when they reach full size; they can be harvested green, but allowing them to mature to their full color develops the best flavor. Use sharp pruners or scissors to cut peppers from the stem rather than tearing them, which can damage the plant. Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruiting throughout the season.
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