Rocoto Peppers have there own group of varieties with very similar traits. like very juicy pods that are very sweet with heat. The average size of pods are small like crab apple except for the giant varieties. All have heat frim medium to hot heat or 30,000-50,000 SHU with just a couple exceptions that are around 80,000SHU. Pods are medium walled and have black seeds. Plants grow good in cooler climates with very good yields as there Natural habitat is in the mountains or higher altitudes. Plants are stunning with there purple/blue flowers and dark green foliage. Plants can grow very large with long branch’s and should be pruned often to keep plants short. plants do good in hanging baskets because of the long branch’s

Seeds can be hard to germinate with Germinations that can take up to 3-4 weeks or more. Young plants don’t like Cooler weather as much. And you would think if the larger plants can take very cool weather the young plant should to. But that’s now the case it’s best to wait to put them out just like all others. Plants are very pubescent with little hairs on stems and leafs Hence the species name Capsicum Pubescens.

Growing  C.Pubescens and be a Challenge as you will see. Plants have this great aroma that comes off the plants roots and foliage. This great scent brings bugs from everywhere to the plants. We have had problems with these varieties do to pests. Thrips fungus gnats and aphids all love the taste and smell of the Rocoto Peppers.  We have found that if you put one Rocoto plants in with other none Rocoto varieties and the bugs will leave the plant they are on to get to the Rocoto. But if you know that this is going to happen you can beat this small problem. 

Once plants are up and growing good you will see that they need more water than other varieties. And they need more nutrients to another varieties mostly calcium and magnesium. We use epson salt and bonemeal supplement calcium and magnesium will you slightly more with Rocoto a Pepper‘s then we do with others. We also like to grow them in hanging baskets and on raise shelves so that the long branch’s can droop down this seems to work best. 

Capsicum Pubescens