Scientific Name: Capsicum annum 

Common Names: Chocolate Capsicum, Chocolate Bell Pepper, Capsicum 'Chocolate'

Family: Solanaceae (Tomato, Potato & Pepper)

Culinary Uses

Chocolate Capsicums are much smaller than the standard red and green Capsicums you see in grocery stores (they grow to about 8cm long with a 4cm diameter), making them idea for stuffing.  They also taste great raw in salads or just eaten straight off the bush and have a delicious sweet and mildly smokey flavour with no heat or pungency.

When To Sow

Capsicums can be grown successfully all year around in the tropical and subtropical regions of Australia.  In temperate regions sow Capsicum seed from September to November for best results.

How To Sow

Sow Capsicum seeds 6mm deep spacing each planting hole about 45cm apart to allow the bushes plenty of room to grow.  Fruit production will be greatest when planted in full sun, however Capsicum plants can be prone to wilting during the warmer months in hotter areas of Australia, under such conditions it's best to choose a planting site that receives partial shade during the hotter times of the day.

Germination Time

Most Capsicum seeds will take between 12 and 24 days to germinate with a few emerging quicker or taking longer than this.  Soaking Capsicum seeds overnight prior to planting can help to reduce germination time.

Time To Harvest

This variety takes between 10 and 11 weeks to produce ripe, brown Capsicums, although they can also be picked earlier while still green if desired.

Chocolate Capsicum flowers.  Capsicum flowers normally hang downwards (termed pendulous), you can see the small, not yet pollinated, green fruit at the centre of the flower.

Capscium 'Chocolate' fruits hanging on the bush, ripe and ready for picking at their sweetest.

Cross-section of Capsicum 'Chocolate' fruit.