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Fruiting vegetable
Solanaceae
Organic fruiting vegetable seeds
Organic 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper
Capsicum annuum
Product code : BIOVO-0079
'Cherry Bomb' pepper bears glossy red, round, fleshy fruit resembling large cherries. Thick walls and a mildly sweet flavour followed by noticeable heat make it especially useful for pickling, preserving, and cooked stuffed appetizers. The Capsicum annuum plant remains compact and branching enough for a vegetable bed or large sunny container. In your region, start seed early indoors and transplant only after nights become mild. Fertile free-draining soil, regular watering, and frequent picking support production. This organic seed combines culinary value, ornamental colour, and a convenient plant size, although the same heat level cannot be guaranteed in every fruit. Taste cautiously before seasoning a complete batch.
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- Annual
Discover the plant
Common name'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper, cherry pepper
FamilySolanaceae
GenusCapsicum
Speciesannuum
CultivarCherry Bomb
TypeFruiting vegetable
Botanical nameCapsicum annuum
Organic 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) produces small, fleshy, round fruit that changes from green to glossy red at maturity. Its cherry-like shape, thick walls, and mildly sweet yet hot flavour explain its popularity for pickling, preserving, and stuffed appetizers. The compact, branching plant suits vegetable beds and large sunny containers. Grown as an annual in your region, it also becomes ornamental when colourful fruit develops among green foliage. This organic seed is a practical choice for gardeners seeking yield, colour, and culinary versatility in a reasonably small space. Heat can vary, so taste a small cooked portion before seasoning an entire recipe.
Start seed indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost, approximately 5 or 6 mm (1/4 in) deep. Steady warmth, clean starting mix, and intense light after emergence encourage sturdy seedlings. Pot on once young plants are established, then harden them gradually for about one week. Transplant only after nights are mild and soil has warmed, into a site receiving at least six to eight hours of sun. Fertile soil amended with compost and draining freely is suitable. Water deeply when the surface begins to dry without leaving roots in saturated soil, then support fruiting with moderate fertilizer. A stake may help if a productive plant becomes heavily loaded.
Harvest green fruit for a more vegetal flavour or wait for full red colour to obtain sweeter flesh and vivid appearance. Wear gloves if your skin reacts to hot peppers and avoid touching your eyes during preparation. The round shape is particularly suited to whole pickling when a tested preservation recipe is followed, or to cooked stuffed appetizers. Fruit can also be chopped into salsa, chutney, or sauce. In a container, place the plant near the kitchen while giving it the warmest part of the patio. Pick regularly to maintain production until autumn cooling. Keep prepared preserves properly labelled and follow current food-safety directions for every storage method.
Sowing guide
It all startswith a seed.
Sowing depth
5 to 6 mm (approximately 1/4 in)
Spacing / density
Space approximately 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) apart
Germination temperature
Approximately 24 to 29 °C (75 to 85 °F)
Germination time
Approximately 10 to 14 days at 21–29°C; cooler media can extend emergence to about three weeks.
Sowing period
Indoors, 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost
Propagation
Seed
Growing method
Growing 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper from seed. Sow indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost, 5 or 6 mm (1/4 in) deep in clean, lightly moist starting mix. For 'Cherry Bomb' indoor sowing, follow the frost-relative timing above. After germination, give 'Cherry Bomb' strong light and gentle airflow while keeping the young root zone evenly moist. A pepper seedling needs strong light, gentle airflow, and an evenly moist root zone without standing water. If a seed harvest from the crop is planned, retain the cultivar label and consult crop-specific isolation guidance; vegetable harvest directions alone are not sufficient. Mulch only after the ground has warmed, and keep the material away from the stem. The pepper plant develops the expected harvest form: small, round to slightly flattened, fleshy-walled fruit. Use visible changes in the crop rather than the calendar alone to judge harvest. Harden plants gradually to sun, wind, and cooler air, bringing them back under cover if frost threatens. Pot the plant up when roots occupy the starter cell, handling the root ball rather than pulling the stem. Place the crop in full sun, while preserving drainage and airflow at root and leaf level. Feed moderately after establishment; excessive nitrogen can postpone flowers and ripe fruit. After late-season rain or wind, confirm drainage and support while preserving healthy foliage needed to finish ripening. Harvest the pepper plant at its intended colour stage rather than by an absolute date. Use suitable gloves, label the hot fruit clearly, and protect container plants before the first autumn frost only when useful light and warmth remain.
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Soil pH
Approximately 6.0 to 6.8
Minimum temperature
10 °C (50 °F)
Care level
Moderate
Watering
Water deeply at soil level when the soil surface begins to dry, then allow excess moisture to drain. Maintain even moisture during flowering and fruit development without saturating roots. Clean mulch limits evaporation and soil splash. Avoid sharp cycles between drought and heavy watering, as well as late-day overhead watering. Check containers daily during hot or windy weather and empty standing water from saucers after rain.
Soil type
Choose loose, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with mature compost before transplanting. A loamy texture that retains even moisture without remaining saturated supports healthy roots and continued production. Avoid locations where water collects after rain and soils that remain cold or compacted. In containers, use airy vegetable potting mix and keep every drainage hole open so excess water can escape freely.
Fertilization
Begin 'Cherry Bomb' in soil amended with mature compost, then use a soil test to choose any balanced supplemental feed. Once buds and small, round to slightly flattened, fleshy-walled fruit appear, steady growth matters more than high nitrogen. Correct light, drainage, and irrigation problems before assuming 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper lacks fertilizer. Excess nitrogen can delay flowering and ripening by pushing soft foliage. When tending 'Cherry Bomb', apply only the labelled rate to moist soil and water granular product into the root zone. Stop or reduce feeding when 'Cherry Bomb' already shows balanced growth.
Moisture
Consistent soil moisture without saturation; good air circulation around the foliage.
Seasonal care
Seasonal care for 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper. Use 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper’s stated sowing window as a frost-relative cue, not a universal date: indoors, 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost. Sow 5 to 6 mm deep at approximately 24 to 29 °C (75 to 85 °F); the working germination range is 10 to 14 days, with moisture held steady rather than saturated. After emergence, give 'Cherry Bomb' seedlings bright light and gentle air movement; pot on before roots circle densely, without burying a weak stem in wet mix. Harden the plants gradually, then transplant only after frost risk has passed, the soil is warm, and nights remain consistently mild. Choose full sun and loose fertile soil, mixing in mature compost while preserving drainage around the crown. Water deeply at soil level, then let the upper layer begin drying; repeated drought-to-soaking cycles can interrupt flower and fruit development. 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper container guidance: at least 15 to 20 L, approximately 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter. Set the pot where runoff can escape and light is adequate. During flowering, inspect 'Cherry Bomb' foliage for pests, maintain airflow, and avoid excess nitrogen, which can favour leafy growth over flower set and fruit ripening. Follow the supplied harvest guidance—75 to 85 days after transplanting—while remembering that warmth and light still determine how quickly each fruit reaches its final stage. When 'Cherry Bomb' fruit begins colouring, handle it with gloves until the actual heat is known and label green and fully ripe harvests separately. Before the first autumn frost, move portable pots under protection or collect sound developed fruit, then remove diseased debris from the growing area.
Container growing
A garden,within reach.
Recommended pot size
At least 15 to 20 L, approximately 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter
Growing 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper in containers. For 'Cherry Bomb', choose a container matching this guide: at least 15 to 20 L, approximately 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter. Keep several drainage holes unobstructed. Set one established 'Cherry Bomb' plant at an appropriate depth and keep the stem clear of the rim and mulch. Plan around the way the plant grows: compact, upright, and branching. Keep access to the root zone for watering and inspection. Rotate the container when one side receives less light, but do not twist loaded stems against their support. At final planting, follow this layout for this pepper: approximately 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) apart. Mark positions before roots are placed. Fill the container with fresh, airy vegetable potting mix amended modestly with mature compost, never dense garden soil. Watch the pepper plant for small, round to slightly flattened, fleshy-walled fruit and confirm maturity from colour, firmness, or size as appropriate. Check moisture daily during hot or windy periods, using pot weight and the root zone rather than a rigid schedule. Give the crop full sun. Choose the site before committing the final planting position. Prevent soil splash on lower leaves, fasten stems without constriction, and keep flower clusters and developing fruit easy to inspect. As nights cool, let the rate of mix drying guide watering, and inspect leaf undersides before sheltering the container. Use clean shears where pulling could bend a branch, and collect sound developed fruit ahead of the first autumn frost. Isolate a plant brought indoors until pests are ruled out.
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
Approximately 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 in)
Width / spread
Approximately 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in)
Flower color
White to greenish white
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Herbaceous
Growth rate
Fast
Growth habit
Compact, upright, and branching
Bloom period
'Cherry Bomb' opens small self-fertile flowers where leaves meet branching stems. Ordinary air movement and visiting insects can help release pollen. In the 'Cherry Bomb' planting, record the first bloom and first set dates for local planning. A retained blossom precedes development of the small, round to slightly flattened, fleshy-walled fruit. When tending 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper, maintain even root moisture and moderate fertility. In the 'Cherry Bomb' planting, cold nights, high heat, saturation, or drought may interrupt set, so protect a pepper with compact, upright, and branching growth from abrupt stress and keep sprays off open flowers. Let beneficial insects visit without spraying open blooms.
Fruiting
After flowering, round, fleshy fruit enlarges among the foliage and changes from green to glossy red at maturity. Several stages may appear simultaneously because blossoms do not all open on the same day. Abundant light, even moisture, and balanced nutrition support production. Harvest with a clean tool once peppers are firm and fully coloured, cutting the stem instead of pulling on branches. Pick regularly to encourage continued fruit development.
Harvest
75 to 85 days after transplanting
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Keep herbs in neighbouring pots beside container-grown 'Cherry Bomb' so each root system can be watered separately. Keep the centre of the pepper canopy open rather than pressing tomato or pepper foliage against it. When arranging neighbours for 'Cherry Bomb', match irrigation to each root zone instead of watering the entire combination by habit. Remove any neighbour that begins competing for light, moisture, airflow, or harvest access. Rotate 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper with crops outside the nightshade family; nearby herbs do not interrupt a soil-borne disease cycle. When arranging neighbours for 'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper, keep access open to the small, round to slightly flattened, fleshy-walled fruit so gloves, labels, and clean harvest containers can be used without brushing other crops. Reassess the arrangement around 'Cherry Bomb' as both crops approach mature size.
Plants to avoid
Fennel and kohlrabi can hinder the harmonious development of peppers or create unfavorable competition.
Recipe idea
From the gardento your plate.
Edible parts
Fruit, after appropriate culinary preparation
'Cherry Bomb' hot pepper in the kitchen. For cooked stuffed 'Cherry Bomb' peppers, harvest eight firm sound fruit and wash them. Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive. Cut off the tops, carefully remove seeds and membranes, then wash tools and the work surface. Mix 125 mL (1/2 cup) cream cheese with 30 mL (2 tbsp) chopped herbs and a small amount of breadcrumbs. First taste a minute cooked piece of pepper to assess its intensity. Fill the fruit without packing it too tightly, place in a lightly oiled dish, and bake at 190°C (375°F) until walls are tender and filling is thoroughly hot. Serve immediately with a warning about the heat. Promptly refrigerate leftovers in a closed container and consume them according to guidance for the ingredients used. This preparation is not a canning method; to store peppers at room temperature, use only a tested preservation recipe. Wash hands again after removing gloves, and keep uncooked filling refrigerated until it is needed. Use a clean serving utensil so pepper residue is not transferred accidentally to milder foods.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
When should 'Cherry Bomb' pepper be sown in your region?
Start Cherry Bomb pepper indoors eight to ten weeks before the expected last frost. Sow 5 to 6 mm (about ¼ in) deep and hold the germination zone near 24 to 29 °C (75 to 85 °F). Emergence may take approximately 10 to 14 days, depending on warmth and the seed lot. Move seedlings into bright light as soon as they appear and pot them on before roots become tight. Harden plants in stages and transplant only after frost danger has passed, soil has warmed, and nights stay mild. Cherry Bomb forms a compact, upright plant about 60 to 75 cm tall and 45 to 60 cm wide. Space for that mature spread or use one plant in at least a 15–20 L container approximately 30 to 35 cm across.
Are 'Cherry Bomb' fruit suitable for pickling?
Yes. Their round shape and fleshy walls are well suited to pickling whole or in pieces. Use a current tested preservation recipe from a reliable source because acidity, proportions, heating method, and container size determine the safety of the finished food. Do not arbitrarily change the vinegar or processing time. Wash fruit, discard damaged peppers, and wear gloves if your skin is sensitive to hot peppers. Because heat can vary, taste a small cooked portion before preparing a large batch. Label and store jars exactly as directed by the chosen method, and discard any container showing leakage, swelling, unusual odour, or other spoilage signs.
Can 'Cherry Bomb' peppers be stuffed?
Yes. Their small round shape and relatively thick flesh suit stuffed appetizers when cooked properly. Cut off the top, remove seeds and membranes with a small spoon, then wash tools and the work surface. Wear gloves if sensitive to capsaicin and avoid eye contact. A cheese, grain, or vegetable filling can be used, but storage and cooking must follow the requirements of the chosen ingredients. Taste one small cooked piece first because intensity varies. Clearly warn anyone who does not know the heat level, keep prepared food refrigerated when required, and never leave a perishable filling at room temperature longer than recommended by current food-safety guidance.
Can 'Cherry Bomb' be grown in a container?
Cherry Bomb can be container-grown. Use one plant in at least 15–20 L of mix, in a pot approximately 30 to 35 cm wide with several open drainage holes. Its compact, upright form reaches roughly 60 to 75 cm but spreads 45 to 60 cm, so choose a stable vessel and leave room around it. Move the pot outdoors only after frost danger has passed. Water the whole root zone, allow excess to drain, and check moisture more often during heat or wind. A light cage can support branches carrying the small, fleshy, round fruit. The first harvest is listed around 75 to 85 days after transplanting. Keep the container labelled as hot pepper and place it where children and pets cannot casually pick the bright fruit.
When should 'Cherry Bomb' peppers be harvested?
Fruit may be harvested green once it reaches normal size and has firm walls, but colour and flavour continue developing as it becomes glossy red. For pickling or stuffed appetizers, choose sound fruit without soft areas or major cracks. Cut the stem with a clean tool instead of pulling the pepper so branches are not broken. Pick regularly to encourage additional fruit. Before the first cold nights, harvest remaining peppers that have reached a useful size. Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive, wash your hands after handling, and keep peppers refrigerated or process them promptly according to the requirements of the intended recipe.
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Cherry Bomb's white pepper flowers are self-fertile, so fruit can develop without a dedicated insect pollinator. Bumblebees and other bees sometimes visit and their vibration may improve pollen release. Treat this as incidental garden activity rather than a special wildlife feature. During bloom, avoid applying products to open flowers while insects are foraging.
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