Sale
Sold out
Hot pepper seed
Solanaceae
Organic fruiting vegetable seeds
Organic 'Piri Piri' hot pepper
Capsicum frutescens
Product code : BIOVO-0097
'Piri Piri' is an African Bird's Eye pepper of Capsicum frutescens, known for small upright fruit that ripens from green to bright red. Approximately 2 to 4 cm (3/4 to 1 1/2 in) long, the peppers carry intense heat commonly reported between 50,000 and 175,000 Scoville Heat Units and a fruity flavour with lightly citrus-like notes. The bushy plant generally reaches 60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 in) in a warm Canada season. It needs an early indoor start, full sun, fertile well-drained soil, and a long frost-free period. Red-ripe fruit is especially useful for sauces, marinades, flakes, and powders.
- Quantity
- Approximately 10 seeds
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- Warm-season annual
Discover the plant
Common namePiri Piri pepper; African Bird's Eye pepper
FamilySolanaceae
GenusCapsicum
Speciesfrutescens
CultivarPiri Piri
TypeHot pepper seed
Botanical nameCapsicum frutescens
Reproducible seedsYes
Organic 'Piri Piri' hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens) is an African Bird's Eye type grown as an annual under Canada conditions. Its bushy, branching plant carries many small, narrow fruits 2 to 4 cm (3/4 to 1 1/2 in) long, generally held upright above the foliage. They change from green to bright red when ripe and develop intense heat, commonly reported between 50,000 and 175,000 Scoville Heat Units. Their lively, fruity, lightly citrus-like flavour is valued for sauces, marinades, and seasonings. The plant commonly reaches 60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 in) during a well-managed warm growing season.
This cultivar requires an early start because red-ripe fruit may need approximately 110 to 120 days after transplanting. Sow indoors eight to twelve weeks before the last frost in moist, sterile seed-starting mix, approximately 6 mm (1/4 in) deep. Maintain 24 to 30°C (75 to 85°F); germination generally occurs in 15 to 20 days. After emergence, provide strong light, move seedlings into larger pots, and harden them for at least one week. Transplant into full sun only after soil has warmed and all frost danger has passed, protecting young plants from chilling winds and unusually cold nights.
In the garden, 'Piri Piri' suits sunny rows, edible beds, and warm containers protected from strong wind. Space plants approximately 40 cm (16 in) apart, water regularly without saturating the soil, and feed moderately after fruit set. Harvest red fruit for full maturity and always handle it with gloves; avoid touching the eyes. These small peppers are useful for drying, flakes, powders, marinades, and piri-piri sauces. Pale blossoms may receive visiting bees, while the bright red ripening fruit extends visual interest until cold nights arrive. Clearly label harvested peppers so they are never mistaken for mild kitchen varieties, and keep the intensely hot fruit away from children and pets.
Sowing guide
It all startswith a seed.
Sowing depth
6 mm (1/4 in)
Spacing / density
Space plants approximately 40 cm (16 in) apart in both directions.
Germination temperature
24 to 30 °C (75 to 85 °F)
Germination time
15 to 20 days
Sowing period
Indoors, eight to twelve weeks before the last frost; generally February to March in your region. Adjust these dates to your local frost dates and soil conditions; Canadian growing seasons vary by region.
Propagation
Seed
Growing method
Growing 'Piri Piri' hot pepper from seed. Sow 'Piri Piri' indoors eight to twelve weeks before the expected last frost. Use sterile, light, moistened seed-starting mix and place seeds approximately 6 mm (1/4 in) deep. Maintain 24 to 30°C (75 to 85°F), ideally with controlled bottom heat, until emergence, generally in 15 to 20 days. Keep the medium moist without saturating it. As soon as shoots appear, provide strong light for an extended period each day and reduce warmth slightly to produce stocky plants. Move seedlings into individual pots once true leaves are established. At least one week before planting, gradually acclimate plants to direct sun, wind, and outdoor temperatures. Transplant after all frost danger has passed and soil is warm. Space plants 40 cm (16 in) apart, water deeply at soil level, and apply mulch after the ground has warmed. Fertilize moderately after fruit set. Since red-ripe fruit may require 110 to 120 days, protect plants temporarily from cold late-season nights. Harvest with gloves, label peppers clearly, and wash tools carefully after handling the crop. Label every tray, rotate seedlings beneath the lights, and transplant only vigorous plants with healthy roots and several well-developed true leaves. Check each pepper seedling for a sturdy stem and healthy leaves before moving it outdoors.
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Soil pH
Approximately 6.0 to 6.8
Care level
Moderate
Watering
'Piri Piri' needs deep soil-level watering when the upper root zone begins to dry. When tending 'Piri Piri', maintain even moisture while flowers and small, narrow, upright African Bird's Eye type fruit develop, but always let excess water drain. In the 'Piri Piri' hot pepper planting, abrupt shifts from drought to saturation stress a pepper with bushy, branching, and upright growth and can interrupt fruit progress. Apply clean mulch only after soil warms, keeping it away from the stem. When tending Piri Piri pepper, avoid late-day overhead irrigation during cool or humid weather. Check containers during heat and wind, then empty standing water from saucers.
Soil type
Choose loose, fertile, well-drained soil enriched with mature compost before transplanting. A loamy texture that holds 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. Rotating with crops outside the Solanaceae family helps reduce problems shared by peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes. Mix mature compost into the bed before planting and avoid compacted, cold, or waterlogged ground.
Fertilization
Begin 'Piri Piri' in soil amended with mature compost, then use a soil test to choose any balanced supplemental feed. When tending 'Piri Piri', once buds and small, narrow, upright African Bird's Eye type fruit appear, steady growth matters more than high nitrogen. Apply only the labelled rate to moist soil and water granular product into the root zone. For 'Piri Piri' hot pepper, excess nitrogen can delay flowering and ripening by pushing soft foliage. In containers, divide necessary feeding into smaller applications because drainage removes nutrients. Stop or reduce feeding when 'Piri Piri' already shows balanced growth.
Moisture
Consistent soil moisture without saturation; good air circulation around the foliage.
Seasonal care
Seasonal care for 'Piri Piri' hot pepper. Plan 'Piri Piri' hot pepper from local frost and soil conditions rather than a fixed calendar: transplant after the last frost, once soil has warmed and nights remain above approximately 10°C (50°F). Sow 6 mm deep. Expect germination in 15 to 20 days at 24 to 30 °C (75 to 85 °F); keep the medium evenly moist but aerated throughout that interval. After emergence, give 'Piri Piri' 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. Keep the root zone evenly moist but never saturated, widening the watered area as the canopy expands through summer. 'Piri Piri' hot pepper container guidance: approximately 15 to 25 L, at least 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter and depth. Set the pot where runoff can escape and light is adequate. During flowering, inspect 'Piri Piri' 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—harvest red fruit for full maturity; wear gloves and label the harvest clearly—while remembering that warmth and light still determine how quickly each fruit reaches its final stage. When 'Piri Piri' 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
Approximately 15 to 25 L, at least 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter and depth
Growing 'Piri Piri' hot pepper in containers. Choose a stable 15 to 25 L container measuring at least 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter and depth, with several drainage holes. Fill it with airy vegetable potting mix enriched with compost and set the plant at the same depth as in its seedling pot. Place it in full sun in a warm location protected from cold wind. A small stake can support fruit-laden branches. Water slowly until excess drains, then water again when the surface begins to dry; during hot weather, check moisture daily. Never leave the pot standing in a water-filled saucer. Add light mulch and apply moderate fruiting-vegetable fertilizer after fruit set. Wear gloves during harvest and label peppers clearly. Because red-ripe fruit needs a long season, move the container temporarily to a bright, protected place as nights cool, without treating the plant as cold hardy. After final harvest, discard diseased tissue, compost healthy residue only, and clean the pot, stake, and tools thoroughly. Check moisture daily during hot weather, keep the pot stable in wind, and harvest mature red peppers regularly to encourage continued production. Inspect drainage holes and empty standing water after heavy rain.
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
Approximately 60 to 90 cm (24 to 36 in)
Width / spread
Approximately 40 to 60 cm (16 to 24 in)
Flower color
White to greenish white
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Simple foliage; a tropical perennial grown as an annual in your region
Growth rate
Fast
Growth habit
Bushy, branching, and upright
Bloom period
Small white blossoms appear during summer when plants receive sufficient sunlight, warmth, and balanced nutrition. Flowers form at leaf nodes and may be visited by bees, although peppers are largely self-pollinating. Maintain even moisture without saturating the soil and avoid excessive nitrogen, which can favour foliage over flowering. Extreme heat or unusually cold nights may temporarily cause buds to drop. Once moderate conditions return, healthy established plants can resume flowering and continue setting fruit through the warm season.
Fruiting
Numerous small, narrow fruits form after flowering and are often held upright above the foliage. They change from green to bright red at full maturity while aroma and heat develop. Harvest red fruit for sauces and drying, or use younger peppers when a recipe specifically requires them. Cut stems with a clean tool, wear gloves, and pick regularly to support continued production until cold nights end the season. Before frost, gather all sound, adequately developed peppers and label them clearly.
Days to maturity
Approximately 110 to 120 days after transplanting for red fruit
Harvest
Harvest red fruit for full maturity; wear gloves and label the harvest clearly.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Carrots, onions, peas, basil, and selected early lettuces can grow near Piri Piri when every crop retains enough light, water, airflow, and root space. These combinations diversify the bed but do not replace rotation or regular inspection. Avoid crowding and do not immediately replant peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or potatoes in the same location because these Solanaceae share several pests and diseases. Select neighbours according to mature height, actual growing requirements, and the Canada harvest schedule rather than relying on unsupported companion-planting indicates or claims of automatic pest control.
Plants to avoid
Avoid waterlogged soil, cold nights, crowding, and repeated rotations with peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or potatoes.
Recipe idea
From the gardento your plate.
Edible parts
Fruit
'Piri Piri' hot pepper in the kitchen. Prepare a small piri-piri sauce while wearing gloves and working in a well-ventilated area. Begin with two seeded red peppers, 60 mL (1/4 cup) apple cider vinegar, 30 mL (2 tbsp) lemon juice, one small garlic clove, 15 mL (1 tbsp) oil, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth, then taste only one drop diluted in food. Add another pepper only if the first batch remains appropriate for your heat tolerance. Pour the sauce into a small clean container, label it clearly, and refrigerate it. Use sparingly in chicken marinades, grilled vegetables, or beans. Avoid inhaling vapours near the blender, wash equipment immediately, and never touch your eyes during preparation. Discard any sauce that develops an abnormal smell, colour, or texture. Wear gloves, begin with a small quantity, and adjust only after tasting because heat varies among peppers. Refrigerate fresh sauce promptly in a clean, covered container and discard any portion showing mould, gas, leakage, or an abnormal odour. Use a tested recipe for shelf-stable preservation.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
When should 'Piri Piri' be sown in your region?
Sow indoors eight to twelve weeks before your region's average last frost, generally from February to March in your region. Place seeds approximately 6 mm (1/4 in) deep in sterile seed-starting mix and maintain 24 to 30°C (75 to 85°F). Emergence generally occurs in 15 to 20 days when warmth and moisture remain steady. After germination, provide strong light, move seedlings into larger pots once true leaves are established, and harden them for at least one week. Transplant only when frost danger has passed, soil is warm, and nighttime temperatures no longer threaten to chill the plants. Label every tray with the cultivar and sowing date for accurate follow-up.
How hot is 'Piri Piri' pepper?
Horticultural references commonly give a range of 50,000 to 175,000 Scoville Heat Units for Piri Piri types, although actual strength varies with seed line, fruit maturity, and growing conditions. This level is considerably hotter than a typical jalapeño. Wear gloves, keep fruit away from children, and begin with a minute amount in any recipe. Removing inner membranes can reduce some heat without eliminating it. Never evaluate the crop by eating an entire pepper; instead, place a very small portion in food, taste cautiously, and wait before deciding whether more is appropriate. Individual peppers can vary, so never assume that a small fruit or familiar red colour indicates moderate heat.
When should the fruit be harvested?
Harvest when the small fruit has reached normal size and becomes uniformly bright red for full maturity. Colour is a better guide than the calendar alone because warmth, light, and transplanting date change ripening speed. Cut the stem with clean pruners rather than pulling on branches. Wear gloves from the moment of harvest and place peppers in a clearly labelled container. Before a forecast frost, gather all red fruit and peppers that have already begun changing colour; the latter may finish ripening indoors at room temperature. Keep the harvest separate from mild peppers to prevent kitchen confusion. Wear gloves during harvest and keep these hot peppers clearly separated from mild vegetables.
Can 'Piri Piri' be grown in a container?
Yes. Use a stable 15 to 25 L container at least 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter and depth, with several drainage holes. Fill it with airy vegetable potting mix, place the plant in full sun, and protect it from cold wind. Water slowly until excess drains whenever the surface begins to dry; during hot weather, check moisture daily. Regular low-dose fertilizer supports fruiting without producing excessive foliage. Never leave the pot standing in a water-filled saucer, and move it temporarily under protection before a cold or frosty night. Keep the container clearly labelled because the small red fruit is intensely hot.
How should 'Piri Piri' peppers be dried?
Harvest red, sound, unbruised fruit, then wash it and dry the surface thoroughly. Wearing gloves, arrange peppers in one layer in a dehydrator set according to the appliance instructions, or use a recognized food-drying method that maintains constant ventilation. Peppers must become completely dry and brittle before storage; any remaining flexibility may retain moisture. Let them cool, then store them whole in a clearly labelled airtight container protected from light and humidity. Grind only the amount needed in a ventilated area, avoid inhaling the highly irritating dust, and wash the grinder and work surface carefully afterward. Record the preferred maturity stage and always wear gloves during harvest and preparation.
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Piri Piri has self-fertile blossoms that can form fruit through wind and normal plant movement. Outdoor bees may visit and vibrate the anthers, helping pollen release without being required. The pepper offers only a small seasonal resource. Avoid spraying flowers during foraging hours, and keep ripening hot fruit clearly separated from areas used by children or pets.
For a great start to your seeds
The right extras.Right here.
Seed Starting Soil
Shop the collectionSeed starting supplies
Shop the collection
