Name: Organic 'Black Pearl' pepper
Brand: Biologiquement vôtre
SKU: BIOV-SEMENCES
Price: 4.49 CAD
Availability: OutOfStock

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Close view of several round, glossy 'Black Pearl' fruits clustered on the plant. The nearly black small peppers reflect bright highlights and contrast with broad, matte purple-black leaves marked by dark veins. A few fruits show a very deep reddish tone. Tight framing emphasizes the black-pearl effect, dramatic foliage, and the cultivar's characteristic upright clusters, with a softly blurred green background providing additional depth.

Fruiting vegetable Solanaceae

Organic fruiting vegetable seeds

Biologiquement vôtre

Capsicum annuum

From seed to harvest

Common nameBlack Pearl pepper

FamilySolanaceae

GenusCapsicum

Speciesannuum

CultivarBlack Pearl

TypeFruiting vegetable

Botanical nameCapsicum annuum

Quantity per packet10 organic seeds

Organic 'Black Pearl' pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a culinary ornamental cultivar bred by USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists, released in 2005, and named a 2006 All-America Selections winner. Its compact habit carries glossy purple-black foliage and upright clusters of small round fruit that ripens from black to bright red. The scientific publication confirms that the fruit is edible and extremely pungent but states that no Scoville measurement was performed. The 30,000-Scoville value therefore comes from the front of this organic seed selection and remains seed-harvest guidance. Dark foliage provides season-long contrast.

Start seed indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost, approximately 5 or 6 mm deep. The USDA publication reports typical emergence in ten to twelve days at 21–24°C. Keep starting mix lightly moist, provide intense light, and maintain good airflow. Pot on as needed, then harden plants gradually. Transplant only after frost danger has passed, soil is warm, and nights remain mild. Select full sun to support dark foliage, fertile freely draining soil, and a warm location. Space plants 40.6 cm apart and rows 30.5 cm apart according to the selection.

The selection lists approximately 100 days. Under good conditions, the USDA publication observed a first wave of black fruit around 60 days and red fruit around 80 days after transplanting; light and warmth can shift these guides. Harvest firm, sound fruit and cut stems with a clean tool. Wear gloves, ventilate the kitchen, and taste one small cooked portion before seasoning. Use peppers in sauces, braised dishes, or dried blends. Refrigerate cut fruit promptly and follow a tested recipe for every shelf-stable preserve. Label every preparation with its date and heat warning.

Light and life cycle

In the garden

Exposure: Sun
Life cycle: Annual in Canadian gardens; frost-tender perennial where frost-free

Sowing and germination

Sowing guide

Sowing & germination

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 'Black Pearl' 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 'Black Pearl' indoor sowing, follow the frost-relative timing above. Use clean, lightly moist seed-starting mix and steady bottom warmth; never leave the tray saturated. A pepper seedling needs strong light, gentle airflow, and an evenly moist root zone without standing water. For 'Black Pearl', the expected harvest form—small round fruit clustered above the foliage—helps confirm crop identity, while local warmth and plant health still influence maturity. Feed moderately after establishment; excessive nitrogen can postpone flowers and ripe fruit. Match the crop to sun and observe the actual hours of unobstructed light at the site. Mulch only after the ground has warmed, and keep the material away from the stem. Space the pepper plant approximately 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) apart to preserve access for watering, inspection, and harvest. Harden plants gradually to sun, wind, and cooler air, bringing them back under cover if frost threatens. This pepper has a habit described as compact, bushy, and well branched; use this to guide positioning or selective thinning without forcing a cramped plant. Label every seedling because fruit colour and heat cannot identify young pepper plants. After late-season rain or wind, confirm drainage and support while preserving healthy foliage needed to finish ripening. Pick the plant when colour, firmness, and size match the intended stage. Support the branch while cutting, and bring developed fruit indoors before frost.

Soil and care

Soil & care

Soil pH

Approximately 6.0 to 6.8

Moisture

Consistent soil moisture without saturation; good air circulation around the foliage.

Care level

Moderate

Watering

For 'Black Pearl' pepper, water according to soil drying rather than a fixed weekly calendar. As 'Black Pearl' pepper's small round fruit clustered above the foliage develops on a plant with compact, bushy, and well branched growth, widen the wetted area with the expanding canopy and roots. 'Black Pearl' pepper is listed at approximately 100 days according to the supplier packet, this estimate varies with growing conditions; treat that as a planning reference and monitor moisture while later flowers and fruit are still developing. Water 'Black Pearl' pepper slowly at soil level, soak the active root zone, and let surplus water drain before irrigating again.

Soil type

'Black Pearl' pepper performs best in loose, fertile soil that holds useful moisture yet releases excess rain promptly. Give 'Black Pearl' pepper's compact, bushy, and well branched growth enough uncompacted root area to carry small round fruit clustered above the foliage. With 'Black Pearl' pepper's harvest listed as approximately 100 days according to the supplier packet, this estimate varies with growing conditions, keep its soil open and workable through the full production period. Before planting 'Black Pearl' pepper, incorporate mature compost and break compacted layers instead of creating a rich, wet pocket around the crown.

Fertilization

Once 'Black Pearl' buds, excessive nitrogen can delay fruiting. Let a soil test guide any corrective amendment. For 'Black Pearl' pepper, fruit development responds best once feeding becomes restrained. Water granular amendments into the active root zone. Black Pearl pepper needs steady nutrition, not lush nitrogen-driven growth. Inspect light, water, and roots before feeding again. For 'Black Pearl', its branches should remain sturdy as fruit begins filling. Choose amendments from soil results and crop response. Even moisture helps 'Black Pearl' pepper use available nutrients consistently.

Seasonal care

Seasonal care for 'Black Pearl' pepper. 'Black Pearl' pepper begins with season-aware timing—indoors, 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost—so compare that guidance with the actual spring or autumn at your site. 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 'Black Pearl' 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. For container-grown 'Black Pearl' pepper, use the supplied guidance—at least 15 to 20 L, approximately 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter—and check drainage before growth hides the surface. During flowering, inspect 'Black Pearl' 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 black once formed or red at full maturity; exact timing variable by conditions—while remembering that warmth and light still determine how quickly each fruit reaches its final stage. When 'Black Pearl' 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.

Growing in containers

Container growing

Recommended pot size

At least 15 to 20 L, approximately 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) in diameter

Growing 'Black Pearl' pepper in containers. For 'Black Pearl', 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 'Black Pearl' plant at an appropriate depth and keep the stem clear of the rim and mulch. Plan around the way the plant grows: compact, bushy, and well branched. Keep access to the root zone for watering and inspection. Feed at a modest labelled rate after watering. Excess nitrogen can delay flowering and ripening while encouraging leafy growth. Lay out this pepper at approximately 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) apart, then keep paths open instead of filling gaps with another mature crop. 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 fruit clustered above the foliage 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 sun, and keep water from collecting around the crown or container base. Keep lower foliage away from wet mix, secure branches with soft ties, and leave an open route to inspect flowers and pick ripe fruit. As nights cool, let the rate of mix drying guide watering, and inspect leaf undersides before sheltering the container. Harvest the plant when colour and texture show the intended stage. Before frost, gather sound developed fruit; quarantine any plant moved under protection and inspect it for insects.

Growth and harvest

Size, flowering & harvest

Mature height

Approximately 45.7 cm (18 in), according to the back of the supplier packet

Flower color

White to greenish white

Foliage color

Purple-black to nearly black under strong light

Foliage type

Herbaceous

Growth rate

Fast

Growth habit

Compact, bushy, and well branched

Edible parts

Fruit, after appropriate culinary preparation

Bloom period

'Black Pearl' opens small flowers where leaves meet its stems. Keep the root zone evenly moist during bloom. For 'Black Pearl' pepper, its flowering branches may shed buds during environmental stress. Temperature extremes can temporarily interrupt successful set. For Black Pearl pepper, those self-fertile blossoms precede fruit development. Avoid strong nitrogen feeding once buds appear. Gentle air movement helps 'Black Pearl' release pollen. Water at soil level while flowers remain open. Secure 'Black Pearl' pepper before fruit weighs down flowering branches. Black Pearl pepper may also receive pollen-moving visits from insects.

Fruiting

Small round fruit appears in upright clusters, first glossy black and then bright red at full maturity. The selection lists approximately 100 days, while the USDA publication observed a first black wave around 60 days and red fruit around 80 days after transplanting under good conditions. Treat these timings as variable guidance. Harvest firm, sound peppers at either stage and cut stems with a clean tool to protect compact branches. Wear gloves because the fruit is genuinely hot.

Days to maturity

Approximately 100 days according to the supplier packet; this estimate varies with growing conditions

Harvest

Harvest black once formed or red at full maturity; exact timing variable by conditions

Garden companions

Garden associations

Companion plants & uses

Companion plants

Basil, parsley, oregano, or chives can occupy nearby space around 'Black Pearl' when they do not shade the pepper. Give the pepper plant enough sun and airflow as branches begin carrying fruit. Rotate 'Black Pearl' pepper with crops outside the nightshade family; nearby herbs do not interrupt a soil-borne disease cycle. Remove any neighbour that begins competing for light, moisture, airflow, or harvest access. In the 'Black Pearl' planting, keep access open to the small round fruit clustered above the foliage so gloves, labels, and clean harvest containers can be used without brushing other crops. Use companion planting to organize succession and diversity, not as a substitute for sound crop care. Reassess the arrangement around 'Black Pearl' as both crops approach mature size.

Garden use

'Black Pearl' pepper in the vegetable garden. Display this dark-foliaged edible pepper in a sunny food garden or clearly labelled container where visitors will not mistake it for a harmless ornamental. Move a hardened seedling outdoors only after frost and cold nights have passed. Use freely drained soil or potting mix and give the plant enough space that its dark leaves dry after rain. Water the complete root zone when the surface begins to dry, but empty standing water from container saucers. Feed moderately; excessive nitrogen can reduce flowering while making the plant overly soft. A compact cage or stake helps keep fruit-bearing branches visible and accessible. Follow the cultivar's normal fruit-colour progression and use fully ripe red fruit for culinary harvest, clipping stems with clean scissors. Keep a hot-pepper label beside the plant throughout the season and separate harvested pods from decorative berries or sweet peppers. Wear gloves for extensive picking and preparation. Inspect the dark foliage closely for aphids and mites, which may be harder to see against the leaves. Rotate a one-sided container for balanced light, protect it from cold autumn nights, and discard soft, mouldy, or frost-damaged fruit.

Recipe and storage

Recipe idea

From garden to table

'Black Pearl' pepper in the kitchen. Bright Black Pearl sauce — Use only ripe red fruit, since the dark immature peppers are not the intended stage for this recipe. Wearing gloves, rinse twelve sound peppers, remove the stems, and split them carefully. Sauté 60 g diced onion in 10 mL oil until soft. Add the peppers, 200 g chopped tomato, 60 mL water, and one small garlic clove; cover and simmer for ten minutes. Cool slightly, blend smooth, then stir in 30 mL cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. Return the sauce to a gentle simmer for three minutes. Taste a cooled drop with food before deciding whether to dilute it with more tomato. Serve sparingly with beans, roasted vegetables, or eggs, and warn diners that this ornamental-looking pepper is hot and edible only as a culinary pepper, not a harmless decoration. Refrigerate promptly in a labelled covered container. Do not use this formula for canning. Wash the knife, board, blender, pan, gloves, and work surfaces thoroughly after preparation.

Wildlife and pets

Wildlife & precautions

Supporting wildlife

Black Pearl combines dark foliage with self-fertile pepper blossoms. Bees can stop at the flowers and their vibration may assist pollen release, but wind and movement also support fruit set. The ornamental display is more notable than its wildlife value. Protect any visitors by leaving blooms untreated while active, and use other flowers for season-long forage.

Frequently asked questions

Is Black Pearl genuinely edible?

Yes. USDA Agricultural Research Service presents 'Black Pearl' as a culinary ornamental pepper bred to combine striking appearance with pungent flavour. Round black fruit turns red at full maturity and remains edible at both stages. The organic selection lists approximately 30,000 Scoville Heat Units, a value best treated as seed-harvest guidance. Wear gloves, avoid touching the eyes, and taste one tiny cooked portion before seasoning a dish. Clearly label sauces and powders, keep them away from children, and refrigerate cut or damaged peppers promptly. Discard every fruit showing mould or decay. Clean knives, boards, and containers carefully after handling the harvest.

How hot is Black Pearl?

Some specialist catalogues place Black Pearl around 30,000 Scoville Heat Units. This value remains guidance and is not a fixed measurement for every harvest. Genetics, fruit maturity, light, temperature, and watering may alter actual pungency. Small fruit size does not mean that the pepper is mild. Wear gloves, ventilate the kitchen, and begin with less than the recipe suggests. Taste a tiny portion after cooking before adding more. Label powders and sauces clearly, then clean the knife, board, and surfaces carefully without touching your face. Keep every hot preparation away from children and pets and refrigerate fresh sauces promptly. Handle every harvest cautiously.

When should black or red fruit be harvested?

Black fruit may be harvested once it is well formed and firm. Its change to red indicates full maturity and may alter aroma, sweetness, and perceived heat. Cut stems with a clean tool instead of pulling on clusters. Compare a few fruit of both colours after cooking, always in tiny portions. A precise day count is not available because consulted sources do not support one. Record transplant date, first black harvest, and first red fruit. Before cold nights, gather remaining sound peppers or move a container temporarily under protection. Refrigerate cut fruit promptly and discard any showing mould or decay.

Does Black Pearl grow well in a container?

Black Pearl suits a container because it is compact, bushy, well branched, and listed near 46 cm tall. Give one plant at least 15–20 L in a pot about 30 to 35 cm wide. Use free-draining mix and keep the vessel stable beneath clusters of small upright fruit. Set it outdoors after frost danger has passed, water thoroughly, and let excess escape; containers should be checked often during hot weather. Fruit can be harvested once the black stage is formed or left to turn red at full maturity. The supplier's approximate 100-day timing varies with conditions. Black Pearl fruit is edible but hot, so label the ornamental-looking pot clearly and keep it away from children and pets. Wear gloves when cutting and clean tools afterward.

How long does harvest take?

A precise day count is not available for Black Pearl. Start seed eight to ten weeks before the last frost, transplant only after soil warms, and then observe actual development. Fruit should be well formed and firm; it is black before turning red at full maturity. Warmth, light, container size, watering, and transplant date alter the pace. Record the first black and first red harvest to build a local reference. Before autumn frost, gather sound usable fruit. These observations provide a more useful local harvest guide than an uncertain catalogue estimate. Refrigerate cut or damaged peppers promptly and discard any showing decay.