Orange Picnic Pepper

10 Seeds

Orange Picnic Pepper is a sweet to mildly spicy pepper variety that produces crisp, juicy fruits that ripen from green to bright orange. It is ideal for fresh salads, snacking, stuffing, roasting, and grilling. This variety performs very well in the Gulf climate when grown during the cooler season and is suitable for gardens, containers, greenhouses, and hydroponic systems.

Best Planting Time

• August to October (recommended)
• January to February (for protected greenhouse cultivation)
• Avoid sowing outdoors when daytime temperatures remain above 40°C.

Seed Preparation

• Soak seeds in warm water (25–30°C) for 8–12 hours before sowing.
• Optional: soak in diluted seaweed extract to improve germination.
• No cold stratification is required.

Soil Preparation

Use fertile, loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Coco peat
• 30% Compost
• 20% Garden soil
• 10% Perlite

Ideal soil pH:

• 6.0–6.8

Sowing Method

• Sow seeds in seed trays or nursery pots.
• Plant seeds 0.5–1 cm deep.
• Cover lightly with fine soil or vermiculite.
• Keep the growing medium evenly moist until germination.

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 25–30°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 20–30°C
• Requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• During extremely hot Gulf afternoons, provide 30–40% shade cloth.

Watering

• Keep the soil consistently moist during germination.
• Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil becomes dry.
• Avoid waterlogging and ensure good drainage.

Germination Time

• 7–14 days
• Under cooler conditions, germination may take up to 21 days.

Transplanting

• Transplant seedlings when they have:
  • 4–6 true leaves
  • Height of 15–20 cm
• Space plants:
  • 45–60 cm apart
• Space rows:
  • 60–75 cm apart

Harvesting

• Harvest begins:
  • 75–90 days after transplanting
• Harvest peppers when they develop a bright orange color for the best sweetness, flavor, and crisp texture.
• Regular harvesting encourages continuous fruit production.

Gulf Climate Tips

• Plant during August to October for the best yields.
• Apply organic mulch to keep the soil cool and conserve moisture.
• Fertilize every 2 weeks with a balanced fertilizer, then switch to a fertilizer higher in potassium during flowering and fruit development.
• Protect plants from strong desert winds and intense afternoon sun.
• Orange Picnic Pepper performs exceptionally well in greenhouses, containers, and hydroponic systems.