Red Cherry Hot – classic cherry shape with mild heat
What makes Red Cherry Hot special
Red Cherry Hot chilli seeds give a classic cherry-shaped chilli with mild to medium heat. It suits anyone who wants a decorative chilli with plenty of flavour but no extreme strength, and it is remarkably useful in the kitchen.
Background and name
This variety is popular in both the USA and Europe, often used in pickles, preserves and on pizzas. The name comes from its size and shape, like a large red cherry, and its mild heat.
Appearance and growth habit
Plants are medium-sized, about 60–90 cm, and very productive. The pods are round to slightly elongated, deep red and about 3–4 cm in diameter. The habit is compact and the plant suits pots well.
How hot is Red Cherry Hot?
About 5,000 – 15,000 SHU
Flavour and uses
The flavour is full and sweet with a little heat in the background. The thick walls make the pods particularly good for stuffing, roasting or preserving.
Ways to use Red Cherry Hot
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Stuff with cream cheese and grill
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Ideal for pickling in vinegar
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Use in pasta sauce or tomato dishes
Growing Red Cherry Hot
Red Cherry Hot belongs to Capsicum annuum. Sow your chilli seeds between February and April. Easy to grow and fast-growing, it does well in a pot or outdoors. Heavy-cropping and tolerant of varied weather.
Price is for 6 chilli seeds
Sow in moist seed compost and keep warm, about 25–30 °C for the best germination. The compost should be moist but not wet. A propagator is handy for keeping the humidity up. Once the seedlings have grown a little and developed their second pair of leaves, you can lower the temperature to about 20 °C and move them out of the propagator. They do well on a sunny windowsill, in a greenhouse and outdoors in summer. For the best results, soak the seeds in Growhelper for 12–24 hours before sowing.
