Sweet Pepper Seeds - Ashe County Pimento
Best heirloom choice for gardeners in long, warm-season climates.
Discover the Ashe County Pimento, an authentic HEIRLOOM sweet pepper variety originating from the mountains of Western North Carolina. These peppers offer a wonderfully mild and sweet flavor, with fruits typically measuring 3"-4" in diameter, making them perfect for fresh eating. For a culinary treat, try roasting, peeling, and pickling them in a white wine/vinegar brine. These seeds are small farm grown and require a long, warm season to mature, as they are frost sensitive. Remember to allow 100 feet of isolation distance between pepper varieties for preservation.
$4.75
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
190
/ 5876
#190 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-55%
Below average
Botanical Name
_Capsicum annuum_
/ _Capsicum annuum_
Who it's for
- Home cooks seeking rich flavor for canning and roasting
- Sustainable gardeners interested in saving seeds for future seasons
- Cool-climate growers needing reliable, regionally adapted plant performance
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious shoppers preferring mass-market hybrid seed options
- Short-season gardeners without indoor space for early starts
- Beginners wanting disease-resistant plants without extra pest management
Performance breakdown
Heirloom Authenticity
A genuine regional treasure preserved for its unique Appalachian heritage.
Culinary Versatility
Exceptional flavor profile excels in both raw snacks and artisanal pickling.
Growing Difficulty
Requires a long, warm season and careful isolation for seed saving.
Seed Viability
Sourced from small-farm production ensuring high-quality, reliable genetic stock.
Garden Accessibility
Not suitable for containers; demands significant space and full sun exposure.
Harvest Efficiency
Predictable 75-day maturity window from transplant for consistent seasonal yields.
Key Specs
Botanical Name
_Capsicum annuum_
Type
HEIRLOOM
Fruit Size
3"-4" in diameter
Flavor
Mild and sweet
Grown By
Ray's Virginia Produce in Montpelier Station, VA
Minimum Seeds per Packet
50
Packet Weight
0.2g
Planting Season
After Last Frost
Features
- Authentic heirloom variety from Western NC
- Mild and sweet pepper flavor
- Ideal for raw consumption or pickling
- Small farm grown seeds
- Requires a long, warm growing season
- Self-pollinating annual crop
What customers say
Customers express high satisfaction with the Ashe County Pimento seeds, focusing primarily on exceptional quality and reliable harvest. Reviewers consistently praise the near perfect germination rates, building immediate trust in the seed viability. The mature peppers deliver true to type characteristics: thick walls, deep red color, and the signature sweet, mild flavor essential for traditional pimento dishes. Gardeners specifically sought this heirloom variety and were delighted by the superior, old fashioned taste, distinguishing it from common types. These seeds are viewed as a premium choice for those prioritizing authentic flavor and heirloom quality, making them a highly recommended staple for the home garden.
Know before you buy
These seeds should be started indoors and transplanted into the garden after the last frost. Aim for a soil temperature between 70-80°F to ensure successful germination, which typically takes 10-25 days.
You can expect to harvest your peppers approximately 75 days after transplanting them into your garden. Because they are frost-sensitive, ensure your growing season is long and warm enough to support this timeline.
No, this variety is not recommended for container gardening. They require a spacing of 18-24 inches between plants to thrive and reach their full potential.
If you plan to save seeds for future seasons, you must maintain 100 feet of isolation distance between the Ashe County Pimento and other pepper varieties. This prevents cross-pollination and ensures the seeds remain true to the heirloom variety.
These peppers are known for a wonderfully mild and sweet flavor. Their 3-4 inch size makes them excellent for fresh eating, roasting, or pickling.
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$5