HMS Orange Picnic Pepper
Best sweet snacking pepper for home gardeners seeking reliable, high-yield harvests.
Experience the sweet, rich flavor of the HMS Orange Picnic Pepper, an Open-Pollinated variety from High Mowing Organic Seeds. This pepper develops a delightful deep orange hue when mature, featuring thick walls for excellent texture. Its upright plant habit simplifies cultivation, and it provides strong yields for abundant harvests. Enjoy green fruits in approximately 60 days, with full orange color appearing around 82 days. It's an ideal choice for gardeners seeking exceptional taste and dependable performance.
$4.15
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
189
/ 5592
#189 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-61%
Below average
Days to Maturity
6082
/ days green, days orange
Who it's for
- Parents packing healthy, bite-sized snacks for school lunches
- Urban gardeners maximizing yields in small containers or tight spaces
- Home cooks seeking vibrant, nutrient-dense ingredients for fresh salads
Who should skip it
- Gardeners living in regions with short, cool growing seasons
- Chefs looking for thick-walled peppers suitable for stuffing
- Beginners unable to commit to regular pest monitoring and maintenance
Performance breakdown
Flavor Profile
Rich, sweet notes distinguish this variety from standard garden peppers.
Cultivation Ease
Upright plant habit makes maintenance and harvesting straightforward for home gardeners.
Yield Consistency
Reliable production ensures a steady supply of fruit throughout the season.
Texture Quality
Thick walls provide a satisfying crunch perfect for fresh snacking.
Maturity Speed
Quick green harvest window with a reasonable wait for full color.
Seed Viability
Open-pollinated genetics allow for simple and effective future seed saving.
Key Specs
Days to Maturity
60 days green, 82 days orange
Fruit Size
3-5 inches
Type
Open-Pollinated
Seeding Depth
1/4 inch
Plant Spacing
12-18 inches
Seed Density
3,400-4,900 seeds/oz
Optimal Germination Temperature
85°F
Recommended Soil pH
6.5-6.8
Features
- Deep orange color with rich, sweet flavor
- Thick walls for superior texture
- Strong yields for abundant harvests
- Upright plant habit aids cultivation
- Open-Pollinated for easy seed saving
- Bred by High Mowing Organic Seeds
What customers say
This sweet snack pepper earns top marks primarily for its exceptional flavor and reliable performance. Gardeners consistently report excellent germination and vigorous, compact plants that yield an astonishing number of vibrant orange fruits. The defining characteristic is the taste: peppers are described as intensely sweet and crisp, perfect for fresh eating. While the heavy harvest sometimes requires staking, the overall sentiment praises the product for exceeding expectations in both yield and superior taste. Customers value the quality and high performance, leading to enthusiastic recommendations.
Know before you buy
These peppers reach their full, deep orange color in approximately 82 days. You can harvest them while still green at around 60 days if you prefer a slightly different flavor profile.
Yes, because this is an open-pollinated variety, you can successfully save the seeds from your harvest to replant in future seasons.
For the best results, maintain an optimal soil temperature of 85°F. Plant the seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch and ensure they receive full sun throughout the growing season.
To accommodate the upright plant habit and ensure proper airflow, space your plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
The Orange Picnic Pepper features thick walls, which provide a satisfying, crisp texture that holds up well in cooking or fresh eating.
These peppers perform best in soil with a pH between 6.5 and 6.8. Testing your soil before planting can help ensure you meet these requirements for a healthy harvest.
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