- Heirloom
- Mild
- 78 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- 100–500 SHU
- Yellow
Pepperoncini
Peperoncino · Golden Greek · Tuscan Pepper
Heirloom mild pepper from Italy. Tangy and barely hot, bred for the brine jar rather than the pan. Ready in about 78 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 19, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Heat
- Mild 100–500 SHU
- Pod
- Elongated 0–1 oz (10–20 g) (estimated)
Wrinkled pods around 60 to 80 mm and about 25 mm across, picked pale yellow-green well before they redden, thin-walled.
- Species
- Capsicum annuum
- Days to harvest
- 78 days (estimated) from transplant · Midseason
- Plant height
- 2–3 ft (61–91 cm) Medium height
- Spacing
- 18 × 24 in (46 × 61 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 5 gal (20 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Easy-moderate (estimated) 2/5
- Skin
-
- Yellow
- Green
- Red
Heat
Scoville heat units
Mild
Pepperoncini Scoville heat units: 100–500 SHU
Warm rather than hot, around a Cubanelle, a Pepperoncini or a Shishito. Most people eat these without reaching for water.
Flavor
“Tangy and barely hot, bred for the brine jar rather than the pan.”
Growing calendar
78 (estimated) days from transplant Midseason
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 7–9 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Canning
- Fresh & salads
- Snacking
- Heirloom classic
- Market favorite
- Container star
- Beginner friendly
Origin
Pepperoncini is the pale, wrinkled pickling pepper that arrives on Greek salads and Italian sandwiches, usually sold brined. Two strains circulate: an Italian one that matures in about 65 to 75 days and a Golden Greek one nearer 85 to 90, both listed by True Leaf Market at 100 to 500 Scoville heat units. That is barely any heat at all, which is why the pepper reads as tangy rather than hot: most of the bite on a jarred pod comes from the brine, not the capsaicin.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyAll photos
Questions
How do you grow a Pepperoncini plant?
A Pepperoncini plant grows 2–3 ft (61–91 cm) tall. Space plants 18 in (46 cm) apart in rows 24 in (61 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 7–9 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–10 days. It needs full sun.
How long does Pepperoncini take to mature?
Pepperoncini is ready in about 78 days from transplant.
How hot is Pepperoncini?
Pepperoncini sits in the mild range, about 100–500 Scoville heat units. Figures vary between seed sellers, so treat them as a band rather than a measurement.
Can Pepperoncini be grown in a container?
Yes — Pepperoncini grows well in a container of at least 20 L (5 gal).
Is Pepperoncini resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Pepperoncini.
