Big Red Sweet Bell Pepper, Heirloom Seeds — The Bold, Thick-Walled Heirloom Bell That Earns Its Name
Big Red earns its name. This substantial heirloom bell pepper produces large, blocky 4-lobed fruits with exceptionally thick walls — the kind of pepper that feels satisfying in the hand before you even taste it. Ripening from a deep, glossy green to a rich, candy-sweet red, Big Red delivers the full bell pepper experience: crisp and grassy when harvested green, deeply sweet and complex when allowed to ripen fully to red. Thick flesh holds its shape beautifully whether stuffed and baked, sliced raw into salads, or roasted until caramelized. Prolific and reliable. 0 SHU — zero heat. 75 days (green), 90 days (red).
Why Grow Big Red?
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Exceptionally thick walls — substantial, satisfying flesh ideal for stuffing, roasting, and slicing
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Large, blocky 4-lobed fruits — impressive size at harvest
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Green to red ripening — harvest crisp and grassy at green, or deeply sweet at full red
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0 SHU — zero heat — pure sweetness, no spice
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Prolific producer — generous yields through the season
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Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year
In the Kitchen
Slice raw into salads and crudité platters for sweet crunch. Stuff whole with rice, ground meat, or grains and bake until tender. Roast halves under the broiler until caramelized and smoky-sweet. Grill alongside other vegetables for summer cookouts. Dice into fajitas, stir-fries, and sautés. Freeze sliced for year-round use — thick walls hold up well in the freezer.
Growing Notes
Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Sow ¼ inch deep in fertile, well-draining soil (pH 6.0–6.8) under grow lights or in a warm location. Transplant outdoors after all frost danger has passed when soil has warmed — peppers are cold-sensitive. Space 12–18 inches apart in full sun. Stake or cage plants to support heavy fruit loads. Water consistently; avoid overwatering. Harvest green at 75 days for crisp, grassy flavor, or leave on the plant to ripen fully red at 90 days for peak sweetness.
| Days to Maturity |
75 days (green); 90 days (red) |
| Start Indoors |
8–10 weeks before last frost |
| Heat Level |
0 SHU (no heat) |
| Fruit Size |
Large, blocky, 4-lobed |
| Fruit Color |
Deep green (immature) to rich red (fully ripe) |
| Wall Thickness |
Exceptionally thick |
| Best Uses |
Stuffing, roasting, slicing, salads, freezing, fajitas |
| Planting Depth |
¼ inch |
| Plant Spacing |
12–18 inches |
| Soil |
Rich, well-draining; pH 6.0–6.8 |
| Light |
Full sun |
| USDA Zones |
3–12 (annual) |
| Latin Name |
Capsicum annuum |
| Type |
Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Non-GMO, Annual |
Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.
