80 days. Open-pollinated.
Florida Wild Grove Pepper is an evergreen shrub now considered native to Florida that can often be found growing wild in orange groves in the Southwest portion of the state. Indeed, our original stock of seeds was obtained from an orange grove in Arcadia, Florida!
Compact, highly productive plants produce prolific amounts of small, 2 inch long fruits that turn from green to yellow to orange to a deep vermilion red when fully mature.
These very hot, tasty peppers are one of our personal favorites, and are the only peppers we use to make hot sauce for collard and mustard greens. Try making some up for yourself by adding the peppers to a cruet and filling it up to the top with some white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a good while, as the longer it 'cures' the spicier it gets!
Florida Grove Pepper
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11 Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade Soil Type: Sandy, loamy, well drained Sow Depth: 1/4 inch Plant Spacing: 12 to 16 inches Germination Temp: 80ºF to 85ºF Germination Time: 10 to 21 days Maturation: 80 days Growing Tips
Start indoors in early spring. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in small, individual pots or seed trays. Use a heating mat and grow light, and keep the soil moist at all times. Germination should occur within 21 days.