Sweet Chocolate Capsicum

Capsicum annuum (nightshade)

Also known as: Chocolate Bell Pepper, Chocolate Beauty

An early-maturing heirloom bred in 1965 by the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, specifically selected to crop reliably in cool climates. True to its name, fruit ripens from green to a rich, deep chocolate-brown rather than the usual red or yellow, with thick, crisp flesh and a mild, sweet flavour. A striking and dependable variety, equally good sliced raw into salads, stuffed, or roasted to bring out its natural sweetness.


Days to harvest 65–80 days
Fruit size 15cm x 8cm
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 7–14 days at 24–29°C
Spacing 30–45cm apart
Aspect Full sun, well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Frost sensitive — needs reliably warm nights

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun spot with fertile, well-drained soil. Bred specifically for cooler climates, this variety is naturally more forgiving where a long, hot growing season isn't guaranteed. Suitable to grow in 20-30L pot.

Soil preparation: Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost worked in.

Support: Light staking can help once plants are carrying a full load of fruit, though the compact habit rarely requires it.

Watering & feeding: Water consistently and avoid letting soil dry out. Feed with a liquid fertiliser once flowering begins. Mulch to retain moisture.

Harvest: Pick regularly once fruit reaches full size to encourage continued production. Can be picked green, though full flavour and sweetness develop once ripened to chocolate-brown. Cut rather than pull to avoid damaging the plant.

Timing: Expect first harvest around 65–80 days after transplanting — noticeably earlier than many bell types, making it a reliable choice for shorter growing seasons.

Key features

  • Open-pollinated heirloom, bred 1965 (New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station)
  • Early-maturing — bred for cool climates
  • Distinctive deep chocolate-brown fruit
  • Thick, crisp, sweet flesh
  • Compact, high-yielding plants
  • Excellent fresh, stuffed, or roasted

Short season tips

Best started indoors on heat mats — this variety needs 24–29°C soil to germinate reliably. Sow 8–10 weeks before the last frost or purchase as 6–8-week-old seedlings. Transplant into the garden only once soil temperature has reliably warmed to at least 15°C. Avoid disturbing roots when transplanting — capsicums resent being moved and stall easily. Bred specifically for cooler-climate reliability, making it one of the better choices when the warm season is on the shorter side.

  • Spring
  • Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

  • Basil (particularly good for capsicums) Marigolds Onion Parsley
  • Other nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes) Fennel

Bred in 1965 by the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station from a cross of several existing lines, developed specifically to give cool-climate gardeners a reliable, early-maturing bell pepper. Its distinctive chocolate-brown colouring set it apart from the standard red and green types of the time, and it remains popular today for both its novelty and its dependable performance.