85-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Midnight Dreams Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. One of the darkest peppers available with a skin that matures from green to brown, then purple-black. ~4,000 seeds/oz. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Latin Name: Capsicum annuum Hardiness Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Technically a tender perennial, but commonly grown as an annual. Perennial in zones 10 and 11. Days to Maturity: 85-100 (from transplant) Days to Germination: 7-10 Seeding Depth: 0.25 inch Direct Sow: No Start Indoors: Yes. Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Harden off and transplant when seedlings are 6-8 inches tall. Bury the stem slightly deeper than the root ball. Avoid planting hot and sweet peppers right next to each other, as they can cross-pollinate, potentially affecting the flavors of your harvested peppers. Pepper Pollination: Peppers have perfect flowers (male and female parts) and will self-pollinate. However, wind and pollinator activity may increase success rates of fertilization and fruit production. Pepper Type: Sweet - These peppers (think Bell Peppers) are almost all at 0 on the Scoville Scale, meaning that they have no heat at all. A handful of sweet peppers do register very low on the Scoville scale but are still classed as sweet peppers. For example, Pepperoncinis are sweet peppers but usually rank around 100 to 500 on the Scoville Scale. Plant Spacing: 12-24 inches Row Spacing: 24-36 inches Plant Height: 18-30 inches Plant Width: 18-24 inches Growth Habit: Upright Deer Resistant: No Scoville Heat Units: 0 Heat Level: Sweet - Peppers with no heat. 0-99 on the Scoville Scale. Growth Speed: Late - Ready for harvest around 91 days or more from transplant. Soil Preference: Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.5 pH), and moisture retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting, similar to tomatoes. Peppers also need sufficient amounts of phosphorus and calcium. We recommend using a balanced fertilizer for the best results. Temperature Preference: Warmer (70-85 F). During high heat, foliar and flower development slow or pause until temperatures return to the preferred range. Germination Temperature: 80-90 F Light Preference: Full Sun Pests and Diseases: Peppers are commonly susceptible to cutworms, aphids, flea beetles, bacterial spot, Phytophthora, sunscald, and blossom end rot. To avoid or reduce problems with pests and diseases, stick to a regular watering schedule (drip irrigation is preferred), plant into well-draining soils, and utilize practices such as crop rotation. When taking pest control measures, consider utilizing integrated pest management principles by using mechanical removal, biological control, and other cultural practices before turning to chemical agents. Midnight Dreams Pepper Color: Purple, Black Midnight Dreams Pepper Flavor: Sweet Garden Size: Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed Pepper Use: Slicing, Frying, Sauteing Climate Tolerance: Growing Midnight Dreams Peppers in the Vegetable Garden To grow your peppers, prepare your seed starting trays and plant the seeds. Start the process about 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. You can use either well-draining soil or go for a seed starting mix like Minute Soil Coco Clair - both work well for seed starting. The seeds should be planted about 0.25 inches deep. Make sure the soil stays moist, but don’t overwater your seeds. You can stick your finger into the soil to see if it’s dry below the surface. If it is, then give your plants a little water, but make sure you don’t overwater them. Keep your peppers in a warm spot for germination, somewhere around 80-90 F. You can use a grow light to create a warmer space that will help them germinate. After about 7-10 days, they should germinate, and you can move them to a cooler spot so they can be hardened off before you plant them in the garden. Plant your seedlings in a sunny location that has well-draining soil, ideally somewhere you haven’t grown nightshades in a while, to make sure the soil has plenty of nutrients. Make sure to cover the roots completely as you are planting the seedlings. Space them about 12-18 inches apart and space rows 2-3 feet apart. Make sure you aren’t planting hot and sweet pepper varieties close to each other to avoid cross-pollination. Taking good care of your plants will ensure that you end up with a great harvest of peppers! Make sure to water them consistently. You can sprinkle some mulch around the base of the plant to keep the moisture in and suppress any weeds. Make sure to support the plants with stakes or trellises, which will help them grow upright and will support the plant as they grow fruit. Companion planting with plants like marigolds and basil can help keep pests away and bring pollinators to your garden. To help your plants grow, you can try giving them fertilizer full of phosphorus and calcium. Be sure to follow the instructions on your fertilizer and not over-fertilize them. And keep an eye on your peppers - if you spot any pests or diseases, make sure to treat them immediately! Harvesting Midnight Dreams Peppers As they mature, your peppers will turn from a green to brown, then purple-black. This variety will be ready for harvest about 85-100 days after transplanting. You’ll know the pepper is ready for harvest when it is a dark color and feels firm. Because these are sweet peppers, they taste best when fully ripe - harvesting them too early or too late may leave you with a bitter fruit. To harvest the pepper, you can cut the stem with garden shears of a knife. Make sure to be gentle and not damage the plant so it can keep producing fruit! About Midnight Dreams Pepper Garden Seeds Midnight Dreams peppers were probably bred for their dark skin - they are one of the darkest-colored peppers around. They have good yields and produce delicious fruits. These peppers have a unique black skin and green flesh. They are very similar to bell peppers, and have very little spice and are mostly sweet. You can use them however you would use a bell pepper. These plants can grow up to 2 feet tall, so they’re probably not a good fit for hanging baskets. However, they can grow well in raised beds, garden plots, and bigger pots. Tips From Our Gardeners "Not only will these dark peppers add aesthetic appeal to your garden, but they will also make any dish you use them in look unique!" - Chelsea Hafer, True Leaf Market Writer Other Resources Scoville Heat Scale Midnight Dreams Pepper Seeds Per Package: 250mg - Wholesale - Approximately 35 Seeds .25 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 1,000 Seeds 1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 4,000 Seeds 4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 16,000 Seeds 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 64,000 Seeds Non-GMO Midnight Dreams Pepper seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
