Manzano Rocoto Locoto Chili Seeds

Information: Rocoto is the South American term for chillies of the genus Capsicum pubescens, whilst “manzano” means “apple-shaped”. “Pubescens” means “hairy”, referring to the plant’s hairy leaves. The most obvious difference from other types of chili are the decorative, violet-coloured flowers. It is well worth keeping rocoto plants over winter as they can grow to reach a venerable old age. As their stem quickly lignifies, many people refer to these plants as “tree chillies”. The rocoto plants can also cope well with the cool nights of our central European climate.

Manzano rocoto locoto chillies originate from the Andes. This very spicy variety is extremely popular in Peru and Bolivia. The fruits ripen to a brilliant red colour, they have thick outer walls and are succulent with an exceptionally, fruity flavour, reminiscent of an apple. In the countries of South America, it is also known under the nickname “gringo killer”, which reveals a lot about how hot this pepper is. Rocoto peppers are fantastic for using in salsas, alternatively they can be stuffed with a variety of fillings and baked. The most famous recipe – rocoto relleno or stuffed rocotos – comes from Peru. To make this dish, rocoto halves are left in milk overnight before being stuffed with a combination of minced beef, hard-boiled, diced eggs and baked with cheese on top.

Care: Germination temperature is between 22°C  and 28°C (germination period: 12-21 days); it is therefore recommended to use a greenhouse and a heating pad. The plants need fresh, well-fertilised permeable soil and should not be left in standing water. They should be placed in a sunny, sheltered place. As the plants have a particularly long maturation period, and can live for many years, it is recommended to grow them in a pot, so that you can easily bring the plant inside when the temperature falls below 10°C during the day. To keep the plant over the winter, cut it back by 20cm after harvesting and place in a light place where it is at least 15°C.

You can find plenty of useful tips for successfully growing chili plants in our Chili Growing Guide and in our Chili Journal.