Mini Bell Chocolat sweet pepper BIO - Capsicum annuum

Miniature, sweet chocolate-colored peppers. Mini Bell Chocolat is an original, high-yielding miniature sweet pepper variety. It produces numerous angular fruits measuring 3–5 cm in diameter, which are dark red before turning chocolate brown when fully ripe. The flesh is thick, sweet and fruity. The plant stays compact, reaching around 40–60 cm, making it well suited to growing in pots.

At a glance

• Growth habit: bushy, compact, around 40–60 cm tall
• Fruits: miniature, 3–5 cm, angular, chocolate brown
• Sowing under cover: February – March
• Planting out: after May 15–20, in pots or under cover
• Harvest: July–October
• Position: full sun, warm, well-drained soil
• Difficulty: challenging – requires warmth to germinate
• Seeds per packet: 25

What makes this variety stand out

The brown, “chocolate” color of the fruits is rare among sweet peppers, and combined with their miniature size, it makes this variety particularly striking. The small fruits also have thick walls, making them meaty and juicy – their flavor is every bit as good as that of larger peppers.

Its compact growth and high yield make Mini Bell Chocolat a great choice for balconies and patios. However, the full growing cycle takes around 140–180 days from sowing, so give the plants the warmest, sunniest spot possible and protect them from the cold toward the end of the season.

Growing step by step

Sowing (February – March, under cover): Sow the seeds 2–3 mm deep in light, moist seed-starting mix. Keep the container at a steady temperature of 23–28 °C. Pepper seeds germinate fairly slowly, usually within 8–15 days, so a heat mat is useful. Keep the growing medium slightly moist, and once the seedlings emerge, give them as much light as possible, ideally with supplemental lighting, to prevent them from becoming leggy.

Pricking out: When the seedlings have developed 3–4 true leaves, transplant them individually into pots 8–10 cm in diameter and keep them warm. Harden off the seedlings during the last 7–10 days before planting out by placing them outdoors for a few hours each day.

Planting out (after May 15–20): Plant the seedlings in a greenhouse, polytunnel or the warmest, most sheltered spot in the garden, spacing them around 50 × 50 cm apart. The soil should be fertile, well-drained and enriched with compost. For container growing, choose a pot with a capacity of at least 5–10 l.

Care: Water regularly and moderately, preferably in the morning and without wetting the leaves. Both letting the soil dry out and keeping it constantly wet will reduce fruiting. While the fruits are setting, feed the plants with an organic fertilizer high in potassium. These compact plants usually do not need support, but a short stake can be helpful if they are heavily laden with fruit. At the end of August, pinch out the shoot tips to help the plant focus on ripening the fruits that have already set.

Uses

The miniature fruits are ideal eaten raw as a snack, in salads or on vegetable platters. Their size and thick walls make them excellent for stuffing with cheese, spread or grains, then briefly baking. They can also be pickled whole or grilled on skewers.

Gardener’s tip

About the producer

The seeds come from Semailles – a small-scale Belgian producer of organic seeds based in the province of Namur, Wallonia. Semailles offers only non-hybrid varieties (no F1), including many traditional and collector’s varieties. Some seeds are propagated in its own fields, while others are produced in collaboration with organic growers in Belgium and France. All batches are certified organic (inspection code BE-BIO-01).

Specifications