Capsicum annuum
Origin: Slovakia
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~25
Germination tested 12/2019: 97%
Life cycle: Annual
Gorgeous little upright-growing sweet peppers ripen from green to bright purple to red-orange. The name means "Turks' Shoes of the Zips." The Zips were (and to a small extend still are) a German-speaking minority in what is now Slovakia with many centuries of tradition. They largely abandoned the area during and after World War II. They're a part of a larger minority called Carpathian Germans. Dr. William Woys Weaver got these seeds from a Zipser preacher in Hungary in 1983. It is a uniquely beautiful sweet pepper with a lovely, fruity taste. It only ripens to orange-red after spending quite a while in its purple phase. Sometimes the end has a bit of a curve, which inspired the "Turkenspitz" part of its name. This very rare pepper with a fascinating provenance is destined to become quite popular.
GROWING TIPS: Start seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 12-18 inches between plants. They tend to grow up tall and not out, so a foot or slightly more between plants should work, especially if you have limited space. Trellising may help the plants, but is not necessary.
