Dulce Italiano is an early, productive sweet pepper with the classic Italian bull’s horn shape. Long, tapered, and thin skinned. Zero heat, all sweetness.
The fruits ripen from green to a deep, glossy red. The skin is exceptionally thin and tender, which makes it completely different from the thick walled Dutch peppers you find in supermarkets. Roast one and you will taste the difference immediately.
🌱 Sowing information
Sow indoors February to June in seed trays or small pots. Cover lightly, keep warm and consistently moist. Peppers need heat to germinate, so a warm windowsill or propagator helps. Transplant to a sunny, sheltered spot after the last frost.
☀️ Light exposure
Full sun and warmth. Peppers need the most sheltered, sunniest spot you have. In Ireland, a polytunnel, greenhouse or south facing wall is strongly recommended. They struggle in exposed or shady positions.
💧 Water needs
Water regularly and consistently. Do not let plants dry out, especially when fruits are forming. Peppers in pots dry out faster than those in the ground. Feed fortnightly with a high potash fertiliser once flowers appear.
🌡️ Germination temperature and time
Germination takes 10 to 21 days at 20 to 28°C. Peppers are slower and fussier to germinate than tomatoes. Bottom heat from a propagator makes a real difference. Be patient.
📏 Plant spacing and final size
Plants grow 40 to 60cm tall with a bushy habit. Space 40 to 50cm apart. Grows well in large pots (at least 5 litres). No staking usually needed unless heavily loaded with fruit.
🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest August to October. You can pick green for a milder flavour or wait until fully red for maximum sweetness. Picking regularly encourages more fruit production.
🍽️ In the kitchen
Roasted whole and peeled, grilled in strips with olive oil, stuffed with ricotta, or sliced raw into salads. The thin skin means you do not need to peel after roasting if you prefer not to.
📖 Not sure what to cook with your harvest? Our recipe guide “Welly to Belly: The Italian Vegetable Garden” is full of simple Italian recipes for exactly what you are growing. Get your copy and start cooking with what you grow.
Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: lightly covered
📅 Sow: February to June (indoors). Plant out: late May to June
☀️ Light: Full sun, very sheltered
🌡️ Germination: 10 to 21 days at 20 to 28°C
📏 Height: 40 to 60cm. Space: 40 to 50cm
🪴 Container friendly: yes, 5L pot minimum
⏳ Harvest: August to October
🧪 Approx. seed quantity: 150 seeds per gram, 1.5g per packet
Heritage variety from Franchi Sementi, est. 1783. Open pollinated, OGM free.
