Chinese Giant Pepper
A classic early-20th-century American heirloom sweet bell pepper introduced by Burpee, prized for its exceptionally large, blocky, thick-walled fruits that ripen from dark green to brilliant scarlet with outstanding sweet flavor and zero heat.
Growing
~80 days to maturity
Fruit size
10–15 cm
Flavor & Use
Mildly sweet with a clean, crisp texture and classic bell-pepper flavor; fully ripened red fruits develop deeper sweetness and juiciness while remaining completely free of heat.
Culinary
About
Chinese Giant is a large-fruited open-pollinated Capsicum annuum heirloom introduced by W. Atlee Burpee in 1900. Compact, stocky plants (typically 60–90 cm) produce high yields of pendant, nearly square to blocky bells measuring 10–15 cm with thick walls and smooth skin. Fruits mature midseason (75–90 days) from dark green to a vivid cherry or cinnabar red and deliver excellent sweet flavor whether harvested green or fully ripe. Ideal for home gardeners seeking oversized stuffing peppers.
Backstory
Introduced in 1900 by W. Atlee Burpee after breeding experiments at Fordhook Farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Developed by crossing selected squarish bell peppers with Ruby King (itself derived from Spanish Monstrous) to achieve larger size (up to 6 inches), reduced creasing, a flat bottom ideal for stuffing, and a brilliant cinnabar-scarlet color—the “Chinese” in the name referring to that hue rather than any geographic origin. An early 20th-century open-pollinated heirloom that set a new standard for giant sweet peppers on compact, productive plants.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.