Ralph Thompson's Squash Pepper

Exceptionally sweet and fruity with a rich taste and a pleasant, building heat that lingers without overwhelming the sweetness; thick walls provide crisp, juicy texture both raw and cooked.

Ralph Thompson's Squash Pepper produces an abundance of unique saucer-shaped peppers with pronounced ribbing, measuring about 2 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter, or up to 2.5 to 4 inches across, with very thick, crisp flesh. The fruits start green, transition through brown, and mature to a brilliant glossy red. The flavor is exceptionally sweet, rich, and fruity with a pleasant building heat that complements rather than dominates, making it versatile for both sweet and spicy applications. Plants are compact, typically 12 to 24 inches tall, and highly productive, often used in containers. It matures in 75 to 90 days from transplant. Excellent for fresh eating, roasting, stuffing with cheese or meats, salsas, pickling, drying into flakes or paprika, hot sauce, relish, and even mustard made with the seeds. The Havercamp family, who donated it to Seed Savers Exchange, particularly enjoys it in canned hot pepper relish and soups. Wear gloves when handling due to the heat.

Donated to Seed Savers Exchange by Hugh and Barbara Havercamp. Passed down from Barbara’s father, Ralph Mead Thompson of Woburn, MA. Originally from Italian immigrants who came to Boston as indentured servants. Some family accounts link it to Appalachian gardening heritage in West Virginia.