About this seed

Rezha Macedonian, also called Vezena Piperka, is a Balkan heirloom pepper (Capsicum annuum, family Solanaceae) whose long red fruit develop deeply corked, "engraved" skin as they ripen. Heat is mild to moderate at 1,000–5,000 Scoville heat units. The packet holds 5 seeds.

Fruit and plant

Long, slender fruit 12–18 cm
Green at first, ripening deep red; the corked pattern forms as the fruit matures
Bushy plants 70–90 cm tall
Smoky, naturally sweet flavour; roasted, stuffed, grilled, pickled or dried for Balkan spice blends

The name Rezha means "engraved" in Macedonian and refers to that textured skin.

Sow into soil at 18–35 °C

Start the seed indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Seedlings appear in about 8–9 days when the soil is 25–35 °C; 18–35 °C is the soil range that suits pepper germination, so keep the tray inside it until the first leaves show. Cover the seed with about 6 mm of seed-starting mix.

These figures are typical for the species (emergence was measured with seed about 13 mm deep); they are not a test of this packet.

Planting out

Move plants outside once the weather stays warm, 40–50 cm apart, in full sun and well-drained soil. Water moderately; overwatering invites root rot.

When to expect fruit

Peppers ripen about 85–100 days after transplanting.

What you get: 5 seeds per packet. Pepper seed usually stays usable for about 2 years when kept cool, dark and dry, so you can sow part of the packet and keep the rest. That is a general figure for the species; we do not state a germination percentage for this packet.

FAQ

Is the corked skin a defect?

No. The deeply wrinkled, corked skin is the signature of this variety and develops as the fruit matures.

Can it be dried?

Yes. It is used fresh, roasted and stuffed, and also dried for spice blends.