Capsicum annuum

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Alexandru is a time-honoured heirloom sweet pepper variety from Eastern Europe, maintained for generations in Hungarian and Romanian gardens. This variety represents the enduring value of regional seed-saving traditions. Its heritage as an open-pollinated, non-hybrid pepper makes it ideal for gardeners seeking reliable, flavourful performance and true-to-type seed collection.

The fruit is long, horn-shaped, and beautifully glossy, ripening from green to deep red. Each pepper measures 12 to 15cm long, with medium-thick walls and a firm, juicy texture. The flavour is sweet and fresh with a gentle undercurrent of bitterness that deepens its culinary character. Perfect for stuffing, grilling, roasting, or simply slicing raw, Alexandru delivers a classic Eastern European taste that is as versatile as it is memorable.

Sow seeds indoors eight to ten weeks before your final frost. Plant them 5mm deep in a well-drained germination mix and maintain temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius. A germination heating pad will greatly assist with faster, more even germination. Germination usually occurs within 10 to 20 days. Harden off seedlings and transplant when temperatures remain warm and stable.

Alexandru has a compact, indeterminate growth habit, reaching 50 to 60cm tall. Unlike bush peppers that produce in a single flush, this variety continues to set fruit over time, offering extended harvests throughout the warm season. Its dense foliage helps protect the developing fruit, while its manageable size makes it ideal for both garden beds and containers.

For South African growers, Alexandru offers an excellent balance of heritage charm, ease of care, and culinary performance. As a true heirloom, it rewards seed savers and flavour seekers alike with season after season of richly coloured, sweet, and satisfying peppers.

Standard packet contains approx. 25 seeds

Petite packet contains approx. 10 seeds