Customer Service Hours
Mon-Fri 8-4 MST
Features
Family
Solanaceae
Native
Americas
Life Cycle
Frost-sensitive perennial grown as an annual
Plant Height
20"-24" tall, 22" wide
Further Information
Growing Conditions
Frost Sensitive
About Pepper
Capsicum baccatum
2"-3" long, bright yellow fruits with an almost waxy lemon peel sheen. Some fruits will have blushes of purple on the skin. Walls of the pepper are thin and fruits often only contain 10-15 seeds.
Planting Pepper
Plant Spacing
Start indoors
Light Required
Full sun
Plant Height
20"-24" tall, 22" wide
Planting Depth
1/4"
Coverage & Planting Details
| Coverage | This packet yields approximately 20 plants when started indoors. |
|---|---|
| Row Spacing | 24" - 36" |
| Seed Depth | 1/4" |
| Seed Spacing | Start indoors |
| Thinning | Start indoors, plant seedlings 18" - 24" apart outside |
| Germination | 10-25 days |
| Start Indoors | RECOMMENDED. 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°-90°F. Transplant seedlings outside 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, and when daytime temperatures are at least 70°F, and nighttime temperatures are at least 55°F. Mild Climates: Can also sow in late summer for fall/winter crop. |
| Direct Sow | For mild climates only: 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 70°F. |
| Special Sowing | Pepper seed germinates best in very warm soil. Either use a heat mat under your seed starting tray or place tray in a warm room. Do not overwater, but keep soil just slightly moist. Make sure the potting containers are big enough that the plants? roots will not be constricted; if seedlings become rootbound, the plants' growth may be stunted. |
| Special Care | Harvest when peppers are mature in size and have turned bright yellow. Some peppers will have a purple blush to them that may never fade away. It is okay to harvest these peppers too. When harvesting, take care to avoid touching the interior of any broken peppers, as the capsaicin is an extreme irritant, especially to the eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after harvesting or wear gloves to harvest peppers. |
| Growing & Harvesting | For step-by-step instructions on starting seed indoors, visit www.botanicalinterests.com. |
Find Your Frost Date & Grow Zone
Average First Frost Date
October 19
Average Last Frost Date
May 19
Your Hardiness Zone is
5b
Send Your Recommendation
Total 5 star reviews: 6 Total 4 star reviews: 1 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 1 Total 1 star reviews: 1
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Rating
Which best describes you as a gardener?
10 reviews
- GBLynden'sVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4/11/26Great Taste & Fun To Grow!
I consider these to be very underrated peppers. They are high producers, have great germination, and taste amazing in my hot sauces! They even do well up here in the PNW in porch garden.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests4/12/26Hey GBLynden's,
We're so thrilled to hear your Lemon Drop Chile Pepper Seeds are such high producers and doing amazing in your PNW porch garden! You're absolutely right that these little golden beauties are totally underrated. There's nothing quite like that bright, citrusy heat they bring to hot sauces! It's awesome that you've found them to be such reliable growers with great germination. Your hot sauce game must be absolutely incredible with those fresh Lemon Drops! Keep on growing 🌻️
- David B.PA, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars2/23/26Lemon drops are going vertical
so far, Ive planted this in eight 4" solo cup containers, 6 have sprouted. I count that as a win.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised Bed - Hettar7Verified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 stars1/26/26Citrusy Heat
I really liked these. They have a very good citrus flavor. I mixed these with otherI haven't noticed they are fussy. One pepper I think I'll grow again for flavor.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests1/28/26Hey they,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful review of our Lemon Drop Chile Pepper Seeds! So great that you're experiencing that citrus flavor! Thank you for choosing us and for sharing your growing success with us. Keep on growing 🌻️
- MaryVerified ReviewerRated 4 out of 5 stars1/22/26One of my favorites but takes some care
I really enjoy the tiny hint of citrus to these hot peppers. One thing to note is these take a very long time to grow. They also are a bit on the fussy side starting off. Plant as early as you can inside. Ideally in February. I have yet to get a harvest before September with these, but once they start producing, they do in abundance. The peppers typically dry really well too and can be used for quite a while.
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate - Tamara K.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars11/30/25Super productive and tasty
Every seed germinated and I ended up with four very healthy plants. These peppers produced for the whole summer all the way up to the first frost in zone 8a. I have so many peppers from these plants.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests12/1/25Hey Tamara,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your amazing experience with our Lemon Drop Chile Pepper Seeds! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that every single seed germinated - that's incredible! Four healthy plants producing all the way from summer to first frost sounds like you hit the pepper jackpot! We love hearing success stories like yours where gardeners end up with such an abundant harvest. We'd love to know what you're doing with all of them. Thanks for letting us know how productive they were for you in zone 8a - that's such valuable feedback. Keep on growing 🌻️