Stocky Red Rooster

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Stocky Red Rooster to a garden.

Aromatic and sweet with a lively, rooster-bright snap—Stocky Red Rooster Bull’s Horn Sweet Pepper turns from glossy green to a rich, warm scarlet that practically glows in the garden.

Fruits are thick-walled and pleasantly firm, with a gently curved horn shape that feels substantial in the hand and holds its shape beautifully. Grow it for fresh snacking, vibrant roasting, and bold color in salsas and sauces—its sweet flavor shines whether you serve it whole, sliced, or blended.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Stocky Red Rooster

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Stocky Red Rooster Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Thick-walled and sweet with a snappy, substantial bite, this pepper loves high heat—roast it until the skin blisters and the flesh stays structured. Its warm, lightly tangy finish plays especially well with citrus and smoke, so your sauce or salsa keeps that rooster-bright clarity instead of going flat.

Best Uses

roast whole or in thick slices until skins blister and flesh stays meaty
chop for fresh snacking—sliceable crunch that doesn’t turn watery fast
blend into a smooth salsa or sauce that holds body without thinning out
pile into hot sautés where it can caramelize edges instead of collapsing

Flavor Profile

sweet peppery aroma rooster-bright snap thick-walled, firm bite warm, mildly tangy finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lime smoked paprika olive oil white fish

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Capsicum annuum (pepper) like ‘Stocky Red Rooster’, and how can I treat it at home?

Look for aphids and spider mites on the undersides of pepper leaves—both can stunt growth and cause stippling or leaf curl. Blast plants with a strong spray of water first, then apply insecticidal soap (especially underside leaves) and repeat every 5–7 days until new growth is clean. For disease, watch for blossom-end rot (black, leathery spots on fruit) and prevent it by keeping soil moisture even and supplying consistent calcium via balanced fertilizer rather than letting beds dry out and then flood.

How often should I water Capsicum annuum during the main growing phase (after transplanting/while flowering)?

During flowering and fruit set, keep the root zone evenly moist—typically watering deeply 1–2 times per week depending on heat, aiming for soil that’s damp 2–3 inches down, not soggy. If the top inch dries out, water thoroughly; if water pools or the soil stays wet, cut back to prevent root stress and increase the chance of blossom-end rot. Mulch helps stabilize moisture so peppers don’t swing between dry and wet.

How do I know when ‘Stocky Red Rooster’ Capsicum annuum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit has fully changed color to its mature red stage and the peppers feel firm and reach a consistent mature size for the variety. For peppers, sweetness and flavor continue improving as they ripen on the plant, so avoid harvesting too early while they’re still green. A gentle twist or snip at the stem will remove them without tearing the plant.