Aji Colorado - 15 pcs seeds

"Aji Colorado" (Aji Colorado) is a popular South American hot-pepper variety of the Capsicum baccatum species, originating from Bolivia or Peru. It produces slightly wrinkled fruits 7–10 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, which turn from green to a beautiful glossy orange-red when ripe. With heat of around 20 000 SHU, the variety offers a pleasant balance between the characteristic flavour of Aji peppers and moderately strong pungency.

"Aji Colorado" (Aji Colorado) is a traditional South American hot pepper regarded as one of the distinctive varieties in this group. Its origin is associated with Bolivia and Peru, where members of Capsicum baccatum have a long culinary history.

The fruits are elongated, approximately 7–10 cm long and 2–3 cm wide. Their surface is slightly wrinkled, giving the variety its distinctive appearance. In the early stages the peppers are green, and at full maturity they become glossy orange-red.

Aji Colorado also stands out for its pleasant, highly valued flavour combined with medium-high heat. The producer states 20 000 Scoville units, making it suitable for those who enjoy distinctly spicy peppers without reaching the extreme levels of the hottest varieties.

The variety can be grown both in a greenhouse and outdoors. For higher yields, we recommend greenhouse cultivation. Start seeds indoors between January and April and maintain a germination temperature of 20–30°C. Plants can be moved outside around the end of May, once conditions are warm enough.

With stronger growth, plants can be tied to stakes to provide the support they need. Another option is pruning to form more compact plants.

An interesting advantage of Aji Colorado is the possibility of extending the season. In autumn, plants can be transferred into pots and brought indoors, where in a sufficiently bright place they can continue forming and ripening fruits.

Variety characteristics

✔️ Variety: "Aji Colorado" (Aji Colorado)
✔️ Botanical name: Capsicum baccatum
✔️ Type: Hot pepper
✔️ Origin: Bolivia / Peru
✔️ Heat level: 20 000 SHU
✔️ Fruit length: 7–10 cm
✔️ Fruit width: 2–3 cm
✔️ Surface: Slightly wrinkled
✔️ Initial colour: Green
✔️ Colour at ripeness: Glossy orange-red
✔️ Flavour: Distinctive and highly valued
✔️ Heat level: Medium hot
✔️ Growing: Outdoors or in a greenhouse.

🌡️ Pungency

🔥 20 000 SHU on the Scoville scale

Aji Colorado offers noticeable yet relatively balanced heat. This places it above mildly spicy varieties but well below the extremely hot members of Capsicum chinense. The value given by Vreeken's Zaden is 20 000 Scoville.

🌱 Sowing and growing

Sowing period: January – April

Sowing: indoors

Germination temperature: 20–30°C

Planting outdoors: approximately the end of May

Growing: outdoors or in a greenhouse

For higher yields: greenhouse cultivation is recommended.

Once plants reach a greater height, they can be tied to stakes or other suitable support. In limited space, pruning is also possible to keep plants more compact.

🪴 Season extension

In late summer or autumn, plants can be transplanted into pots and moved indoors.

When placed in a bright, relatively warm location, they can continue to develop after the end of the standard outdoor season. This is especially useful if the plants still have unripe fruits.

🍴 Culinary use

Thanks to the combination of distinctive flavour and 20 000 SHU heat, Aji Colorado is suitable for a range of spicy recipes:

• Homemade hot sauces
• Salsa
• Marinating
• Pickles
• Soups and stews
• Vegetable dishes
• South American recipes
• Drying
• Preparing hot seasonings and blends

When fully ripe, the orange-red fruits are also suitable for drying and subsequent grinding.

💡 Tip from Urban Botaniks: For "Ahi Colorado" (Aji Colorado), sowing early in winter is worthwhile. Maintain 20–30°C during germination and provide strong light after the seedlings emerge. When grown in a greenhouse, the long warm season gives plants more time to develop a crop and for the fruits to reach their characteristic glossy orange-red colour.