Sweet Italian Pepper 'Marconi Rosso'
Capsicum annuum 'Marconi Rosso'
An exceptional Italian heirloom frying pepper renowned for its incredible sweetness and tender flesh when cooked. These long, tapered peppers start green and ripen to a gorgeous deep red, developing an almost candy-like sweetness that makes them irresistible grilled, roasted, or sautéed. A favorite among Italian-American gardeners and chefs who prize authentic flavors in their cooking.
Harvest
80-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Sweet Italian Pepper 'Marconi Rosso' in USDA Zone 7
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Sweet Italian Pepper 'Marconi Rosso' · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Water: KAP-sih-kum AN-yoo-um. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 8 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Fruits are a non-pulpy berry and vary considerably across cultivars. Some are long, thin, bright red, and spicy; others are thick, large, and sweet-tasting; others still are small and in ornamental shapes and colors, grown as decoration.
Color: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Type: Berry. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Marconi Rosso peppers keep best in the refrigerator crisper drawer for 1-2 weeks when stored in perforated plastic bags. Don't wash before storing—moisture accelerates spoilage of the thin-walled fruit.
For preservation, roasting and freezing captures their sweet flavor beautifully. Char the skins over an open flame or under the broiler, then peel and freeze in portions. The traditional Italian method involves roasting, peeling, and storing in olive oil in sterilized jars—perfect for antipasto platters and pasta dishes year-round.
Dehydrating works well for red peppers, creating sweet pepper flakes that add authentic Italian flavor to dishes. Simply slice into strips and dry until brittle. These peppers also freeze well raw—just remove stems, slice, and freeze in single layers before transferring to bags. The texture won't be crisp when thawed, but they're perfect for cooking applications.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical North and South America
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Drought, Heat
- +Attracts: Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Birds are immune to the capsaicin in peppers and can safely eat the fruits with no ill effects. Therefore, these plants may attract birds. Host plant for Potato Tuber Moth.
- +Edible: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Tomatoes
Share similar growing requirements and can help shade pepper roots from intense heat
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Oregano
Deters pests like cucumber beetles and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Carrots
Help break up compacted soil with their taproots and don't compete for nutrients
Onions
Repel aphids, spider mites, and other pests with sulfur compounds
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles while attracting beneficial predators
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone, a chemical toxic to peppers and other nightshade family plants
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of peppers and most vegetables
Brassicas
Compete heavily for nutrients and may stunt pepper growth due to different soil pH preferences
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169394)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to common pepper diseases
Common Pests
Aphids, pepper maggot, European corn borer, thrips
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, verticillium wilt, tobacco mosaic virus