Sweet Pepper 'Bull's Horn'
Capsicum annuum 'Corno di Toro'
This spectacular Italian heirloom produces enormous 8-inch peppers shaped like a bull's horn with incredibly sweet, tender flesh. The thin-skinned fruits are perfect for frying, roasting, or fresh eating, and their impressive size makes them a showstopper in any garden or kitchen.
Harvest
75-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Sweet Pepper 'Bull's Horn' in USDA Zone 7
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Sweet Pepper 'Bull's Horn' · 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 | — | August – 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 Bull's Horn peppers store best at room temperature for 3-5 days, developing even sweeter flavor as they rest. For longer storage, refrigerate unwashed peppers in the crisper drawer for up to 2 weeks, though their thin skin makes them more perishable than thick-walled varieties.
For preservation, these peppers excel at freezing due to their tender flesh. Slice and freeze on baking sheets, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 8 months – perfect for winter stir-fries and soups. Their large size and thin skin make them ideal for roasting and freezing whole after charring and peeling.
Dehydrating works well for Bull's Horn peppers; slice into strips and dry at 135°F until leathery. Their sweet flavor concentrates beautifully when dried. For traditional Italian preservation, roast whole peppers, pack in olive oil with garlic and herbs, and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
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 conditions and can help deter certain pests when grown together
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Oregano
Deters aphids, spider mites, and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Carrots
Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients, while peppers provide light shade
Onions
Repel aphids, thrips, and other pests that commonly attack peppers
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling squash bugs
Keep Apart
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Brassicas
Compete heavily for nutrients and can stunt pepper growth due to different soil pH preferences
Walnut Trees
Produce juglone which is toxic to peppers and can cause wilting and death
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169394)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Limited disease resistance typical of heirlooms
Common Pests
European corn borer, aphids, pepper maggots, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, pepper mottle virus, blossom end rot