[JayG]

I don't normally get too excited about sweet peppers, partly because I don't grow that many, but also because I tend to think of peppers as just peppers (albeit green, yellow, orange, or red.)

However, a couple of red bell (box) peppers we tried the other day were so juicy, tasty and sweet that I would actually like to make a point of growing more of them next year.

Trouble is, these were plants grown from a packet of mixed peppers, so I have no idea what variety they are! 

Can anyone recommend a variety of red bell pepper which crop well and are truly exceptional in taste and sweetness?

[mumofstig]

the Holy Grail of peppers eh? 

I've grown Sweet Spanish Mammoth this year, lovely red pointy peppers, but the yield is not very good............so will be watching this thread closely

[Willie_Eckerslike]

For the last two years I have grown california wonders. Despite the name I get around a dozen off each plant. We tend to eat then when they are still green, sliced with salad.
This years are about the size of a golfball so far but are swelling nicely. Nice and sweet and crispy.

[mumofstig]

I think that's half the problem for me Willie_Eckerslike..............I don't like them green, and if you leave them on to ripen it seems that you get less fruit

[operabunny]

JayG, could you save some seed from your mystery pepper plant? Unless it was an F1 mix, of course.

[Lardman]

I've got 3 california wonders plants and wont be bothering again !

They're 2ft tall with 3 peppers on each, and no sign of producing anything more, complete waste of space.

[Ricey]

I've only had my lotty for 6 weeks or so and obviously I'm a tad late to do any serious growing....... But I'm looking forward to trying some peppers next year and I think I've found the one I will be concentrating on.

Its on this page ..... http://www.realseeds.co.uk/sweetpeppers.html
and is called 'Napia'.

To quote the site 'It has really good thick, crunchy sweet flesh, & we like it best raw rather than cooked' ..... Hmnnnn, sounds good.

[Willie_Eckerslike]

I've got 3 california wonders plants and wont be bothering again !

They're 2ft tall with 3 peppers on each, and no sign of producing anything more, complete waste of space.

Lardman, they are a late cropper and are only just coming into their own. Last year nothing seemed to happen until the end of Aug, then over the next eight weeks I had to freeze 20 peppers off just six plants, in addition to what we used fresh.

[mumofstig]

To quote the site 'It has really good thick, crunchy sweet flesh, & we like it best raw rather than cooked' ..... Hmnnnn, sounds good.

All I can say is.. I tried them a few years ago with little success 

I think I'm going to try Atris next year it got an AGM for 2011 in the RHS trials.

[Springlands]

I've got 3 california wonders plants and wont be bothering again !

They're 2ft tall with 3 peppers on each, and no sign of producing anything more, complete waste of space.

Lardman, they are a late cropper and are only just coming into their own. Last year nothing seemed to happen until the end of Aug, then over the next eight weeks I had to freeze 20 peppers off just six plants, in addition to what we used fresh.

Willie - my CW have been cropping since the end of July - I just cannot keep up with them. Like you I shall be freezing some. Oh - and yesterday I found some more flowers forming. 

[BabbyAnn]

I'd be interested to see what the results.  I love sweet crunchy thick fleshed (red) peppers for salad use but always seem disappointed by varieties available in this country and just presumed they are the only ones suitable for this climate.  Has anyone tried Carmagnola (Seeds of Italy)?  I'm keen to know how they turn out.   

[AdrianH]

I tried a few varieties this year. Was very impressed with Lany F1. Big peppers and very productive. Also Orange Bell made good sized orange peppers.