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How to Grow Caloro Pepper From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Caloro is a mild, waxy yellow chile that gardeners love for pickling. Its smooth, conical peppers ripen from a pale waxy yellow through orange to red, and at only about 500 to 2,500 Scoville heat units it delivers gentle warmth and tangy flavor rather than a fiery burn. It is easy to grow, productive, and perfect for anyone who wants a versatile pepper for the pickle jar.

This is the quick guide to Caloro. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, transplanting, feeding, and troubleshooting peppers, see our complete guide to growing peppers from seed.

Quick start

Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost, kept warm at 75 to 85F. Harden the plants off, then transplant them out 18 to 24 inches apart once nights stay above 55F. Give full sun, steady water, and a stake or cage to support the fruit. Pick the peppers pale waxy yellow from about 70 to 75 days for classic pickling, or leave them to ripen orange-red for a sweeter, warmer flavor.

Best tip

Caloro is a mild, waxy yellow pepper that shines when pickled, but it still needs steady warmth to set fruit. Start seeds indoors early and wait until nights stay reliably above 55F before transplanting. In hot-summer regions like Texas or Arizona, a little afternoon shade during heat waves keeps blossoms from dropping. Pick the peppers pale yellow for the classic tangy pickled flavor, or leave a few on the plant to blush orange-red for a slightly sweeter, warmer taste.

At a glance

How to Grow Caloro Pepper From Seed — growing specifications at a glance
Botanical name	Capsicum annuum
Plant type	Warm-season annual
USDA zones	3 to 12 (grown as an annual)
Sun	Full sun (6 to 8+ hours)
Days to maturity	70 to 75 days yellow; ~85 red
Height	24 to 30 inches
Spacing	18 to 24 inches apart
Water	Regular and deep; keep evenly moist

Uses

Caloro is the classic pickling pepper. Harvested pale waxy yellow it is mild and tangy, perfect sliced into pickle jars, layered on sandwiches and subs, or added to relishes and giardiniera. Left to ripen orange-red it turns a touch sweeter and warmer, good for salsas and roasting. With only gentle heat it is an easy, crowd-pleasing pepper for gardeners who want flavor without much burn.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Caloro pepper take to grow?

Caloro peppers are typically ready to pick pale yellow about 70 to 75 days after transplanting, and a couple of weeks longer if you let them ripen orange-red. Start seeds indoors 8 weeks before your last frost to give them a strong head start.

How hot is a Caloro pepper?

Caloro is a mild pepper, roughly 500 to 2,500 Scoville heat units. That is a gentle warmth, milder than a jalapeno, which is exactly why it is such a popular pickling pepper.

When do I pick Caloro peppers?

Pick Caloro peppers pale waxy yellow when they reach full size, about 3 to 4 inches, for the classic tangy pickling flavor. If you prefer a sweeter, warmer taste, leave some on the plant to ripen through orange to red.

What is Caloro pepper best used for?

Caloro is best known as a pickling pepper. Sliced into jars it adds a mild tangy bite to sandwiches, subs, relishes, and giardiniera. Ripened red it turns slightly sweeter and works well in salsas and roasted dishes.

Ready to grow your own? Caloro seeds give you waxy yellow peppers that are perfect for pickling all season long. For the full step-by-step, see our complete pepper growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Caloro Pepper Seeds – Non-GMO HeirloomHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Caloro chile — golden waxy pods, mild heat, perfect for pickling.

Price$4.99

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Want more peppers? These value packs pair Caloro with other sweet and hot varieties:

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Pepper Seeds Variety Pack – Non-GMO Heirloom13 super-hot varietiesThirteen fiery chilis for heat lovers, from habanero to the hottest peppers we carry.

Price$19.99Starting at$16.99

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.