How to Grow Blume's White
Wikimedia Commons
Blume's White
Capsicum annuum 'Blume's White'
vegetableBlume's White is a unique ornamental and culinary pepper variety that produces small, creamy white fruits that mature from green. This heirloom pepper is prized for its unusual coloring and mild flavor, making it both visually striking in the garden and suitable for fresh eating and cooking.
When should you plant Blume's White in your zone?
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Example Blume's White timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Blume's White
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Blume's White
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Blume's White dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in warm zones 9-11; can be grown as an annual in cooler zones with season extension
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Get my Blume's White timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, tender and delicate
Maintain warm conditions (70-80°F), provide bright light or grow lights, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
Vegetative
4-6 weeks after transplantingPlant develops robust branching structure with dark green leaves, no flowers yet
Harden off before transplanting; space appropriately; ensure consistent watering and full sunlight; stake or support if needed
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall white or pale flowers appear at leaf axils; plant becomes bushy and compact
Maintain consistent watering; apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks; ensure adequate phosphorus and potassium for flower development
Fruiting
3-4 weeks per flushSmall green peppers develop and mature to creamy white color; plant may be laden with fruit
Continue regular watering and feeding; remove any diseased fruit; monitor for pests; fruits are ready when fully white and firm
Harvest
Ongoing through seasonMature white peppers ready for picking; plant continues producing if managed properly
Harvest regularly to encourage more flowering; cut or snap peppers from stem; plant can be productive for 4-5 months in warm climates
Common Pests
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Increase humidity with overhead watering; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce predatory mites if severe
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators like ladybugs
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Remove and destroy infested fruit; use pheromone traps; apply spinosad if infestation is severe
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested leaves
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryBlume's White peppers have a mild, slightly sweet flavor suitable for eating fresh in salads, slicing for garnish, or cooking in stir-fries and other dishes. Their creamy white color adds visual interest to any dish. [source]
Garden decoration
OrnamentalThe striking creamy white fruits contrasting with dark green foliage make this pepper an attractive ornamental plant for decorative garden beds or container gardening, blurring the line between vegetable and ornamental gardening. [source]
Seed saving
CraftAs a heirloom variety, Blume's White is excellent for seed saving, allowing gardeners to preserve and propagate this unique cultivar year after year. Allow fully mature fruits to dry on the plant before extracting seeds. [source]
Drying and preservation
HouseholdWhite peppers can be dried whole or sliced for storage and later use in cooking, creating an attractive visual element in dried pepper arrangements or for grinding into seasoning blends. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest Blume's White peppers when they reach full creamy white color and feel firm to the touch, typically 70-90 days after transplanting. Cut peppers from the stem with pruners rather than pulling to avoid damaging the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued fruit production throughout the growing season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Blume's White is a heirloom pepper variety that has been cultivated for generations, with its origins traced to Central and South America where pepper cultivation began over 6,000 years ago.
- 🌱 The creamy white color of mature fruit is uncommon in peppers and is caused by the absence of capsanthin and other carotenoid pigments, making this variety visually striking in both garden and kitchen.
- 🌱 Despite being technically a fruit from a botanical perspective (it develops from the flower's ovary), peppers are culinarily classified as vegetables and have become a staple in cuisines worldwide.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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