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How to Grow Lotto Scarlet

Lotto Scarlet

Capsicum annuum

vegetable

Lotto Scarlet is a compact, ornamental bell pepper variety that produces abundant small to medium-sized bright red peppers. It's ideal for container gardening and small spaces while delivering excellent flavor and productivity. The plant is known for its early maturity and prolific fruiting habit.

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Example Lotto Scarlet timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Lotto Scarlet

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Lotto Scarlet

    Around Jun 16

    ≈ 60 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Lotto Scarlet dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (minimum 6 hours for fruiting)
💧
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; water deeply 1-2 times weekly depending on temperature and rainfall. Increase frequency during fruiting and hot weather. Drip irrigation is ideal to prevent fungal issues.
📏
Spacing: 18 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 60-90 days from transplant to first ripe fruit
🌱
Planting depth: Plant seeds 0.25 inches deep; transplants at same depth as container

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
compost aged manure peat moss perlite for drainage

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown annually in zones 3-4 as a warm-season crop

3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves, tender and delicate appearance

Keep soil warm (70-80°F), provide bright light or grow lights 14-16 hours daily, maintain high humidity. Avoid overwatering which causes damping off.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks after transplanting

Robust branching plant with many leaves, compact bushy form 12-18 inches tall

Harden off before transplanting outdoors. Wait until soil and air temperatures are above 60°F. Pinch growing tips early to encourage bushiness if desired. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Plant develops small white or pale purple flowers at branch tips; compact growth habit makes flowers prominent

Maintain consistent watering and temperature (65-80°F optimal). Begin weekly feeding with lower-nitrogen fertilizer (higher phosphorus/potassium). Ensure good air circulation. Mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

4

Fruiting

3-4 weeks

Small green peppers develop and enlarge; plant becomes laden with multiple developing fruits, compact size accommodates many peppers

Continue consistent watering; increased demand during this stage. Feed weekly with balanced or high-potassium fertilizer. Support branches with stakes if heavily loaded. Remove any diseased foliage. Maintain 75-80°F for optimal fruit development.

5

Harvest/Ripening

4-8+ weeks (ongoing until frost)

Peppers gradually turn from green to bright scarlet red; full color indicates maturity and peak flavor

Harvest red peppers for sweetest flavor, or green for slightly more herbaceous taste. Pick regularly to encourage continued fruiting. A mature plant may produce 15-25+ fruits. Continue watering and feeding until first frost or season end.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil parsley onion spinach carrot borage marigold nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

fennel kohlrabi brassicas

Common Pests

  • Spray with water to knock off; use neem oil or miticide if severe. Increase humidity and improve air circulation.

  • Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs. Remove affected foliage if infestation is localized.

  • Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Reflective mulches help deter. Prune heavily infested leaves.

  • Remove infested fruits immediately; use insecticide if population is high. Practice crop rotation and sanitation.

  • This is a calcium deficiency disorder, not a pest. Maintain consistent moisture and add lime or calcium if soil is low.

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and salads

Culinary

Lotto Scarlet peppers are sweet and tender with thin walls when fully ripe, making them ideal for fresh consumption, salads, and raw preparations. The abundant small peppers are convenient for individual servings. [source]

🍳

Roasting and cooking

Culinary

Their smaller size makes them perfect for whole roasting, stuffing, or grilling. The thin walls cook quickly and develop sweet caramelized flavors. [source]

🏠

Container and ornamental gardening

Household

The compact 12-18 inch plant with abundant bright red fruits serves as an attractive ornamental vegetable for patios, balconies, and small spaces. Edible and visually striking simultaneously. [source]

💊

Vitamin C source

Medicinal

Red peppers are rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and antioxidants that support immune function and eye health. A single ripe pepper provides substantial daily vitamin C requirements. [source]

🦋

Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

The abundant white flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators during the flowering stage, enhancing garden biodiversity and supporting beneficial insects. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Peppers are harvestable at green stage but develop full sweetness and bright red color after 14-20 additional days of ripening. Use pruning shears to cut peppers rather than pulling to avoid damaging branches. A single Lotto Scarlet plant can produce 15-25+ peppers per season. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. For ornamental use, leave some peppers on the plant to mature fully.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Lotto Scarlet is specifically bred for compact, prolific growth in containers, making it one of the most productive pepper varieties per square foot of garden space.
  • 🌱 Bell peppers are technically fruits botanically (they contain seeds and develop from the flower's ovary) despite being culinarily classified as vegetables.
  • 🌱 The plant can continue producing new flowers and peppers until the first frost, with mature plants sometimes yielding fruit for 6+ months in ideal conditions.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Damping Off Full Sun Mulch pH Transplant True Leaves
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