HotPepperIndex
White Lakes Pepper
Capsicum annuum

White Lakes Pepper

Russia (widely cultivated in short-season northern climates)
Mild
Also known asWhite Lakes Pepper · White Lakes · White Lakes Sweet Pepper · Russian White Lakes
Scoville
0SHU
Heat0%
0–100 SHU · Synthesized from multiple botanical, grower, and seed references

An early-maturing Russian sweet pepper prized for its creamy-white-to-red color progression, thick juicy walls, and exceptionally sweet, crisp flavor with zero heat — ideal for containers, short seasons, and fresh eating.

The White Lakes Pepper is a compact, productive sweet annuum variety originating from Russia, selected for its reliability in cooler, short-season climates. Its small, pointed pods (about 3 inches long and wide at the shoulder) grow upright or slightly downward and ripen from creamy white through orange blush to bright red. The plant stays short and stocky (around 2 feet tall), making it excellent for containers or small gardens. The thick-walled, juicy flesh delivers a rich, sweet, and crisp taste with no detectable heat, becoming even sweeter as the fruits mature to orange or red. This versatile heirloom is perfect for fresh snacking, salads, stuffing, roasting, or pickling, and it stores well when harvested young or fully ripe.

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Backstory

Developed as a traditional Russian landrace suited to short, cool growing seasons, this heirloom has been preserved by home gardeners and seed savers for its reliability and exceptional sweetness. It gained popularity among North American growers seeking productive sweet peppers for northern climates and container gardening. Its early maturity and stocky habit make it a favorite for both beginners and experienced gardeners who want reliable harvests even in challenging conditions.

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Flavor

Exceptionally sweet and crisp with juicy, fruity notes that intensify as the fruit ripens from white to red; completely heat-free, providing a refreshing, candy-like sweetness ideal for fresh or lightly cooked preparations.

sweetcrispjuicyfruitytangy

Culinary uses

fresh salads and snackingstuffing and roastingpickling and preservingstir-fries and sautésantipasto platterscontainer gardeningshort-season harvests

Q&A

Substitutions

Sweet Cherry Pepper (similar size and sweetness)Jimmy Nardello (similar sweet frying use)

Related variants

Appearance

Skin
smooth, glossy
Flesh
thick, crisp, juicy
Seeds
moderate number of cream-colored seeds
Shape
small pointed-end, somewhat bell-like or conical
Width
2-3 inches at shoulder
Length
3 inches (7.5 cm)
Color dried
deep red (less common)
Color fresh
creamy white to orange blush to bright red

Growing

Soil
fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0)
Notes
Early and highly productive Russian heirloom; excellent for containers or small gardens; performs well in cooler northern climates; can be grown as a short-lived perennial in frost-free zones; stake plants when heavily fruited
Starting
start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost
Sunlight
full sun (6-8+ hours daily)
Watering
consistent moisture without waterlogging
Plant height
2 feet, compact and stocky
Days to maturity
70-90 days from transplant

Nutrition

Benefits
Supports immune function, vision, and skin health with natural antioxidant properties
Calories
Very low calorie
Key nutrients
Vitamin C (high), Vitamin A, Antioxidants including carotenoids, Potassium

Origin detail

Region
Russia
Country
Russia
Breeder
Traditional Russian heirloom

Tags

sweetannuumrussianearlycontainer-friendlythick-walledheirloom

Sources

Huge shout-out to the breeders, growers, researchers, and seed savers linked below — their independent work is what lets us fact-check our own. Go visit them.

These references are used to verify what we publish — not as the source of the content itself. Seed catalogs, breeder pages, research papers, and cultivar databases let us cross-check every fact before it lands here. Open any card to read the original or dig deeper.

11 sources · Added May 11, 2026, 11:12 UTC · Updated May 11, 2026, 12:35 UTC
Origins
A World of Capsicum
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