Description
Species: Capsicum annuum
Origin: Turkey – Şanlıurfa Region
Heat: Mild Heat
Urfa Biber is a traditional Turkish chilli originating from the Şanlıurfa region of south eastern Türkiye, famous for producing one of the country's most distinctive chilli seasonings. The peppers are prized for their rich flavour and their ability to develop wonderfully complex, sweet, earthy and raisin-like characteristics when prepared using traditional Turkish methods.
Fresh Urfa Biber chillies can also be used in a variety of dishes, particularly Turkish and Middle Eastern cooking. Their fruity character makes them suitable for sauces, chutneys, stews and slow-cooked dishes, while growers looking for something different can experiment with drying their own harvest to recreate the traditional Turkish seasoning.
Plants develop a bushy growth habit, typically reaching 80–100cm in favourable conditions, producing attractive white flowers followed by bright red fruits approximately 5–8cm long. The peppers ripen from green to red, generally requiring around 90–110 days under suitable growing conditions. In the UK, a greenhouse or warm, sheltered growing position will help the plants reach their full potential.
Sow indoors between January and April at 22–28°C, allowing approximately 12–21 days for germination. Early sowings will benefit from additional lighting, while a heated propagator helps maintain consistent temperatures. Grow in fertile, free-draining compost, avoiding waterlogged roots, and provide at least six hours of direct sunshine daily. Plants can be moved outdoors once temperatures are reliably warm and all risk of frost has passed.
Urfa Biber can also be grown in containers and potentially overwintered indoors in a bright position, ideally maintained above 15°C. Light pruning and reduced watering during winter can help maintain healthy plants for the following season.
Chilli Seeds Qty is 5 per pack unless stated.
