With its small, compact bushes and generous yield of elongated peppers, Drago is an excellent choice for gardeners who want to grow their own peppers in a vegetable garden, greenhouse, or pot.

Their meaty, thick-fleshed fruits gradually turn from green to bright red as they ripen. Measuring about 4 to 11 cm long, they are particularly useful for everyday cooking, making hot sauces, and preparing homemade preserves. Their aromatic flavor and moderate heat spice up many dishes without overpowering the other ingredients.

Thanks to its adaptability and bushy growth habit, the Drago pepper suits both beginner gardeners and fans of productive varieties. It thrives in warm, sunny locations and yields a generous harvest when its growing needs are met.

Drago pepper tasting notes

The Drago pepper develops a distinctive, intense aroma with pronounced but approachable heat. Its thick flesh adds an appealing texture to dishes, particularly when the peppers are used fresh, cooked, or preserved in a marinade.

With an estimated heat of 5,000 to 12,000 Scoville Heat Units, it falls in the moderately hot range. It suits spice lovers looking for a good balance of heat and flavor.

Keep in mind that it all depends on the weather: when the whole summer is sunny and dry, the peppers become much hotter!

How hot are Drago peppers?

Drago peppers rate 5 to 6 on our heat scale, with an estimated 5,000 to 12,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units).

This heat level makes it suitable for many recipes: spicy sauces, marinades, stews, tomato-based dishes, and preserved peppers. The actual heat may vary with growing conditions and the ripeness of the peppers.

How can you use Drago peppers in cooking?

Versatile red Drago peppers work well in a wide range of dishes.

• Homemade hot sauces: combine the red peppers with tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, and herbs to make a spicy sauce.
• Marinades and preserves: its thick flesh is particularly well suited to vinegar-based preparations and pickled peppers.
• Everyday cooking: add a few pieces to sautéed vegetables, meat dishes, soups, or sauces.
• Russian and Eastern European cooking: use it to add a spicy touch to vegetable dishes, stews, and homemade sauces.
• Dried peppers: dry the ripe peppers and turn them into flakes or powder to enjoy their flavor year-round.

Recipe: homemade red Drago hot sauce

To make a simple hot sauce, gently sauté red Drago peppers with a tomato, a clove of garlic, and a small onion. Add vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a little sugar to taste. Blend until smooth, then adjust the seasoning.

This sauce goes well with grilled foods, burgers, roasted vegetables, and dishes that need a touch of heat. If you plan to store it for a long time, use a tested preservation recipe and follow food hygiene and safety guidelines.

How do you grow Drago peppers?

Drago peppers are within reach of gardeners who can provide enough warmth and light, along with well-drained soil. This variety of Capsicum annuum forms a bushy plant that can reach about 100 cm in height.

Sowing Drago pepper seeds

The recommended sowing period runs from January to April, depending on your climate and growing conditions.

• Sow the seeds in a fine, light seed-starting mix kept slightly moist.
• Maintain a germination temperature between 22 and 28 °C.
• Seedlings generally emerge in 12 to 21 days, depending on conditions.
• Ideally, use a mini greenhouse and a heat mat to maintain a stable temperature.
• As soon as the seedlings emerge, place them in a bright spot to encourage compact growth.

Avoid saturating the growing medium: excess moisture can interfere with germination and encourage fungal problems.

Planting and sun exposure

Plant Drago peppers in a very sunny, warm spot sheltered from the wind. Allow for at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, preferably more.

Choose fertile soil that retains some moisture but drains well. Avoid letting excess water collect around the roots. Growing in a pot is also possible, provided you choose a container large enough and with drainage holes in the bottom.

Wait about 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost before moving the plants outdoors permanently, taking the temperatures actually recorded in your area into account. Gradually acclimate young plants to outdoor conditions.

Care and harvesting

Water regularly according to the weather and soil moisture, without allowing water to stand. A moderate amount of fertilizer suitable for vegetable plants can support growth and fruit production.

The first white flowers generally appear between May and August. The peppers then develop and turn from green to bright red as they ripen. Allow about 90 to 110 days for ripening, depending on growing conditions and the starting point used for the count.

Harvest the peppers when they have developed their characteristic red color. To extend the life of a plant grown in a pot, you can overwinter it in a bright place at a temperature of at least 15 °C. Light pruning can be done if needed.

Drago pepper characteristics

• Variety: Drago
• Species: Capsicum annuum
• Origin: Russia
• Contents: 20 seeds
• Heat level: 5 to 6 on our scale
• Estimated heat: 5,000 to 12,000 SHU
• Plant height: about 100 cm
• Growth habit: bushy and compact
• Fruit color: green, turning bright red when ripe
• Fruit shape: elongated
• Fruit length: about 4 to 11 cm
• Flesh: thick
• Flower color: white
• Flowering: May to August
• Sowing period: January to April
• Optimal germination temperature: 22 to 28 °C
• Germination time: about 12 to 21 days
• Time to ripen: about 90 to 110 days
• Exposure: full sun, sheltered location
• Uses: hot sauces, cooking, marinades, and preserves

Why choose Drago pepper seeds?

Drago peppers are an appealing variety for anyone seeking a productive, aromatic red pepper that is relatively easy to grow. Their bushy growth, meaty fruits, and moderate heat make them a versatile choice for the vegetable garden, greenhouse, or pot.

Whether you want to harvest fresh peppers, make your own hot sauces, or prepare homemade preserves, this Russian variety will fit right in among your pepper plants.

For successful sowing and strong, healthy plants, also consult our pepper-growing guide and pepper tracking journal, which will help you throughout your plants’ growth.