Ekstaza

Ekstaza is an early, long “Charleston-type” sweet pepper from the Balkans that’s widely grown across Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, for its heavy yields and versatile kitchen use. Pods are impressively long—typically 25–30 cm (about 10–12") and 4–5 cm wide—yet thin-skinned enough to char quickly and pickle beautifully thanks to an ideal pericarp thickness. Fruits ripen cleanly from light green to deep red, so harvests look great at every stage and lend themselves to fresh slicing, roasting, stuffing, and winter pickles. Plants are vigorous and productive both in open beds and under cover; in greenhouses they can reach up to ~170 cm with steady feeding and moisture. Many growers note the variety’s “non-stop” usefulness: early fresh pods in spring/early summer, steady flushes through warm weather, and pantry-ready pickles for winter. Expect a classic sweet-pepper aroma with juicy walls and a crisp bite—zero heat, just flavor. If you want a space-efficient plant that cranks out chef-length peppers for months, Ekstaza is a reliable, high-yield choice.

Days: ~110–140 from emergence; considerably earlier from transplant (early maturing).
Species: Capsicum annuum
SHU: 0 (sweet)
Heat Level: Sweet
Plant Size: ~70–120 cm outdoors; up to ~170 cm in greenhouse, vigorous and upright.
Pod Size: ~25–30 cm long × 4–5 cm wide; ~130 g average fruit weight
Color: Light green → deep red at full maturity.
Flavor: Sweet, juicy, crisp; excellent for roasting and pickling.
Creator: Regional Balkan/Serbian selection; widely grown in Eastern Europe (popular in Ukraine).