Bell pepper

Bell pepper

Capsicum annuum

It used to be that bell peppers were available almost solely as green peppers. Then in the 1980s red bell peppers became more common (especially when roasted) and now bell pepper fruits are grown in a rainbow of fascinating colors: green, white, yellow, red, orange, and chocolate brown.

Green fruits are actually immature peppers. If you leave them on the plant, they eventually will develop one of the other colors, most commonly red, and become sweeter.

Bell peppers these days are being hailed as a superfood, low in calories, high in flavor, and Vitamins A, C, and other nutrients. They are delicious in salads, stir-fries, soups, stews, and roasted or grilled.

Bell peppers need temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit to grow well. Avoid planting them too early in the growing season, and protect plants from cold temperatures.

Light:

Sun

Plant Type:

Vegetable

Plant Height:

6-36 inches tall

Plant Width:

18-24 inches wide

Top Varieties

'Ace Hybrid' pepper

is an early maturing variety that grows well in cool climates. It turns red at maturity.
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'Admiral' pepper

bears blocky fruits that turn from green to yellow at maturity. It matures in 80 days from planting.
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'California Wonder' pepper

is a thick-walled sweet pepper that is good for stuffing. The leafy plant protects fruits from sunburn. The original variety turns red at maturity, but a yellow form is also available. 75 days
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'Carmen' pepper

is a sweet bull-horn type pepper that turns from green to red when ripe, in about 75 days from transplanting. Plants perform well in container gardens.
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'Golden Bell Hybrid' pepper

bears 4-inch-diameter fruits that turn deep gold at maturity. 75 days
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'Gypsy' pepper

is an early maturing sweet pepper that produces well in both cool and hot regions. The elongated fruits begin creamy yellow and turn red at full maturity. 65 days
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'Sweet Banana' pepper

gets its name from its mild, sweet flesh, and elongated yellow immature form. At maturity it turns red. 68 days
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Garden Plans

An Eye-Catching Kitchen Garden Plan
Fall Vegetable Garden Plan
All-American Vegetable Garden Plan
Inspired by Italy Vegetable Garden Plan
Summer Vegetable Garden Plan
Colorful Vegetable Garden Plan

Harvest Tips

Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut off fruits when they are full size or later when they are fully colored. Not all immature fruits are green. Some varieties develop creamy yellow, lilac, or purple fruits in their immature stages. Fully mature fruits are sweeter than immature ones, but allowing fruits to mature sends a signal to the plant to stop producing new fruits, so overall yields will be less the more fruits you allow to mature.