How Do Bell Peppers Grow?

 

USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 11

 

Peppers are native to the tropics where they are perennial shrubs that grow from 6 to 8 feet in height.  In temperate climates, they are grown as annuals.  They need an average temperature of from 65 to 80 degrees F to flower and set fruit.

 

All pepper plants have a bushy appearance, but the peppers they produce range in color, size, shape, and spiciness. In order for a pepper to be considered a sweet pepper, it must score near zero on the Scoville Scale, which measures the levels of capsaicin - the active compound responsible for the “heat” of hot peppers. Bell peppers, pimento peppers, and pepperoncis are popular examples of sweet pepper varieties, all of which range significantly in size, shape and color. Whereas the bell pepper is a boxy fruit, the pimento has a plump, round shape and the pepperoncini is typically long and slender. 

 

Peppers have a naturally upright growth habit, so they often benefit from staking to help support brittle branches as they become heavy with fruit. 

 

Seasonal Growth

 

Health Benefits

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History

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Propagation

 

Peppers are most commonly propagated by seed and grown during the warm season. They will not germinate in frost or cold temperatures, but can be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost to prepare them for spring planting. Soil temperature must be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit for seeds to germinate, and pepper plants require between 12 to 16 hours of light for optimal growth. 

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Harvest

 

Storage

 

Fun Facts