Crops › Sweet Bell Pepper
How to grow Sweet Bell Pepper
in the US
Sow March to June, plant out July, harvest June to October. About 75 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Sweet bell peppers are a proper treat, aren't they? Nothing beats picking your own from the plant, still warm from the sun. They do take a bit of fussing with, but the rewards are well worth it, especially if you've got a sunny spot.
Sowing
Sweet bell peppers, being from the Solanaceae family, need a good start. You'll want to sow them indoors, around 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Get them into good seed-starting mix, just a quarter-inch deep, maybe two seeds per cell, then thin to the strongest. They like it warm, around 70-80°F (21-27°C) for germination, so a heat mat really helps. For folks in zones 3 and 4, you're looking at May/June or June/July, while warmer zones can start much earlier, even January.
Growing on
Once your seedlings have a couple of true leaves, prick them out into individual 3-4 inch pots. Keep 'em warm and in a sunny spot, or under grow lights, so they don't get leggy. Before planting out, harden them off properly for a week or two, gradually getting them used to the outdoors. Don't rush it; wait until all danger of frost is gone and the soil has warmed up nice and proper. Space them about 18-24 inches apart in the ground, or one per large container, and be ready to give them some support as they grow.
Looking after it
Sweet bell peppers are thirsty plants, especially when they're fruiting, so consistent watering is key. Try to keep the soil evenly moist, not waterlogged though, you know what I mean. A good layer of mulch around the base helps hold that moisture in and keeps the weeds down. They'll appreciate a balanced liquid feed every couple of weeks once they start setting fruit.
What goes wrong
To be honest, peppers can get a few visitors. Aphids are always a pain; you can blast them off with water or use a bit of insecticidal soap. Keep an eye out for cutworms, especially when plants are young; collars made from toilet paper rolls can help. Bacterial leaf spot can be an issue in humid conditions, so good air circulation is important. Like I say, regular checks help you catch things early.
Harvest
You can pick sweet bell peppers green, but they're much sweeter and more colorful if you let them ripen fully on the plant. Just snip them off with a sharp knife or pruners, leaving a bit of stem attached. Don't pull 'em, you'll damage the plant. They're usually ready from August through October. Store 'em in a cool, dry place, or pop them in the fridge if you've got a proper glut. Cracking in salads, roasting, or freezing.
On my plot, I always try to plant my peppers near my basil. They seem to grow better together, and it means I've got both handy for a proper Italian sauce.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| California Wonder California Wonder is a classic sweet bell pepper, a really reliable performer that produces good, blocky fruits. It's a great choice if you're just starting out or want consistent yields for slicing and stuffing. | No club votes yet |
| Red Knight This Red Knight variety gives you lovely, vibrant red bells. It's a sturdy plant, good for growing in containers or in the ground, offering a steady harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Revolution Revolution is a proper workhorse, producing big, thick-walled sweet bell peppers. If you're after substantial fruits that stand up well to cooking, this one's a cracker. | No club votes yet |
| Carmen Carmen is an Italian-style sweet pepper, long and tapered rather than bell-shaped, with a fantastic sweet flavor. It's perfect for roasting or grilling, and a good choice for those who appreciate gourmet taste. | No club votes yet |
| Corno di Toro Meaning 'horn of the bull', Corno di Toro produces long, pointed, incredibly sweet peppers. These are brilliant for fresh eating, salads, or frying, offering a different shape to your harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Gypsy Gypsy peppers mature early, starting as yellow and ripening to orange-red, offering a sweet, mild flavor. It's a good one if you want an earlier crop or are gardening in a slightly shorter season. | No club votes yet |
| Ace Ace is another dependable sweet bell pepper, known for its consistent production of medium-sized green fruits that ripen to red. It's a solid choice for general garden use and reliable harvests. | No club votes yet |
| Early Sunsation As the name suggests, Early Sunsation is an early maturing variety, giving you sweet, yellow bell peppers sooner than many others. If you're keen to get your first taste of homegrown peppers quickly, this is the one. | No club votes yet |
| King Arthur King Arthur is a robust plant that produces large, blocky sweet bell peppers, often turning red when fully ripe. It's a great choice if you're looking for substantial fruits for stuffing or making sauces. | No club votes yet |
| Big Red Big Red does exactly what it says on the tin, growing large, sweet, red bell peppers. If you like a proper, juicy red pepper for all your cooking needs, you'll be chuffed with this one. | No club votes yet |
| Keystone Resistant Giant Keystone Resistant Giant is a fantastic variety bred specifically for disease resistance, offering large, blocky green peppers. If you've had issues with diseases in the past, this one could be your answer. | No club votes yet |
| Sweet Banana Sweet Banana peppers are long, tapered, and sweet, ripening from yellow to orange and then red. They're super versatile for pickling, salads, or cooking, and a bit easier to grow for beginners. | No club votes yet |
| Lunchbox Orange Lunchbox Orange produces small, sweet, snack-sized peppers, perfect for kids' lunches or quick garden nibbles. They're productive and ideal if you want a sweet treat right off the plant. | No club votes yet |
| Yolo Wonder Yolo Wonder is a classic, widely grown sweet bell pepper known for its sturdy plants and good yields of blocky green-to-red fruits. It's a reliable, no-nonsense choice for consistent harvests. | No club votes yet |
| Emerald Giant Emerald Giant lives up to its name, producing large, deep green bell peppers that ripen to red and are famously sweet. If you're after big, impressive peppers that taste great, give this one a go. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Sweet Bell Pepper seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | June to July | August to September |
| Zone 4 | May to June | July to September |
| Zone 5 | April to June | July to September |
| Zone 6 | March to June | June to October |
| Zone 7 | March to July | June to October |
| Zone 8 | February to July | May to November |
| Zone 9 | January to September | April to November |
| Zone 10 | January to December | March to December |
Cook the harvest
Eggs poached directly in a rich, spiced tomato and bell pepper sauce make this North African-inspired shakshuka a showstopping one-pan breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Sweet bell peppers build body and sweetness into the sauce while harissa adds warmth and depth.
40 min · easyRoasting the bell peppers and tomatoes at high heat concentrates their sweetness and adds a subtle smokiness that transforms a simple vegetable soup into something deeply satisfying. Blended smooth with a swirl of cream and a scattering of fresh basil, this is an elegant soup that works as a starter for a dinner party or a comforting weeknight meal with grilled cheese on the side. It makes brilliant use of the late-summer abundance of both crops.
60 min · easyPeperonata is a classic Southern Italian slow-cooked bell pepper stew — strips of red, yellow, and orange peppers braised low and slow in olive oil with onions, garlic, and tomatoes until silky, jammy, and deeply sweet. It can be served warm as a side dish for grilled meats, at room temperature as an antipasto, or piled onto bruschetta. It improves dramatically after a day in the refrigerator, making it ideal for cooking ahead.
55 min · easyDeeply sweet roasted red bell peppers form the soul of this velvety, gently spiced soup that is as elegant as it is simple. A swirl of crème fraîche and a handful of fresh basil finish each bowl beautifully.
55 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: basil, onions, carrots, spinach
Questions people ask
When do you sow Sweet Bell Pepper in the US?
Sow Sweet Bell Pepper from March to June in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out July, after the last frost.
How long does Sweet Bell Pepper take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 75 days, with the harvest June to October.
Which Sweet Bell Pepper varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for California Wonder, Red Knight, Revolution, Carmen and more.
Track your Sweet Bell Pepper from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.