Bishop's Crown

Family: Solanaceae Mildly Hot Pepper

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Bishop's Crown to a garden.

Bishop’s Crown peppers arrive with a regal, lantern-like silhouette and a glossy, deep-green sheen that ripens to a warm, burnished red.

Their flesh is crisp and pleasantly thick, with a bright, peppery snap and a gentle, sweet-leaning finish that makes them irresistible for showcasing flavor in every garden basket. Grow Bishop’s Crown for specialty-shape roasting, fresh slicing, and vibrant sauces—plus pickling that highlights their bold color and sturdy bite.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Bishop's Crown

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Bishop's Crown Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Bishop’s Crown is built for showcase-eating: thick walls and a crisp bite so the flavor lands as a bright peppery snap rather than a mushy pepper. Roast hard for blistered edges or pickle fast—the crunch holds, while the gentle sweetness rounds out the heat without losing the snap.

Best Uses

sharply sliced for raw salads—keeps a clean crunch under vinaigrette
roasting or broiling until blistered and charred, then peeling for glossy, sweet-pepper flesh
stuffing and baking for a meaty, lantern-shaped bite that won’t collapse
quick-pickling to preserve the peppery snap and warm, burnished color

Flavor Profile

bright peppery snap gentle sweet-leaning finish crisp, thick-walled crunch glossy, slightly tangy vegetal juiciness

Kitchen Pairings

lime smoked paprika garlic white vinegar feta chicken or pork

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my Bishop’s Crown (Amaranthus) gets downy mildew or leaf spots?

Check for pale, yellowing patches that turn brown/gray on leaf undersides and/or dark, spreading spots on older leaves—common in humid weather. Remove and discard the worst leaves, water at the soil line (not the foliage), and space plants so air can circulate; thin seedlings if they’re crowded. If spots spread despite cleanup, apply a labeled copper-based fungicide early (follow the label), and avoid overhead watering for the rest of the season.

How often should I water Bishop’s Crown during the main growing phase?

After seedlings establish, keep soil evenly moist but not soggy: water when the top 1 inch feels dry. In hot spells, this may mean watering every 2–4 days, but always confirm with the soil (don’t water on a fixed schedule). Consistent moisture helps continuous leaf growth, while letting the soil swing wet/dry can stunt growth.

How can I tell when Bishop’s Crown is ready to harvest at about 75 days?

Harvest when plants are about 24–30 inches tall and the young leaves are tender and easy to snap, usually around 70–75 days from sowing. For best texture, pick in the morning and harvest outer leaves first; avoid waiting until leaves become tough or the plant starts shifting strongly into flower production. If you want regrowth, don’t cut more than about one-third of the plant at a time.