Bonnie Original Sweet Cherry

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Sun-warmed and glossy, Bonnie Original Sweet Cherry Pepper brings a bright, candy-sweet snap with a juicy, thin-walled bite—fragrant green at first, then deepening to a rich, ripe red.

Compact and prolific, these petite cherry fruits hang like lanterns, offering a crisp texture that shines in fresh salads and quick pickles, and lends vibrant color to sauces and roasting trays.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Bonnie Original Sweet Cherry

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Aug 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These petite sweet cherry peppers are built for a tight, juicy crunch—thin-walled enough to stay snappy in vinegar, but sweet enough to caramelize fast when they hit the pan or roasting tray. Use them for quick pickles or fresh cuts where you want sweetness without going soft.

Best Uses

quick pickles where the thin bite stays crisp
fresh chop for salads that need a clean snap
high-heat roasting to intensify sweetness and char edges
flash-sauté or blend into a quick pan sauce for color

Flavor Profile

candy-sweet bell pepper taste snappy crisp crunch with juicy, thin walls fragrant green-to-roasted sweetness

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic olive oil sharp feta smoked paprika grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Capsicum annuum (sweet cherry peppers), and how can I treat it?

Watch for aphids and spider mites, which often show up on sweet cherry pepper foliage and cause distorted leaves and sticky residue. Spray the undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap, repeating every 5–7 days until you stop seeing new insects. If you see leaf spotting that spreads, remove affected leaves and improve airflow; avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal spread.

How often should I water Capsicum annuum during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture should I maintain?

During fruiting, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for watering when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, typically about 1–2 times per week depending on heat, with more frequent watering during hot, windy spells. Uneven moisture can lead to flower drop and misshapen fruit, so avoid letting the soil fully dry out between waterings.

How do I tell when sweet cherry peppers (Capsicum annuum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruits are fully sized and the skin has turned the expected color (commonly green-to-red as they ripen) with a firm, glossy feel. Taste-test a few first peppers; they should be sweet, not bitter, once fully ripe. For best flavor, pick every few days once they start ripening so the plant keeps producing.