Bullhorn

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Bullhorn to a garden.

Sweet, glossy Bullhorn peppers arrive with a long, bullhorn silhouette and a luminous, thick-walled sheen that feels almost lacquered in the garden.

As they ripen, their flavor turns rich and mellow—crisp-fresh with a gentle sweetness—ideal for showcasing in bold, colorful displays. Grow Bullhorn for standout bell-style fruits that shine in fresh salads, vibrant roasts, and spoon-ready sauces, with pickling that preserves their bright character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Bush

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Bullhorn 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	Mar 30th	Jul 20th	Oct 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	Jul 14th	Oct 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	Jul 8th	Sep 26th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	Jul 3rd	Sep 21st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	Jun 29th	Sep 17th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	Jun 26th	Sep 14th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Jun 20th	Sep 8th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Jun 15th	Sep 3rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Jun 5th	Aug 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	May 27th	Aug 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	May 18th	Aug 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	May 1st	Jul 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	Apr 6th	Jun 25th – 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	80
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

Bullhorn’s thick walls and glossy crunch make it stay architectural—great for roasting and slicing without turning watery. The sweetness is mellow, so it plays nicely with sharp, acidic teammates like lime and pickling brine while still carrying its own mild pepper warmth.

Best Uses

roasting until blistered and spoonable, then serving with crusty bread
slice-and-dunk raw in fattier dips where the snap stays intact
quick-pickling for bright, crunchy snacking
chopping into chunky fajita-style sauté where the walls don’t collapse

Flavor Profile

crisp, juicy snap gentle sweetness with mellow, peppery warmth thick, lacquered walls that hold shape

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic olive oil smoked paprika feta chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

My bullhorn peppers have silvery, stippled leaves and the plants look dusty—what pest is it and how do I control it?

That pattern is most often spider mites, which thrive in hot, dry conditions and can cause leaf bronzing and speckling. Rinse the undersides of leaves with a strong spray, then release beneficial mites if available or apply insecticidal soap (especially underside coverage) every 5–7 days for 2–3 rounds. Keep plants evenly watered during hot spells to reduce mite outbreaks.

How often should I water bullhorn peppers during the main growing phase (from transplanting through fruit set)?

Water deeply enough to moisten the root zone, then wait until the top 1 inch of soil dries before watering again. In typical home conditions, that’s often about 2–3 times per week in warm weather, but less in cool periods—bullhorn peppers are sensitive to both drought stress and soggy soil. Use mulch to keep soil moisture steady so peppers don’t stall or drop flowers.

When are bullhorn peppers ready to harvest, and what color cues should I look for?

Bullhorn peppers are ready at full size and firmness, typically around 70–90 days after transplanting depending on conditions, and they should reach their target color (green to red or yellow depending on your variety). The best harvest cue is a glossy skin that feels firm, with pods that have stopped growing and are 2–4 inches long and clearly “bullhorn” shaped. Snip peppers with scissors or pruners to avoid tearing the plant.