Italian Sweet

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Planting Schedule

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

Sun-warmed and glossy, Italian Sweet Bull’s Horn peppers hang in graceful, tapering pods that feel crisp and substantial at first touch.

Their flavor is pleasantly sweet with a gentle, mellow snap—ideal for fresh enjoyment and for roasting until their skins turn beautifully blistered, then turning into vibrant sauces or quick pickles. A garden favorite for its dependable 75-day rhythm and its elegant, horn-like silhouette that looks as good as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Bush

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Italian Sweet 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 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	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	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

Italian Sweet Bull’s Horn peppers bring real sweetness plus a clean, crisp bite that doesn’t taste watery or hollow raw. Roast them until the skins blister for a caramel-leaning, tender flesh that turns silky in sauces or stays pleasantly snappy in quick pickles.

Best Uses

roast and blister, then peel for spoonable antipasti
quick pickles where the pepper stays snappy and bright
char-griddled pepper slices for fajita-style fillings
fast pan-sauces or romesco-adjacent blends for pasta and eggs

Flavor Profile

pleasant sweetness with a gentle, mellow heat crisp, tapering snap when raw roasty, caramel-tinged flavor once blistered silky, jammy body when cooked down

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil lemon smoked paprika goat cheese eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Capsicum annuum (Italian Sweet) and what should I do?

Italian sweet peppers commonly suffer from aphids and then virus issues; look for clusters of sticky insects on new growth and curled or mottled leaves. Spray peppers with an insecticidal soap (or a strong water blast) and repeat every 5–7 days for 2–3 rounds, removing heavily affected plants to prevent spread. Also keep weeds down around the bed, since weeds can host aphids and other virus-carrying pests.

How often should I water Italian Sweet peppers during the main growing phase?

During the main growth phase (after transplanting until flowering and fruit set), keep soil evenly moist—about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and soil drainage. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil is dry, and avoid letting soil swing between bone-dry and soggy because peppers can drop flowers and develop misshapen fruit.

How can I tell when Italian Sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 75 days from transplanting when fruits reach full size and the skin is firm and glossy. Pick “sweet” peppers when they have turned their mature color (often green-to-red depending on your crop), and for best flavor harvest with a little stem attached using scissors or pruners.