King Of The North

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add King Of The North to a garden.

Sun-warmed and richly aromatic, King Of The North bell peppers ripen into a bold, glossy red that feels almost lacquered in the garden.

The fruit is thick-walled and pleasantly crisp, with a classic bell shape and a gentle sweetness that shines whether you enjoy them fresh or let their flavor deepen in roasts and hearty sauces. An heirloom for cool-season gardeners, it brings dependable color and substantial bite at about 75 days to maturity—an elegant centerpiece crop from first blush to full, deep-red maturity.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of King Of The North

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King Of The North 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	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

Thick-walled and crisp, King Of The North holds up to heat without turning watery—your bites stay distinct, with glossy roasted edges and a mild, sun-sweet finish. It’s the bell pepper you want when you want char, crunch, and sweetness to show up on the plate together, not get lost in the sauce.

Best Uses

grilling or blistering and eating the charred skins immediately for maximum crunch
quick sauté of strips where they keep their shape, then finish with acid
thick roasting (sheet-pan) for jammy edges and glossy, spoonable pepper sweetness
diced into fajita-style fillings where the bite won’t collapse into mush

Flavor Profile

gentle sweetness with a soft green-bell edge crisp, thick-walled crunch that stays snappy roasty, caramel-leaning pepper aroma clean, mild pepper heat (more warmth than bite)

Kitchen Pairings

lime smoked paprika garlic olive oil feta chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common disease problem for Capsicum annuum (King of the North peppers) and how can I prevent or treat it?

A frequent issue is blossom end rot, caused by inconsistent calcium uptake from irregular watering. Keep moisture steady by watering deeply when the top 1–2 in (2–5 cm) of soil dries, and mulch to reduce soil swings. If symptoms appear on developing fruit, remove affected peppers and resume consistent watering rather than adding extra fertilizer immediately.

How often should I water Capsicum annuum during the main growing phase?

During flowering and fruit set, keep soil evenly moist—aim for deep watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat, delivering enough to moisten the root zone. Check by feel: water when the top 1–2 in (2–5 cm) dries out, because Capsicum annuum drops flowers and struggles to set fruit when soil repeatedly dries. Avoid standing water, which can stress roots and worsen disease.

How do I tell when King of the North peppers are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach their full size and turn to the mature color for the variety (often green to a red/yellow depending on your seed description). For a crisp, milder pepper, you can pick fully sized green peppers; for sweeter flavor, wait until the skin is fully colored and firm. Use scissors or pruners to cut the stem to avoid tearing the plant.