Lipstick

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Planting Schedule

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

Glossy as a satin rouge, Lipstick sweet frying peppers hang in tidy ranks, their slender, tapered fruits ripening from green to a vivid, lipstick-red that catches the light.

The flesh is crisp-crunchy with a bright, peppery sweetness and a gentle, warming heat—ideal for high-heat frying where their shape stays elegant and their flavor turns richly caramelized. Grow Lipstick for a bold garden accent and a dependable harvest at about 75 days, perfect for skillet-style favorites and vibrant sauces.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Bush

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Lipstick 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	Cage
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

Lipstick peppers are built for heat: their slender shape stays elegant in the pan while the sugars quickly caramelize, giving you sweet pepper flavor with a clean, warming finish. They’ll keep a pleasant crunch after frying—perfect when you want color, snap, and a gentle kick instead of mush.

Best Uses

hot skillet frying (skins blister, flesh stays snappy)
quick pickling for crisp, red pepper snaps
thin-sliced sauté to fold into vegetable-forward stir-fries
blistered pepper salsa or relish with a sweet-heat backbone

Flavor Profile

bright peppery sweetness crisp-crunchy flesh that softens gracefully gentle, warming heat glossy caramelization under high heat

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lime black beans smoked paprika cotija cheese chicken thighs

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease/pest issue on Capsicum annuum (lipstick pepper) and how do I treat it?

A frequent problem is pepper fruit rot caused by fungal pathogens (often worsened by wet foliage and inconsistent watering). Remove any infected fruit, water at the soil line (not the leaves), and improve airflow with careful spacing; if rot keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide for vegetables per the product directions. For pests, watch for aphids and thrips early—rinse plants with a strong water spray and, if needed, apply an insecticidal soap when infestations are light.

How often should I water lipstick peppers (Capsicum annuum) during the main growing phase?

During the main growth and flowering stage, keep soil evenly moist but not soggy, aiming for about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and container/bed drainage. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil dries out, because dry spells followed by heavy watering can trigger blossom-end issues. Mulch helps stabilize moisture so plants form fruit reliably.

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

Harvest when fruits have reached their full size and color stage specified for your crop (typically starting green and progressing to red). They should feel firm and have a glossy skin; if fruits are still thin or dull and resist easy picking, wait a bit longer. For best flavor, harvest at peak color around the ~75-day maturity window from transplant/growth start and use scissors or a sharp pruner to avoid tearing the plant.