Melrose

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Planting Schedule

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

Sun-warmed and glossy, Melrose sweet peppers bring a crisp, juicy snap with a gently sweet, garden-fresh flavor—never the bite of heat.

Fruits mature in a handsome progression from deep green to a rich, burnished red, with thick walls that hold their shape beautifully for sweet frying favorites. Grow Melrose for abundant, uniform peppers that shine in the garden and deliver satisfying crunch in every pan-ready moment.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Bush

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Melrose 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 6th	Sep 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	Jun 30th	Sep 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	Jun 24th	Sep 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	Jun 19th	Sep 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	Jun 12th	Aug 26th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Jun 6th	Aug 20th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Jun 1st	Aug 15th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	May 22nd	Aug 5th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	May 13th	Jul 27th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	May 4th	Jul 18th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	Apr 17th	Jul 1st – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	Mar 23rd	Jun 6th – 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

Melrose sweet peppers are built for the pan: thick walls, high crunch, and a sweetness that caramelizes without tipping into bitterness. They’ll hold shape in a hot stir-fry or roast, so every bite stays snappy instead of going soft and watery.

Best Uses

sweet frying—quick sizzle in hot oil for maximum crunch
slice-and-sear fajita-style strips without turning mushy
roast for caramelized edges while keeping interior firm
raw batons in crunchy crudités with a salty dip

Flavor Profile

crisp, juicy snap gentle sweetness green-to-sweet bell pepper flavor thick, sturdy flesh that stays intact

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil lime juice cumin chicken feta

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem most often affects Capsicum annuum (Melrose) and how can I manage it?

In home gardens, hot-pepper types like Capsicum annuum are commonly hit by aphids and then secondary black sooty mold, and they can also develop blossom-end rot from inconsistent calcium uptake during rapid growth. Check leaves and new growth twice weekly for clusters of aphids and blast them off with water, then release or encourage beneficial insects; if infestations persist, use insecticidal soap on the undersides of leaves. Prevent blossom-end rot by keeping soil moisture steady (especially once fruits set) and avoid letting containers or beds dry out between waterings.

How often should I water Melrose (Capsicum annuum) during the main growing and fruiting phase?

During flowering and fruiting, keep the root zone evenly moist—typically about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week total, adjusted for heat and wind. Water deeply so moisture reaches well into the bed, then wait until the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) of soil is slightly dry before watering again. Mulch around plants to reduce swings; moisture fluctuations are a frequent trigger for blossom-end rot.

How do I tell when Melrose peppers are ready to harvest?

Harvest Melrose peppers at the size and color you want, but for best flavor on this ~75-day crop, pick when fruits reach full length and turn from green to red (or your target mature color). Use pruners or scissors to cut the stem, leaving a short piece of stem attached, which reduces damage to the plant and helps the next fruits mature. If peppers feel firm and glossy with consistent color for the whole fruit, they’re ready—don’t let them over-soften on the plant.