Orange Manzano

Family: Solanaceae Hot Pepper

Planting Schedule

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

Sunlit orange peppers with a gently wrinkled, lantern-like charm—Orange Manzano delivers a bright, fruity heat that builds with a clean, peppery finish.

The flesh is crisp and substantial, with a smooth, medium-thick wall that holds its character whether you savor them fresh or let their color deepen in roasting and pan-ready preparations. Grow for bold, warm-season color and a Manzano-style bite that shines in salsas, sauces, and pickling brine.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Orange Manzano

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Orange Manzano 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 13th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 7th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 1st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 26th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 22nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 19th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 13th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 8th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 29th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 20th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 11th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 30th – 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	85
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

Orange Manzano’s medium-thick wall stays crisp enough for fresh chopping, but it also roasts into a sweet-fruit pepper that makes sauce quickly without turning hollow. It’s the kind of heat that lifts salsa and pickles with a clean peppery finish instead of lingering burn.

Best Uses

slice for fresh salsa where the skins stay lively and the heat doesn’t steam out
roast or blister for charred color-deepening and a thicker, fruit-forward pepper sauce base
pickle in brine for a snappy, lantern-like bite that holds against vinegar

Flavor Profile

bright orange-fruit sweetness gentle-but-present Manzano-style heat crisp, substantial flesh with a clean peppery finish

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic cilantro smoked salt cumin pork

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Capsicum pubescens (Manzano orange peppers), and what should I do?

Watch for bacterial leaf spot and foliar fungal problems, which show up as dark, water-soaked spots and worsening leaf spotting in warm, humid weather. Remove and discard affected leaves early, avoid wetting foliage when you water, and improve airflow with wider spacing. If spots spread, treat preventively with a copper-based bactericide according to label directions and repeat as needed during wet spells.

How often should I water Capsicum pubescens during the main growing phase (after it sets fruit)?

Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for steady moisture when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry out. In warm weather, this often means watering every 2–3 days, but less in cooler periods; use a finger test rather than a calendar. During fruit set and development, inconsistent moisture can reduce fruit quality, so mulch lightly to stabilize moisture while ensuring the roots still drain well.

How can I tell when Manzano orange pepper (Capsicum pubescens) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits have fully colored to a uniform orange and feel firm but not hard. Typical maturity is around 85 days, but the best indicator is color plus size—pick peppers as soon as they reach full orange even if they’re still glossy. If you want peak sweetness, wait until the color is fully developed all around the fruit before cutting with scissors.