Peter Pepper

Family: Solanaceae Hot Pepper

Planting Schedule

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Aromatic and vivid—Peter Pepper brings a bright, peppery heat that blooms quickly and lingers with a clean, lively finish.

The fruits ripen to a glossy, warm red with a distinctive tapered, lantern-like specialty shape, offering crisp, snappy flesh that shines in bold, flavor-forward applications. Grow it for fresh snacking, roasting, and vibrant sauces, or for pickling where its vivid color and assertive bite make every jar look alive.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

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Peter Pepper 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	Upright
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

This tapered, lantern-shaped pepper delivers an upfront pop of heat with crisp texture—great when you want flavor to cut through, not melt away. Use it chopped or pickled for a clean, lively bite that stays assertive even once it’s in a sauce or jar.

Best Uses

fresh snacking—slice thin and eat straight or on buttered bread
roasting for glossy, caramel-edged heat and tender bite
quick-pickle for vivid color and a sharp, crunchy pop
chopping into vibrant hot sauces for a clean heat profile

Flavor Profile

bright peppery heat that blooms quickly crisp, snappy flesh clean, lively finish with a lingering bite

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lime juice white vinegar smoked salt honey charred corn

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Capsicum annuum (Peter Pepper), and how do I treat it?

Watch for aphids and thrips, which can stunt growth and cause distorted leaves and buds on pepper plants. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap (or a strong jet of water for small outbreaks) and repeat every 5–7 days until no new damage appears. Also keep leaves dry and remove infected foliage promptly because peppers in humid conditions can develop fungal leaf spots.

How often should I water Peter Pepper during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During flowering and fruit set, keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged—aim for watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and container vs. bed conditions. A good target is even moisture at 2–4 inches deep; if the top inch dries out, water thoroughly. Avoid frequent light watering, which encourages shallow roots and can lead to blossom-end rot.

How can I tell when Peter Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach their mature size and the skin is firm, usually around 75 days from transplanting. For best flavor, pick when they have fully developed color for your desired stage (green for a fresher bite, red for full sweetness). If peppers snap cleanly off the plant with minimal bending, they’re ready to harvest.