Purple Beauty

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Sink your senses into Purple Beauty’s velvety, deep-ink purple pods that mature to a glossy, near-black sheen before settling into rich, warm tones.

The flesh is crisp and succulent with a sweet, garden-bright flavor—ideal for showcasing at peak ripeness in vibrant salads, roasting trays, or quick skillet sautés, and it also shines when sliced for pickling and colorful sauces.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Bush

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 3rd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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

Purple Beauty’s crisp, water-bright crunch makes it a salad pepper that doesn’t collapse into mush, even with a light vinaigrette. When you blister it—hot pan or oven—it turns sweet and silky at the edges, a perfect platform for lemon, garlic, and salty cheese.

Best Uses

high-heat roast until blistered and edges go jammy
thin slicing for salads where it stays snappy
quick skillet sauté for glossy, tender-crisp strips
slice-and-pickle for crunchy, colorful tang

Flavor Profile

crisp, juicy bite sweet, slightly vegetal flavor mild peppery heat (if any), clean finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon olive oil feta smoked paprika chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Capsicum annuum (purple ornamental/sweet pepper type) plants developing spots and yellowing leaves, and what should I do?

Look for aphids and thrips (often causing distorted new growth) and for fungal leaf spot when leaves stay wet. Rinse plants with a strong spray of water, then apply insecticidal soap or neem to the undersides of leaves, repeating every 5–7 days until stops. To prevent leaf spot, water at the soil line (not overhead), improve airflow with wider spacing, and remove the worst affected leaves early.

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

During active growth and flowering, keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged; aim for watering when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. In typical home gardens this is often about 1–2 times per week, but adjust for heat—warm, sunny weeks may need more frequent deep watering. Use mulch to reduce swings in moisture, which helps prevent flower drop.

How do I tell when my Capsicum annuum (Purple Beauty) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for this cultivar and have reached a firm, glossy size—usually around 75 days from transplant/appropriate establishment. If you’re unsure, pick one and cut it open: the flesh should be developed and the interior seeds should be mature-looking. For best flavor, don’t wait until fruits shrivel; snip peppers with scissors or pruners to avoid pulling stems.