Sweet Cherry

Family: Solanaceae Sweet Pepper

Planting Schedule

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

Sweet Cherry Pepper ripens to a glossy, candy-bright cherry red that practically glows in the garden.

Its flavor is pleasantly sweet with a gentle, lingering warmth, and the fruit stays crisp and juicy—ideal for fresh snacking, vibrant roasting, and quick pickling for tangy-sweet relish-style results. Grow this 60-day standout for abundant, bite-size peppers that bring color, crunch, and a mild kick to every harvest basket.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Bush

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Sweet Cherry 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	Apr 13th	Jul 27th	Sep 25th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Sep 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Aug 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Aug 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Jul 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Jul 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 5th – 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	60
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

These are sweet on the first chew but they don’t disappear—they hang onto a soft, peppery warmth with a crisp, juicy texture that keeps even when blistered. Because they’re mild and crunchy, they love vinegar and citrus and work as the kind of relish topping that stays bright instead of going soft.

Best Uses

quick refrigerator pickles for tangy-sweet snacking
shallow-roasted until blistered for caramelized edges
tossed into raw crunch salads or slaws
chopped into relish-style toppings for burgers and bowls

Flavor Profile

candy-bright sweetness crisp, juicy bite gentle lingering warmth peppery snap without harsh bitterness

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic honey smoked paprika feta chicken thighs

Frequently Asked Questions

Sweet cherry (Capsicum annuum): what’s the most common pest or disease and how can I fix it?

A frequent problem in Capsicum annuum is blossom end rot, caused by irregular watering that disrupts calcium uptake. Keep soil moisture steady—water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil dries, and avoid letting the soil swing from very dry to soaking wet. If you see early black, sunken spots on fruits, remove affected fruit and start maintaining even moisture right away; a calcium source won’t correct the underlying moisture inconsistency if watering is erratic.

How often should I water sweet cherry peppers during the main growing phase (for strong fruit set)?

During flowering and fruiting, water so the soil stays evenly moist but not soggy: typically 1–2 inches of water per week total, adjusted for heat and container size. As a rule, water when the top inch feels dry, then water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom (especially in pots). Inconsistent moisture is what most often leads to misshapen fruit and blossom end rot in Capsicum annuum.

How do I tell when sweet cherry peppers (Capsicum annuum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest at 60 days when fruits are fully sized and firm, and they have reached their mature color (often red or orange depending on your target stage). Pick peppers every few days once they start coloring—leaving them too long can reduce new fruit set. Snip or cut the stem with scissors to avoid tearing branches.