Sweet pepper
Capsicum annuum
Green is just unripe; wait a few weeks and it turns sweet and red.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 2.5 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
Harvest: July to September
From: Central America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean, Tropical South America. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Sweet peppers are a mild mutation of the chile domesticated in Mexico and Central America 6,000 years ago; Columbus named them for the black pepper he was seeking. Hungary and Spain turned them into paprika and pimentón.
Planting
Full sun, rich drained soil, and warmth; set out plants two weeks after the last frost, 18 inches apart, and stake tall types.
Growing
Water evenly and mulch; feed lightly once fruit sets. Peppers sulk in cool weather and drop flowers above 95°F.
Harvest and use
Pick green at full size or wait for red, yellow or orange and far more sweetness; cut rather than pull. Summer through frost.
What to watch for
Aphids, blossom-end rot, sunscald on exposed fruit, and cold nights.
See if Sweet pepper fits your yard
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home