Flowers drop without fruiting

Night temps too high (>75°F) or too low (<60°F), or stress. Keep watering steady; it usually resumes when temps moderate.

Sunscald (pale, papery patches)

Direct sun on exposed fruit. Keep healthy foliage for shade; do not over-prune.

Soil too cold. Wait for warmth; peppers refuse to grow until soil hits ~65°F.

Gardening

Sweet, colorful, and heat-loving. Slower than tomatoes but worth the wait as they ripen from green to red.

The free tool tailors timing to your climate and lets you save this plant.

Sun

Full sun

Hardiness zones

Zones 4–11

Spacing

18 in apart, 24 in between rows.

Soil

Rich, well-draining soil; pH 6.0–6.8.

Watering

Even moisture, 1–2 in/week. Mulch to keep roots cool and moist.

Plant / sow (typical)

May – Jun

Harvest (typical)

Jul – Oct

Starting

Start seed indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost; needs warm soil to transplant out. Save seed from fully ripe (red) peppers.

Companions

Good with Basil, Onion, Carrot, Tomato. Keep apart from Fennel, Brassicas.

Flowers drop without fruiting. Night temps too high (>75°F) or too low (<60°F), or stress. Keep watering steady; it usually resumes when temps moderate.
Sunscald (pale, papery patches). Direct sun on exposed fruit. Keep healthy foliage for shade; do not over-prune.
Small plants, slow growth. Soil too cold. Wait for warmth; peppers refuse to grow until soil hits ~65°F.