Sweet & Bell Pepper
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. An outstanding roasting pepper from North Macedonia. Large, 6-7” long tapered fruit are incredibly fragrant, thick-walled and delicious! When you throw half a dozen on the grill, everyone in the neighbourhood will smell them - and come running! They can be eaten fresh, stir-fried, grilled or frozen. An heirloom variety, these peppers are traditionally roasted, peeled and ground into a relish called ‘ajvar’. They also make an excellent paprika spice. Stocky plants benefit from staking, and may be more sensitive to soil conditions. Ensure soil is not too acidic or calcium-deficient, and maintain even watering practice to prevent blossom end rot. Peppers ripen to deep red.
Harvest: 80 days
Height: 2-4’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. An heirloom variety, these cream-coloured standard bells have a unique, mild and sweet flavour. Compact plants are great for containers. Plants produce very early, high yields of 2-3” lobed fruit and benefit from staking. Peppers can be harvested when ivory in colour, and will eventually ripen to reddish-orange.
Harvest: 65 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. An Italian bull’s horn-type pepper that is fantastically sweet and fruity. The taste is similar to a red bell, but plants are easier to grow and much more prolific! Perfect for roasting, salads, stuffing or homemade paprika powder. Peppers can be harvested at mature size of 6” when green, or allowed to ripen to red.
Harvest: 60 days (green), 80 days (red)
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0-500 SHU. A unique and wonderful heirloom from Turkey that is as easy to grow as it is eye-catching! One of the heaviest producers of all pepper varieties. Very long, 4-10” fruit is twisted and slender, with a rich flavour that is perfect for snacking, pickling or frying. Use like any standard bell. They can also be dried and ground into an incredible, and versatile, sweet pepper powder. Plants are compact, but densely branched to produce those super high yields. Due to their smaller size, plants can be easily grown in a small garden space, or even 10” pots. Staking is required. Peppers ripen to deep red, but can be harvested when green in as little as 55 days.
Harvest: 80 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 14”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. The most popular standard bell. Sturdy plants produce good yields of 4-lobed, 3-4” peppers with thick flesh. Staking is recommended. Peppers can be harvested early, when green, or ripened to red.
Harvest: 75 days
Height: 2.5’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. A perfect variety for beginner pepper gardeners. This Italian heirloom is a prolific producer and extremely easy to grow. Unparalleled for its sweet, rich flavour as it is for its high versatility in the kitchen. Long, 6-9”, thin-skinned pods are perfect fresh, dried, or fried. They are delicious in chili, salsa, sauce, stir-fries, or dried and ground into paprika. That is, if enough of them make it out of the garden! You won’t be able to stop eating these straight off the branch! Plants will produce high yields even in small, 7.5” pots. Peppers ripen to deep red.
Harvest: 80 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. A Ukrainian heirloom with the thickest walls and sweetest taste of any pepper. Large fruit are uniquely heart-shaped. Superior for snacking or roasting. Plants are compact and easy to grow. Harvest when fruit ripens to deep red.
Harvest: 75-85 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. A delicious, flavourful, pimento-type variety that grows to 4” long, with thick, super sweet flesh. These peppers are tasty even when immature. Compact plants do exceptionally well even in small containers - 1 plant per 10” pot or 2 plants per 14” pot. When fertilized well, they will produce heavier yields than standard bells. Easy to grow, some may need staking. Peppers ripen to bright red.
Harvest: 80 days
Height: 1-2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. Delicious, fat golden-yellow pods of this sweet Italian pepper have a crunchy texture and fruity sweetness that is superior to bells. Outstanding fresh, fried, stuffed or in salads, this pepper is sweet at all stages of maturity. Tall plants benefit from staking. They are extremely productive, even in containers. Harvest pods at 6-10” long.
Harvest: 80-90 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. Huge red pods are slightly sweeter than the Golden Marconi. Their crunchy texture and fruity sweetness make them an ideal choice for sauces, pasta, or fresh in salads. They are also perfect for making paprika. Plants are compact and highly productive, even in containers. Harvest pods at 10-12” long.
Harvest: 75-90 days
Height: 2.5’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. Ornamental and edible - the ideal pairing! Plant with petunias or other annual flowers for a garden bed or container that seamlessly combines form and function. Thick-walled, 1-1.5” pods are crisp and juicy for the perfect summer snack. Compact plants are prolific producers, and perform very well in small to medium sized containers. Harvest pods at any colour: yellow, orange or red.
Harvest: 60 days
Height: 1.5’
Plant Spacing: 12-14”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. Incredibly sweet and easy to grow, this variety is ideal for the beginner pepper gardener. Flat, round, thick-walled fruit are ideal for snacking. They are also great for stuffing or pickling. Best flavour is at full maturity, when peppers measure 2.5-3” across. Compact plants produce a high yield, and do very well in containers. Harvest early when green, or allow to ripen to bright red.
Harvest: 72 days
Height: 1.5-2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0-500 SHU. A prolific producer that is easy to grow, has high versatility in the kitchen and is loaded with health benefits. Every gardener should grow banana peppers! Long, 6-8” fruit are ideal for pickling, stuffing, salsa, pizza or sandwiches. Their flavour is tangy, but mild. Banana peppers have a high fiber content, making them filling while being low in calories. They are also chock-full of important nutrients: a one cup serving contains half of your daily vitamin B-6 and more than the daily recommended value of vitamin C. They are also an excellent source of potassium, calcium and vitamin A. The combination of these factors means that banana peppers can aid digestive problems, can help to lower blood pressure, reduce sleep problems, and help relieve symptoms of fatigue and depression. Stocky plants will do well even in containers, and may require staking. Peppers are typically harvested early, when their colour is light yellow and tapers measure 4-5”, but they can be allowed to fully ripen to red for a sweeter taste with a bit of heat.
Harvest: 75 days
Height: 1.5-2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 0 SHU. A delicious and versatile pepper from the Basque Country. Traditionally used for Biscaya sauce, they are also excellent for making paprika, blistered on the grill, or as a terrific garden snack! Large plants are prolific producers. Pods can be harvested when green, or ripened to red for sweetest flavour.
Harvest: 75-90 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Mild-Medium Heat Pepper
Heat Rating: 0-1,000 SHU. Brightly coloured, 2-3” peppers have the flavour and appearance of habaneros, without the incredible heat. Their sweet and fruity flavour is excellent fresh in salads. Commonly used in Caribbean cuisine, they are also perfect for sauces, soups, and rice dishes. Compact plants are highly productive. Harvest pods when green for a sharper flavour, or mature to red for increased sweetness.
Compact plants perform exceedingly well in 10-12” pots. Harvest peppers when bright red or yellow.
Harvest: 90 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 500-2,500 SHU. A legendary, extra-large Californian roasting pepper. This mild chili produces a prolific crop of 6-8” pods with a nice, light heat and plenty of flavour. The ideal stuffing pepper for those who love a mild kick. They are also perfect fresh, pan-fried or roasted and make a great salsa. Large plants require staking. Harvest when pods turn green and are around 7” long. May be allowed to ripen to red for more heat, but this will result in lower plant yield overall.
Harvest: 80 days
Height: 3-4’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 1,000-2,000 SHU. An ideal stuffing pepper for those who love a little kick. Large, fat 5-6” pods are also great for chili and salsa. They are very popular in Mexican cuisine, most notably for chili rellenos. When fully ripened, they are also often dried and ground into chili powder. Curiously, peppers are called Anchos when dried, and Poblanos when fresh and green. Their flavour is known for being rich and smoky, with a mild hint of paprika. Plants are easy to grow, and will benefit from staking or a cage. Harvest when dark green for milder heat, or allow to fully ripen to red for more intensity.
Harvest: 78 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 30K-50K SHU. Extremely productive, versatile in the kitchen, and a beautiful ornamental, ‘Buena Mulata’ truly has it all! A moderately hot chili, they are very similar to a cayenne, but with a sweetness when fully ripe that cayenne lack. Long, slender, 6-7” pods undergo a stunning colour change while ripening - from violet to pink, orange, brown, and finally to red. At any time plants will be filled with a rainbow of colour! During this time they also undergo a unique flavour change, with reds being sweeter, hotter and meatier than violets. Use for salsa, stir-fries, pickling, or dry and crush into chili flakes. Plants are very easy to grow and perform beautifully in containers. Peppers can be harvested at any colour once they reach mature size.
Harvest: 75-80 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 100-1,000 SHU. The best stuffed pepper you will ever taste! Thin-walled, wrinkled pods have a rich, mild flavour preferred by many cooks over bell types. Common in Caribbean cuisine, they are also great for roasting, sauteing, and as a pizza topping. Large plants are prolific producers and may require staking. Harvest when pods are yellow-green and 6-8” long.
Harvest: 65 days
Height: 3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 4,000-6,000 SHU. A jalapeno variety with high disease resistance and an early yield. Jalapenos can be used in a variety of dishes that call for mild heat. Large plants benefit from cages. Harvest when pods are dark green and 3.5-4” long, or allow to mature to red.
Harvest: 70 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 100-500 SHU. The ideal pickled pepper. Their taste is tangy, slightly sweet, with a very mild heat. Excellent on sandwiches and pizza, or to kick up a salad. Large, well-branched plants are highly productive and benefit from cages. For best flavour, harvest pods when yellow-green in colour, and 3-4” long.
Harvest: 75 days
Height: 4’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 30K-50K SHU. The quintessential, all-purpose chili. Cayennes produce high yields of thin, curved, 6” pods. They are moderately hot, and have a broad range of use in the kitchen. They are ideal for canning, pickling or east Asian cuisine. They can also be dried and ground into cayenne powder, or chopped and added to seafood, omelettes, soups or casseroles. Stocky plants are well-branched and may require staking. Both green and red peppers can be harvested, with the greatest heat found in the bright red pods.
Harvest: 70 days
Height: 1.5-2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 500-1,000 SHU. A funky shape makes this variety entirely fun to grow! Their refreshing flavour is citrusy and sweet, with a mild heat. Commonly used in Bolivian and Peruvian cuisine, they are great in salads, pickled or stuffed. Large plants will produce better in-ground, but are suitable for large containers. Harvest when peppers ripen to red.
Harvest: 68 days
Height: 4’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 2,500-8,000 SHU. Fun to grow, these pint-sized plants have a compact growth habit that makes them perfect for containers or hanging baskets. Jalapeno peppers measure 3-4” long, and can be used in a variety of dishes that call for mild heat. Harvest early, when green, or allow to fully ripen to red for a sweet, spicy flavour.
Harvest: 45-60 days
Height: 1-1.5’
Plant Spacing: 12-14”
Heat Rating: 500-700 SHU. Vibrant colours and a sweet, citrusy flavour make these peppers stand out in the kitchen and the garden! An excellent, highly ornamental variety for pickling or salsa. Compact plants produce high yields of 4” pods. Peppers can be harvested at any colour, with intensifying heat.
Harvest: 77 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 15,000-25,000 SHU. An iconic, very flavourful chili from Mexico. Second only to jalapenos in popularity, but with 2-3 times the kick, they are an excellent variety for medium heat pickling or salsa. Tall plants are easy to grow and produce an abundance of 3-4” pods. They do benefit from a light wire cage. Peppers can be harvested when green or red.
Harvest: 75 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 100-1,000 SHU. A favourite, old Japanese heirloom with a mild flavour and just a hint of spice. Popular with chefs, they are perfect for tempura, traditional dishes, or simple appetizers. For a tasty snack, blacken in a skillet with coarse salt, or throw them on the grill with olive oil and salt. Plants are easy to grow and produce very high yields of 3”, slightly wrinkled fruit. Peppers can be harvested when green or red.
Harvest: 60 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Heat Rating: 5,000-15,000 SHU. A Brazilian variety with good heat and tons of flavour. Bushy plants produce extremely high yields of 1” pods. Their berry-like sweetness is balanced by a slow burning heat. Excellent either fresh or cooked, they are especially suited for pickling or hot sauces. Plants are highly ornamental, and ideal for beginner growers. They thrive in containers, but a sprawling nature and the weight of abundant pods means support is often required. Pods will ripen from white to yellow to cherry-red. They can be harvested at any colour, but allow to fully ripen to red for best flavour.
Harvest: 80 days
Height: 3-5’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”
Very Hot Pepper
Heat Rating: 30K-100K SHU. A peculiar convoluted pepper whose flavour is incredibly sweet, with a kick that will knock your taste buds loose! Use in stir fries when green or salads when ripened to red. They can also be roasted or grilled. Uniquely ornamental plants produce an abundance of 3-5” pods, and are an eye-catching addition to any patio garden. Harvest when pods have reached mature size.
Harvest: 85 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 18”
Heat Rating: 150K-350K SHU. A tiny pepper with a scorching kick! This super hot chili has tropical, fruity undertones that pair well with pineapple or mango, and makes an excellent hot sauce. Compact, well-branched plants are ideal for containers or raised beds. Harvest peppers when they have fully ripened to bright orange.
Harvest: 70 days
Height: 1.5-2’
Plant Spacing: 18”
Heat Rating: 70,000 SHU. Small, but mighty! A great choice for first time pepper growers, as compact plants will produce an abundance of fiery Thai pepper pods. They are extremely versatile in the kitchen, and can be used anywhere you want to kick up the heat. Plants perform exceptionally well in containers. Harvest when pods are 2-3’ long and have fully ripened to bright yellow.
Harvest: 75 days
Height: 2’
Plant Spacing: 18”
Heat Rating: 40,000-50,000 SHU. An Italian heirloom with a cute and playful appearance. But don’t be fooled - this tiny pepper packs a punch! Stuff with mozzarella, anchovies, or cream cheese and throw them on the grill for a perfect party appetizer. They can also be used fresh to add a pop of heat to salads or salsas, and are delicious as a pickled pepper. Harvest pods when 2” in size, and colour ripens to red.
Harvest: 85 days
Height: 2-3’
Plant Spacing: 14-18”