Photo: "Banana peppers" by Quinn Dombrowski · CC BY-SA 2.0

Pepper · Sweet-elongated

Banana Peppers

Open-pollinated · Solanaceae

Prolific producer (15-30+ fruit per plant). Long tapered 6-8 inch fruit. Usually harvested at pale yellow stage. Excellent for pickling. Sweet at all stages, sweetest when red. Mild occasional heat possible (0-500 SHU). Often the most prolific sweet pepper in the garden. Open-pollinated.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

60–70 days

Sun

6+ hours

8-10 hours

Spacing

12–18 "

Seed Start

8–10 weeks

before transplant

Container

Yes

3+ gallon pot

Height

1.5–2 ft

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 7–14 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 0.25"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 65°F

Harden Off 10 days

Watering

Weekly Water 1–1.5 "

Needs Consistent

Method Drip or base watering

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Soil Type Well-draining, fertile

Resilience

Heat: Moderate Cold: Very-low Drought: Low

Common Problems

blossom-drop

Cause: Standard pepper temp thresholds.

Prevention: Shade cloth in hot zones.

aphids

Cause: Sap-sucking, transmit viruses, sooty mold.

Prevention: Blast with water, insecticidal soap, encourage ladybugs.

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Recommended Recipes Root drench, Worm castings topdress

Harvest

Pale yellow (standard harvest). Can leave to orange then red for sweetest flavor. 6-8 inches long, 1-2 oz each.

Expected Yield 2–4 lbs/plant

Storage 7 days — Crisper drawer. 1-2 weeks at yellow.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Genovese basil Repels aphids

French marigold Repels nematodes

Avoid Planting Near

Herb fennel Inhibits most plants

Sources

seed_catalog Burpee university Cornell Extension university University of Minnesota Extension

More Peppers

Banana Peppers Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Banana Peppers vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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