Photo: "Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivar 'King Arthur'" by Rob Duval · CC BY-SA 3.0

Pepper · Bell

King Arthur Peppers

Hybrid · Solanaceae

Benchmark modern hybrid bell. BLS 1-3, 7, 8 resistance (five races of bacterial leaf spot) plus PVY resistance. 5-7 days faster than California Wonder. Thick-walled, blocky 3-4 lobed fruit. The recommended upgrade from California Wonder for disease-prone areas. Hybrid (F1).

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

62–68 days

Sun

6+ hours

8-10 hours

Spacing

18–24 "

Seed Start

8–10 weeks

before transplant

Container

Yes

5+ gallon pot

Height

2–2.5 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 1–2 "

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

Disease Resistance

BLS-1 BLS-2 BLS-3 BLS-7 BLS-8 PVY

Common Problems

blossom-drop

Cause: Temperature outside viable window. Same thresholds as all peppers.

Prevention: Shade cloth in hot zones, cover on cool nights.

sunscald

Cause: Bell fruit facing upward with large surface area.

Prevention: Maintain canopy. Do not prune.

blossom-end-rot

Cause: Inconsistent watering on large fruit.

Prevention: Consistent watering, Cal-Mag.

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Moderate feeder

Calcium Critical — supplement recommended

Recommended Recipes Root drench, Worm castings topdress

Harvest

Green: full-size, firm, glossy. Red: uniform deep red. Can harvest at breaker and ripen indoors.

Expected Yield 2–4 lbs/plant

Storage 10 days — Crisper drawer. Green: 1-2 weeks. Red: 1 week. No below 45°F.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Genovese basil Repels aphids

French marigold Repels nematodes

Nantes carrot Different root depth

Avoid Planting Near

Herb fennel Inhibits most plants

Sources

seed_catalog Johnny's Selected Seeds (exclusive) university Clemson Cooperative Extension university NC State Extension

More Peppers

King Arthur Peppers Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for King Arthur 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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