How to Grow Bell Pepper 'Big Bertha'
Capsicum annuum 'Big Bertha'
Bell Pepper 'Big Bertha' is a reliable warm-season variety prized for its robust growth and disease resistance. Gardeners cultivate this hybrid for its consistent yield of flavorful fruit that thrives in full sun once established.
📷 Wikipedia: Capsicum annuumStarting Bell Pepper 'Big Bertha': indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Bell Pepper 'Big Bertha' is not usually started indoors.
Do not direct sow outdoors; instead, start seeds indoors or in a warm greenhouse setting before moving hardened seedlings outside only after all danger of frost has passed.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 to support healthy root development. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep; they typically germinate within 10 to 14 days once temperatures are consistently warm.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to ensure good air circulation and fruit production. While these peppers do not require trellising, provide support if stems become heavy with fruit. Water consistently to maintain 1 to 1.5 inches per week and apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, hornworms, and cutworms; inspect leaves regularly and use organic controls if needed. Prevent bacterial spot and blossom end rot by avoiding overhead watering and ensuring good drainage. Harvest fruits 72 to 75 days after transplanting when they reach full color and size.
When to Plant Bell Pepper 'Big Bertha'
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Bell Pepper 'Big Bertha'
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients or space
Deter nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repel aphids, spider mites, and other pests that attack peppers
Repels aphids and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on pepper pests
Share similar growing conditions and can help deter pests when planted together
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that is harmful to peppers and most nightshades
Compete heavily for nutrients and can stunt pepper growth
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
