How to Grow Bell Pepper 'King of the North'
Capsicum annuum 'King of the North'
Capsicum annuum 'King of the North' is an heirloom bell pepper prized for its cold tolerance within the pepper family. Gardeners cultivate this variety to enjoy homegrown fruit even in cooler climates, appreciating its reliable performance and moderate disease resistance.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Bell Pepper 'King of the North': indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 6 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
Move seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently for this warm-season crop.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil by ensuring it drains well and tests between pH 6.0 and 7.0. Start seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost date since peppers are warm-season crops that cannot survive freezing temperatures. Sow seeds one-quarter inch deep in a warm environment; they typically germinate within ten to fourteen days once conditions are right.
Space plants twelve to eighteen inches apart in full sun, providing at least six hours of light daily. Water consistently about one inch per week to maintain moisture without waterlogging the roots. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil temperature and add compost or balanced fertilizer every few weeks to support growth.
Watch for aphids, flea beetles, pepper weevils, and hornworms, treating infestations early with organic controls. Prevent bacterial spot, phytophthora blight, and tobacco mosaic virus by rotating crops and ensuring good air circulation. Harvest fruits sixty-five to seventy-five days after transplanting when they reach full size and desired color.
When to Plant Bell Pepper 'King of the North'
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 'King of the North'
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Help break up soil for pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting peppers
Repel aphids, thrips, and other pests that commonly attack peppers
Deters pests like aphids and spider mites while attracting beneficial insects
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Similar growing requirements and can share space efficiently, mutual pest deterrence
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in peppers
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper growth through root competition
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
