How to Grow Peter Pepper
Capsicum annuum 'Peter Pepper'
Capsicum annuum 'Peter Pepper' is a vigorous warm-season variety reaching up to eight feet tall. Gardeners prize its high yield and excellent heat tolerance for producing abundant fruit in summer gardens or large containers.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Peter Pepper: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Peter Pepper is not usually started indoors.
Do not sow outdoors before the last frost; wait until soil is warm and all danger of freezing has passed to move seedlings or plant directly.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, ensuring it warms fully before planting. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors only after the last frost date when temperatures are stable. Sow seeds about one inch deep; germination typically takes 14 to 21 days in consistent warmth.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart to allow air circulation. Install sturdy stakes or trellises immediately, as this tall variety requires significant support. Maintain high moisture levels with consistent watering and apply mulch to retain soil temperature while feeding regularly during the growing season.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, pepper weevils, and hornworms; inspect leaves frequently and use organic controls if needed. Prevent bacterial leaf spot, pepper mottle virus, and anthracnose by rotating crops and ensuring good airflow. Harvest the peppers approximately 112 days after sowing when they reach full size and color.
When to Plant Peter Pepper
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | November – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | October – September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | August – October |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 11 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 12 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 13 | January | — | May – July |
Companion Plants for Peter Pepper
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Loosens soil around pepper roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels aphids, spider mites, and cabbage worms with sulfur compounds
Repels cucumber beetles and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Share similar growing conditions and pest management strategies
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in peppers
Compete heavily for nutrients and may attract pests that also damage peppers
Releases allelopathic chemicals that inhibit pepper growth and development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
