How to Grow Sweet Pepper 'Lipstick'
Capsicum annuum 'Lipstick'
Capsicum annuum 'Lipstick' is a warm-season pepper variety prized for its vibrant red fruit and reliable performance in gardens across many zones. Gardeners value this easy-to-grow plant not only for its attractive foliage but also for producing flavorful peppers suitable for fresh eating or cooking once the harvest window arrives.
📷 Wikipedia: Capsicum annuumStarting Sweet Pepper 'Lipstick': 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.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil to a pH between 6.0 and 6.8, ensuring it is loose and well-draining before starting seeds indoors. Sow seeds about one inch deep in seed trays roughly six weeks before your last expected spring frost. Expect germination to occur within ten to fourteen days under warm conditions. Once seedlings emerge, keep them in a sunny spot until they are strong enough for the garden.
Space plants twelve to eighteen inches apart to allow proper airflow and growth. While this variety grows relatively short at one to three feet, staking young stems can prevent breakage under heavy fruit loads. Provide consistent moisture, aiming for one to one-and-a-half inches of water per week, and apply mulch around the base to retain soil temperature and humidity.
Watch closely for aphids, spider mites, and thrips, treating infestations early with insecticidal soap or strong water sprays. Prevent bacterial spot and blossom end rot by maintaining steady moisture levels and removing infected leaves promptly. Harvest your peppers fifty-five to sixty-five days after transplanting when they reach full color and size for the best flavor.
When to Plant Sweet Pepper 'Lipstick'
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 | — | July – September |
| 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 Sweet Pepper 'Lipstick'
✓ 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, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects
Repels pests like cucumber beetles and provides ground cover
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Similar growing requirements and can share support structures
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that stunts or kills pepper plants
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper growth
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
