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Sweet Pepper

Capsicum annuum

Vegetables📅 60–90 (green), 80–100 (full color) days to harvest☀️ Full sun (6–8 hours)

Overview

Sweet peppers are a warm-season staple in Florida gardens, producing abundantly when temperatures stay between 65°F and 85°F. Bell peppers, banana peppers, cubanelles, and specialty Italian types all perform well. Green bells are simply unripe — leave them on the plant longer and they ripen to red, yellow, or orange with sweeter flavor and higher vitamin content.

Florida's long growing season means peppers can produce for months when properly maintained. The biggest challenges are blossom drop during temperature extremes (below 60°F or above 90°F) and bacterial leaf spot, which thrives in Florida's humid conditions. Choosing resistant varieties and managing irrigation are the keys to consistent production.

Growing in Florida

Florida is a major U.S. bell pepper producer, with commercial operations concentrated in Palm Beach, Collier, and Hendry counties. Home gardeners in Florida should time plantings to avoid the summer heat that causes blossom drop and increases disease pressure. The fall planting window (August–September) is often the most productive for Florida pepper gardens. Cubanelle and banana peppers tend to be more heat-tolerant than standard bells.

Planting Calendar

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North FL
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Central FL
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South FL
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Growing Guide

🌱Soil Type
Well-drained sandy loam with organic matter
⚗️Soil pH
6.0–6.8
☀️Sun Requirement
Full sun (6–8 hours)
💧Water Needs
1–2 inches per week, even moisture critical during fruit set
📏Spacing
18–24 inches apart, rows 30–36 inches apart
📅Days to Harvest
60–90 (green), 80–100 (full color)
🧪Fertilizer
4-8-8 or 6-6-6 at planting, side-dress every 3–4 weeks during production
🌿Propagation
Transplants (start seed 8–10 weeks before planting date)

Companion Planting

🌱 Basil
Repels aphids, thrips, and spider mites near pepper plants
🌱 Tomato
Similar growing requirements allow efficient garden planning
🌱 Spinach
Provides living mulch, shading soil and retaining moisture
🌱 Carrots
Break up soil and use underground space while peppers use vertical space

Pests & Diseases

pestAphids
Blast with water, apply insecticidal soap, or encourage ladybugs and lacewings.
pestPepper Weevil
Remove and destroy dropped fruit. Use pheromone traps. In severe cases, apply approved insecticides at bloom stage.
diseaseBacterial Leaf Spot
Plant resistant varieties. Apply copper sprays preventatively. Remove infected leaves immediately.
diseasePhytophthora Blight
Improve drainage. Avoid planting in areas with standing water. Use raised beds if needed.

Florida Varieties

Aristotle
Industry-standard bell with strong bacterial leaf spot resistance. Thick walls, blocky shape.
Olympus
Red bell with excellent disease resistance and heat tolerance. Consistent producer in Florida conditions.
Cubanelle
Thin-walled frying pepper popular in Florida-Caribbean cuisine. Prolific and heat-tolerant.
Banana Pepper
Mild, elongated pepper ideal for pickling and fresh eating. Very productive in Florida gardens.

Flavor Profile

Texture
Crisp, crunchy walls with juicy interior
Best Eaten
Both

Nutrition Highlights

Health note: Red sweet peppers contain more than twice the vitamin C of oranges per weight. The carotenoids in fully ripened peppers provide significant antioxidant protection.

Culinary Uses

Raw in salads, crudité, and sandwiches. Roasted whole and peeled for antipasto. Stuffed with rice, meat, or cheese and baked. Sautéed in fajitas, stir-fries, and sofrito. Cubanelle peppers are the classic frying pepper for Cuban and Puerto Rican cooking, widely used in Florida kitchens.

Storage Tips

Unwashed peppers keep 1–2 weeks in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Store in a loose plastic bag to maintain humidity. Freeze diced peppers in a single layer on a sheet pan, then transfer to freezer bags for year-round use in cooked dishes. Roasted peppers freeze well in olive oil.

💡 Fun Fact

A single red bell pepper contains about 150% of the daily recommended vitamin C — nearly three times more than a green bell pepper of the same size. The color change from green to red isn't just cosmetic; it represents weeks of additional sugar and nutrient development.