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About Peppers (Hot)

Hot peppers range from compact ornamentals to 4-ft chile plants. Heat (capsaicin) rises with stress and with days on the plant. A home gardener’s favorite for salsa, drying, and pickling.

When to Plant

Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Transplant 1–2 weeks after last frost when soil is 65°F+.

How to Plant

Sow ¼ inch deep at 80–85°F. Transplant 18 inches apart, about 1 plant per square foot, rows 24 inches. Stake taller types. Even water; do not over-nitrogen.

When to Harvest

Pick green for a milder flavor, or wait for full color. Cut stems; pulling breaks branches. Dry thin-walled types; roast thick-walled. Overripe fruit left on the plant can rot faster in wet weather — pick promptly.