Pepper

At a glance

USDA Zones

4–11

Sun

Full sun (6+ hrs)

Water

Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry

Soil

Loam

pH

Neutral

Spacing

18 in. between plants

Space needed

A 2×2 ft block of the bed

Days to maturity

About 80 days

Planting & harvest windows

Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.

Good companions

• 
  Basil

  Basil helps mask the scent of peppers from thrips and aphids, and shares the same sun + water needs.

• 
  Onion
• 
  Carrot
• 
  Tomato

Keep apart from

• 
  Fennel
• 
  Brassica (general)

Recommended varieties

• California Wonder

  75 daysboth

  Classic blocky green-to-red bell pepper.

• Jalapeño M

  75 daysboth

  Reliable medium-heat jalapeño for salsa.

• Cayenne Long Slim

  75 daysboth

  Hot, prolific, easy to dry.

• Poblano

  80 daysboth

  Mild, earthy pepper. Dried it becomes ancho chili.

• Banana Pepper

  70 daysboth

  Sweet, tangy yellow pepper great for pickling or fresh.

• Sweet Italian (Cubanelle)

  65 daysboth

  Thin-walled frying pepper, sweet and fruity.

• Habanero

  100 daysboth

  Very hot (100k–350k SHU) with fruity citrus flavor.

• Serrano

  80 daysboth

  Bright, grassy heat — spicier than jalapeño.

• Anaheim

  80 daysboth

  Mild New Mexico-style pepper, great for stuffing and roasting.

• Shishito

  60 daysboth

  Thin-skinned Japanese snacking pepper — mostly mild with the occasional hot one.