Varieties of Bell Pepper Plants
Bell peppers are sometimes called sweet peppers. Most bell peppers mature and are ready for harvesting after 70 to 75 days. Plant them after night temperatures have risen to over 55 degrees F. Plant them 18 to 24 inches apart and make sure the root ball of each nursery plant is completely covered by soil. Pepper plants can grow 18 to 36 inches tall. Growing peppers from young nursery plants is the most reliable method of growing. Bell peppers grow best in full sun.
Bell Boy
Bell boy peppers are a popular hybrid that goes from green to red as the season progresses. As a green pepper, they are suitable for almost any imaginable culinary use. As the peppers turn red, they tend to remain firm and are still very usable in dishes. Bell boy peppers grow well either in the garden or as a potted plant. In both cases, they require full sun and need a lot of water. Water whenever the top 1/4 inch of soil begins to feel dry. Grow bell boy peppers in USDA zones 3 through 10.
- Bell peppers are sometimes called sweet peppers.
- Bell boy peppers grow well either in the garden or as a potted plant.
Lady Bell
Like bell boys, lady bells go from green to red as they mature. Lady bells are considered sweet peppers and require full sun and a lot of water. Lady Bells can grow well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 11.
Purple Bell
Purple bell peppers need full sun and adequate water. These peppers are, however, unusual in their coloring. Purple bell peppers are purple when immature and turn blackish red when ripe and ready for eating. Of Italian origin, these sweet peppers are often considered an heirloom species. Purple bell peppers grow well in USDA zones 5 through 10.
- Like bell boys, lady bells go from green to red as they mature.
- Purple bell peppers are purple when immature and turn blackish red when ripe and ready for eating.
Chocolate Bell
Another pepper with unusual coloration is the chocolate bell pepper. The sweet chocolate bell pepper turns from green to chocolate brown as it matures. Another pepper considered an heirloom, this pepper doesn't keep as well as many varieties. A thin skinned pepper, it tends to turn soft very quickly after ripening. If you use a lot of peppers, plant this as a novelty variety among more durable varieties that are a more traditional green and red. Chocolate bells grow well in USDA zones 2 through 10.
Related Articles
References
Writer Bio
Although he grew up in Latin America, Mr. Ma is a writer based in Denver. He has been writing since 1987 and has written for NPR, AP, Boeing, Ford New Holland, Microsoft, RAHCO International, Umax Data Systems and other manufacturers in Taiwan. He studied creative writing at Mankato State University in Minnesota. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, English and reads Spanish.
