Growing Banana Peppers
Growing banana peppers is really easy, as they are one of the most forgiving varieties. Still, they do need some care. Let’s take a look at growing banana peppers in the garden.
Type of Banana Peppers
These versatile veggies go by several names, but they can be divided into two main types: and
.
The most common banana pepper is called Hungarian, and it’s also available both ways. So that’s something to keep in mind when you are perusing the seeds!
The hot variety of the banana pepper reaches around 3,500 to 4,000 Scoville Units — about on par with jalapenos.
Growing Banana Peppers in Containers
Sure, you can grow these peppers in containers. For a bountiful harvest, I suggest 5-gallon containers. However, with a good potting soil, plenty of fertilizer, water and sunshine, they can also be grown successfully in 3-gallon pots.
Here’s more detailed information about container pepper growing.
Peppers in the Garden
Peppers, including the bananas, have similar requirements to their relative the tomato. That includes a fertilizer that has more phosphorus (the middle number of the fertilizer content) than nitrogen. While a lot of nitrogen will grow you large, lush plants, you won’t get many peppers off it.
Peppers like rich, well-drained soil. I’ve found that they also appreciate “fluffy” soil, which doesn’t compact easily, but which holds enough water to keep the plant happy. I do this by incorporating compost, sphagnum moss and perlite in the planting hole and surrounding soil.
Peppers like warm weather, especially the hot varieties. They don’t appreciate a windy location, so if you do get really breezy on a regular basis, see about constructing a wind break of sorts.
What About Eating?
You can eat the banana peppers when they are immature (green), ripe (red) or anywhere in between!
Here’s a hint: a sweet pepper will grow sweeter the riper it gets. Similarly, a hot banana pepper will turn up the heat, the riper it is.
Enjoy growing (and eating) your banana peppers!
Hi Rojilio,
I’ll probably have to let any other readers jump in on this, if they have experience. Personally, I just cut off a piece of the plant and stick it in moist seed-starting soil in bright shade — not very scientific, but I also rarely do cuttings.
Likewise on the grafting — that I have never done, so I can’t advise you. However, if any other readers out there know a good source of information, please pass it along. Meanwhile, all I can suggest is to check out the search engine listing for grafting pepper plants.
Sorry I can’t be of more help!
i love banana peppers!!!!!!!!!!
I planted banana peppers last year which grew very well. I took seeds from the peppers, dried them and tried planting those seeds that I harvested this year. My problem is that every single seed I tried never grew or sprouted. What did I do wrong…they never even sprouted in the pot. I used miracle grow potting mix for vegetables, I kept them watered (moist not drenched) and nothing.
Hi Robert,
I’ve had that happen a time or two, and it certainly is frustrating! Here are some of my thoughts.
If the seeds and soil aren’t kept warm enough, they may not sprout. Keeping the soil moist isn’t always enough; without being warm enough the seeds just won’t sprout. Warm means between 80 degrees and 90 degrees (fahrenheit). 85 degrees is a good temperature.
Some varieties need a long time before they do anything. Although banana peppers in general only need a week or two, I’ve had seeds take 4 weeks before sprouting.
If your seeds weren’t dried and stored properly, they may have died. Yes, seeds are alive, just really, really dormant.
I like to sprout seeds in a small cup, using sterile potting mix. Here’s a link to the way I plant peppers.
In your case, I am guessing that the miracle-gro was the culprit, as it contains extras that are great for plant growth, but not so good for sprouting pepper seeds.
I hope this has helped!
I’M GROWING BANNANA PEPPERS AND THEY’VE DONE GREAT SO FAR. I HAVE EVEN PICKED A FEW BUT NOW THEY ARE STARTING TO TURN BROWN ON THE PLANT… PLEASE HELP.
Hi Shawn,
That happens sometimes when the plants don’t get enough air circulation, or they are in a spot where the morning dew doesn’t disappear from the plants for quite some time after the sun rises. It can also happen if the plant is stressed for some other reason, like a sudden change in weather (like from going to mild temperatures to really hot within a few days).
At this point, all you can really do is pick the peppers as soon as you can, before they turn brown. Or, if they are turning brown when they are very small, pick them off as soon as you see it. Having a lot of fruit at one time is also somewhat stressful for the plant, so it needs plenty of water and light doses of fertilizer every couple of weeks (I like to do it about 1/3 strength).
I hope this helps, and that your peppers pull through!
Hi Gail, I was wanting to know if I should be worried, my banana peppers are blooming and the plant is only 6-8 inches tall and I was wonderingm if I should pinch off the blooms so that they have more time to grow and won’t waste time trying to produce so early
Hi Mary,
I’d say that the 8 inch plants would be OK to leave a few blossoms on, but pinching off the flowers for the 6 inch plants is a good idea. Although banana peppers are pretty prolific, you’ll ultimately get more (and larger) peppers if you let the plants get a little larger before producing fruit.
Enjoy your banana peppers!
Gail