VegetablePepper
Red Cherry Sweet Pepper
Red Cherry Sweet Pepper produces thumb-sized, glossy red fruits on compact 18- to 24-inch bushes that thrive in zones 4 through 13. These open-pollinated heirlooms mature in 80 to 89 days from transplant and yield continuously through the season, packed with the mild sweetness that makes cherry peppers so addictive. The fruits start green and blush to brilliant red as they ripen, each one measuring just 1 to 1.5 inches across, perfect for popping fresh off the plant or roasting whole.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
12
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The real draw of red cherry sweet peppers lies in their prolific harvests and exceptional versatility. These high-yielding plants thrive in containers, raised beds, and garden plots alike, making them accessible to gardeners with any amount of space. The fact that they tolerate drought and produce continuously from midsummer through fall means you'll have peppers to harvest far longer than most other pepper varieties.
Common Uses
Red cherry sweet peppers shine when eaten fresh, plucked warm from the plant and popped whole into your mouth for a burst of sweet juice. They're equally at home roasted, the thin skin blisters beautifully over flame, and the fruit collapses into silky sweetness. In the kitchen, they work beautifully halved for salads, charred on skewers, pickled whole for snacking, or preserved in oil. Their small, manageable size and prolific production make them especially rewarding for preserving and sharing.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Keep soil temperature between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings into larger containers once they develop true leaves.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant after your last frost date when soil has warmed; these half-hardy plants will suffer if planted into cold ground. Space plants 12 inches apart with 36 inches between rows.
Harvesting
Pick peppers once they turn fully red and feel firm to the touch, this takes about 80 to 89 days from transplant. The fruits can be harvested at the green stage, but they develop richer sweetness and more robust color when left to mature to red. Use a sharp knife or pruners to avoid damaging branches. Harvest continuously throughout the season to encourage more flowering and fruiting.
Pruning
Pinch out the top growth on young plants when they reach 6 inches tall to encourage bushier growth and more flowering branches. Remove any damaged or diseased leaves as the plant grows. The upright growth habit is naturally compact, so minimal pruning is needed beyond early training.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“This cultivar belongs to the broader Capsicum annuum lineage that stretches back centuries to Mesoamerican origins, though the cherry pepper type itself developed as gardeners and seedkeepers selected for smaller, rounder fruits ideal for fresh eating and whole preparation. The red cherry sweet pepper survives today as an open-pollinated, heirloom variety, meaning it's been maintained through generations of seed saving rather than commercial breeding programs. This lineage of preservation speaks to the flavor and productivity that gardeners have deemed worth protecting and passing forward.”