Bell Pepper
King of the North Pepper is a 1934 New York heirloom that lives up to its regal name with exceptionally large fruits and an early harvest in just 65 days. Featured on the cover of Harris' Seeds Catalog out of Coldwater, New York, this variety was celebrated as an outstanding introduction for its ability to thrive even in northern climates. Growing to a compact 24 inches tall, it produces enormous yields of fine fruit on remarkably prolific plants, making it ideal for gardeners who want abundant harvests from a small footprint.
Full Sun
Moderate
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24in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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What makes King of the North truly special is its combination of extreme earliness and exceptional productivity in regions where peppers often struggle. This isn't a finicky heirloom that demands perfect conditions, it was specifically bred to deliver heavy yields of immense fruit even in the North, where shorter seasons and cooler temperatures typically limit pepper success. The variety's compact stature and generous spacing requirement of just 18 inches between plants means you can grow multiple plants in modest garden space without sacrificing the generous harvests that originally earned it catalog cover recognition.
As a sweet pepper with large fruits, King of the North is suited to fresh eating, cooking, and general culinary use. The early maturity and prolific production make it valuable for gardeners in cooler regions who want reliable pepper harvests for slicing into salads, sautéing, or preserving before the season ends.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain soil temperature between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination. Peppers prefer consistently warm conditions and can be slow to germinate, so be patient and ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally closer to 70. Harden off plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Peppers are ready to harvest at 65 days from transplanting. Pick fruits when they reach full size for the variety; the immense fruits this pepper is known for make it easy to recognize when they're ready. Peppers can be harvested at the green stage or left on the plant to mature to red if desired, though in shorter northern seasons the early maturity makes green harvest a practical option to maximize yield before frost.
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“This variety has a documented pedigree reaching back to 1934, when Harris' Seeds of Coldwater, New York introduced King of the North as their outstanding new pepper introduction. The catalog entry from that era reveals it was tested by growers across New York and beyond, who were reportedly impressed by the immense fruit size, earliness, and heavy yields. Hudson Valley Seed's discovery of this heirloom on the original Harris' Seeds Catalog cover rescued it from obscurity, bringing this North Country variety back into circulation for modern gardeners seeking proven performers in shorter growing seasons.”