VegetablePepper
Big Bertha Pepper
Big Bertha Pepper is a hybrid sweet pepper that earns its name honestly: these are the largest elongated bell peppers you can grow, reaching up to 7 inches long and 4 inches wide with four distinct lobes. A heat-free Capsicum annuum with zero Scoville units, Big Bertha produces mild, sweet fruit on compact upright plants standing just 18 to 24 inches tall. From transplant to harvest takes 70 to 79 days, and it thrives in full sun across hardiness zones 4 through 13, whether you're growing in garden beds, raised boxes, or under glass. Utah State University recommends this variety specifically for its reliable size and sweet flavor.
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
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Big Bertha peppers reach jaw-dropping dimensions, routinely hitting 7 inches in length with a substantial 4-inch width that makes them stand out on any harvest table. The hybrid vigor of this F1 cross delivers consistent, oversized fruit on surprisingly compact plants that stay under 2 feet tall. Bred for disease tolerance to Tobacco Mosaic Virus and resistant to Bacterial Leaf Spot, these peppers handle the stresses that derail less rugged varieties. The fruit's complete lack of heat (0 Scoville units) makes it a genuine sweet pepper, perfect for fresh eating, roasting, or stuffing.
Common Uses
Big Bertha peppers are primarily grown for fresh eating and cooking. Their substantial size makes them particularly well suited to stuffing whole, as their thick walls hold fillings beautifully. Roasting brings out the peppers' natural sweetness, and their large surface area is ideal for this preparation. The generous flesh also works well for slicing into rings, dicing for salads, or processing into sauces and salsas where their sweet character shines through.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start Big Bertha seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil maintained between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space transplants 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows.
Harvesting
Big Bertha peppers reach harvest readiness 70 to 79 days after transplanting. Pick peppers when they reach their full 7-inch length and 4-inch width; they can be harvested at green stage but develop sweeter flavor if allowed to mature to red. Clip fruit from the stem with pruners rather than twisting to avoid damaging the plant. Continuing to harvest encourages more fruit production throughout the season.
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)