VegetablePepper
Golden Cal Wonder Pepper
Golden Cal Wonder Pepper is an open-pollinated heirloom that delivers generous yields of large, four-lobed golden fruits without any heat. These upright, bushy plants mature in 72 days from transplant and thrive in zones 4-13, making them accessible to gardeners across most of North America. The sweet peppers measure about 4.5 inches and grow on compact plants that reach just 18-24 inches tall, fitting nicely into containers, raised beds, or garden plots. With zero Scoville Heat Units, this variety is a genuine sweet pepper that's equally at home on a summer salad or roasted 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
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Golden Cal Wonder produces large, golden fruits on compact upright plants that rarely exceed two feet in height, making it one of the most container-friendly sweet pepper varieties available. The peppers are genuinely drought tolerant once established, a trait that sets them apart from many other sweet pepper cultivars that demand consistent moisture. At 72 days to maturity from transplant, gardeners in short-season climates can still count on a full harvest, and the open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year.
Common Uses
Golden Cal Wonder peppers are eaten fresh, sliced raw into salads or cut into strips for platters, where their sweet flavor and crisp texture shine. They're equally excellent roasted whole or halved, their thin walls softening and their natural sweetness intensifying with heat. The peppers work beautifully stuffed with grains, vegetables, or cheese, and many gardeners preserve them by freezing or drying for use throughout the year.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil (70-80 degrees Fahrenheit) and keep consistently moist until germination occurs, typically 7-14 days. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil temperatures reach at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, typically when daytime air temperatures consistently exceed 70 degrees. Space transplants 12 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest peppers when they reach full size (about 4.5 inches) and turn fully golden yellow, typically 70-79 days after transplanting. Peppers can be harvested at the mature green stage if needed, but they develop their full sweetness and characteristic golden color when left on the plant. Cut peppers from the plant with a sharp knife or pruners rather than pulling, which can damage the stems. Continue harvesting throughout the season to encourage more fruit production.
Pruning
Minimal pruning is needed for Golden Cal Wonder due to its naturally upright, bushy growth habit. Remove the first flowers that appear to encourage stronger plant development and root establishment. Once plants are actively fruiting, pruning can be limited to removing any dead, diseased, or crossing branches to improve air circulation.
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
“Golden Cal Wonder is a heirloom open-pollinated variety with roots in California pepper breeding. As a heirloom, it represents decades or even generations of seed-saving by home gardeners and small farms who recognized its reliable productivity and superior sweet flavor. The 'Cal' in its name points directly to California's long tradition of pepper cultivation, and this variety embodies that heritage of developing peppers that perform across diverse climates and growing conditions.”