Sweet Banana Sweet Pepper is a heat-loving cultivar of Capsicum annuum that delivers exactly what its name promises: a sweet, mild pepper with the slender, curved form of a banana. These peppers mature in just 70 days, making them one of the faster options for gardeners eager to harvest. Plant them in full sun with moderate water and they'll reward you with prolific yields of tender, thin-walled peppers that transition from pale green to brilliant yellow as they ripen. The plant's compact growth suits both garden beds and containers, thriving in warm conditions with well-draining soil kept at a pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
Full Sun
Moderate
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Moderate
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The banana shape and sweet flavor make this pepper instantly recognizable and endlessly useful in the kitchen. Seventy days from transplant to harvest is remarkably fast for a sweet pepper, letting even short-season gardeners enjoy a full crop. The thin, tender skin means these peppers cook down quickly and absorb flavors beautifully, whether you're roasting, sautéing, or stuffing them. Unlike thick-walled bell peppers, Sweet Banana peppers are inherently tender and elegant on the plate.
These peppers shine in the kitchen where their thin walls and sweet flesh make them excellent for roasting whole, sautéing in stir-fries, or grilling. Their mild heat and tender texture suit fresh eating straight from the vine, though many gardeners preserve them by roasting and freezing. The slender shape makes them visually striking raw in salads or on crudité platters, where their delicate sweetness appeals to those who find standard bell peppers too bland.
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Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your planned transplant date. Maintain soil temperature at 70°F for germination; while germination can occur anywhere from 70°, 90°F, keep conditions consistent for best results. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in quality seed-starting mix.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, once daytime temperatures are reliably at least 70°F and nighttime temperatures stay at or above 55°F. Space plants 24 inches apart, with 24 inches between rows. Handle seedlings gently during transplanting and harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before final planting.
In mild climates, direct sowing is possible 2 to 4 weeks after the average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 70°F. In mild climates, a late-summer sowing can be made for a fall or winter crop.
Sweet Banana peppers are ready to harvest approximately 70 days after transplanting. Pick them when they reach mature size, either at the green stage or wait for the full yellow color to develop for sweetest flavor and softer flesh. Peppers can be harvested at any stage of maturity, but letting them fully ripen to yellow intensifies their sweetness. Use a clean knife or pruners to cut peppers from the vine rather than pulling, which can damage branches.
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