How to grow Banana Peppers

A guide on how to grow Banana Peppers, including tips for growing the plant and harvesting.

Banana Peppers require rich, well draining soil with plenty of compost mixed in.

Banana Peppers require a sunny position, sheltered from strong winds. 

No, Banana Peppers are not frost tolerant. 

Space Banana Pepper plants around 35-40cm apart.

Banana Peppers are best grown in temperatures between 18 and 30°C (65–86°F)

For a head start, sow Banana Pepper seeds indoors in late winter to be planted out in spring. Plant out once the danger of frost has passed.

Seeds can also be sown in spring. Keep soil moist and warm to ensure successful germination.

If transplanting seedlings, plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn.   

Feed your Banana Pepper plants with an organic fertiliser regularly throughout the season. Mulch the soil well to retain moisture. 

Banana Peppers are generally harvested once they turn yellow, they can be harvested at any size. They will crop continuously throughout the season. 

Pests which can affect Banana Peppers include: Aphids, Slug, Snail, Fruit Fly, Spider Mites, Thrips, Root Knot Nematodes, Potato Beetle, Flea Beetle, Leaf Miner, Leaf Roller, Pepper Weevil, Tomato Fruit Worm. 

Diseases which can affect Banana Peppers include: Mosaic Virus, Leaf Spot, Blight, Verticillium wilt, Anthracnose, Damping-off, Fusarium Wilt, Powdery Mildew, Bacterial Canker, Blossom-end Rot, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. 

Banana Pepper plants usually require staking for support. May benefit from a shade cloth in extreme sun as the fruit is susceptible to sunburn.