Banana Pepper 'Sweet Banana'
Capsicum annuum 'Sweet Banana'
The perfect mild pepper for gardeners who love the flavor of peppers without any heat whatsoever. Sweet Banana peppers are incredibly productive, producing loads of pale yellow, curved pods that add beautiful color and sweet crunch to any dish. Easy to grow and harvest continuously throughout the season, they're ideal for pickling, fresh eating, and adding to pizza and sandwiches.
Harvest
70-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Banana Pepper 'Sweet Banana' in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 pepper →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Banana Pepper 'Sweet Banana' · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Water: KAP-sih-kum AN-yoo-um. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 8 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Fruits are a non-pulpy berry and vary considerably across cultivars. Some are long, thin, bright red, and spicy; others are thick, large, and sweet-tasting; others still are small and in ornamental shapes and colors, grown as decoration.
Color: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Type: Berry. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Sweet Banana peppers store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer, where they'll maintain quality for 1-2 weeks. Keep them in a perforated plastic bag to maintain humidity while allowing air circulation. Avoid washing until ready to use, as excess moisture accelerates spoilage.
For longer storage, Sweet Banana peppers excel at pickling due to their firm texture and mild flavor. Quick pickle them in a vinegar brine, or process them using traditional canning methods for shelf-stable storage. They also freeze well when sliced – blanch for 2 minutes in boiling water, cool quickly in ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in portions for up to 8 months.
Dehydrating is another excellent preservation method. Slice peppers into rings and dry at 125°F until crisp, creating sweet pepper flakes perfect for seasoning. Their low moisture content and natural sugars concentrate beautifully when dried, creating an intensely flavored ingredient for soups and stews.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical North and South America
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Drought, Heat
- +Attracts: Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Birds are immune to the capsaicin in peppers and can safely eat the fruits with no ill effects. Therefore, these plants may attract birds. Host plant for Potato Tuber Moth.
- +Edible: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Tomatoes
Similar growing requirements and can share space efficiently, mutual pest deterrence
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Oregano
Deters pests like aphids and spider mites while attracting beneficial insects
Carrots
Help break up soil for pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Onions
Repel aphids, thrips, and other pests that commonly attack peppers
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting peppers
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits pepper growth and can cause wilting
Fennel
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of peppers and most other garden plants
Brassicas
Heavy nitrogen feeders that compete with peppers and may stunt their growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169394)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to common pepper diseases
Common Pests
Aphids, flea beetles, pepper weevil, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial spot, blossom end rot, pepper mosaic virus, anthracnose