Bell Pepper 'Purple Top'
Capsicum annuum 'Purple Top'
A stunning ornamental edible that produces beautiful purple and green striped bell peppers that eventually ripen to red with purple shoulders. This unique variety adds dramatic color to gardens and dinner plates while providing the same sweet, crisp flavor as traditional bell peppers. The compact plants are perfect for containers and make excellent conversation pieces in any garden.
Harvest
70-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Bell Pepper 'Purple Top' in USDA Zone 7
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Bell Pepper 'Purple Top' · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| 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 Purple Top peppers store best in the refrigerator's crisper drawer at 45-50°F with high humidity, maintaining quality for 1-2 weeks. Avoid storing at room temperature for extended periods as the unique purple coloration may fade and flesh becomes soft.
For freezing, slice peppers into strips, blanch for 2 minutes in boiling water, then ice bath before packaging in freezer bags. Frozen peppers retain flavor for 6-8 months but lose crisp texture, making them ideal for cooked dishes.
Dehydrate sliced peppers at 125°F for 8-12 hours to create colorful pepper flakes that retain the distinctive appearance. The purple striping creates beautiful dried pepper pieces perfect for seasoning blends. Properly dried peppers store in airtight containers for up to one year while maintaining both flavor and visual appeal.
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, both benefit from same soil conditions
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Oregano
Repels pests like aphids and spider mites, and provides ground cover to retain moisture
Carrots
Help break up soil for pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Onions
Repel aphids, spider mites, and other pests through their sulfur compounds
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting peppers
Lettuce
Provides living mulch, conserves soil moisture, and harvested before peppers need full space
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Release juglone toxin that stunts pepper growth and can cause wilting
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper growth through root competition
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2258588)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance
Common Pests
Aphids, flea beetles, pepper weevil, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial spot, blossom end rot, verticillium wilt