Bell Pepper 'Red Beauty'
Capsicum annuum 'Red Beauty'
A classic bell pepper variety that produces large, blocky fruits with thick walls perfect for stuffing or fresh eating. These sweet peppers start green and ripen to a gorgeous deep red color, developing incredible sweetness as they mature. Reliable and productive, this variety is a garden staple that delivers consistent harvests throughout the growing season.
Harvest
75-80d
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 'Red Beauty' in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 pepper →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Bell Pepper 'Red Beauty' · 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 Red Beauty peppers store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 45-50°F with 85-90% humidity for 1-2 weeks. Green peppers typically last longer than fully ripe red ones. Avoid storing below 40°F as this causes chilling injury and pitting.
For longer preservation, freeze whole peppers after removing stems and seeds, or slice and blanch for 2-3 minutes before freezing. Frozen peppers work excellently in cooked dishes but lose crispness for fresh eating.
Dehydrate thick-walled Red Beauty peppers by slicing into ¼-inch strips and using a dehydrator at 135°F for 8-12 hours until leathery. Roast and freeze whole peppers for winter use – char skins over open flame, steam in paper bags for 10 minutes, then peel and freeze in portions. The sweet flavor concentrates beautifully when roasted, making this variety exceptional for winter soups and sauces.
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 care
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Oregano
Repels aphids and provides ground cover while attracting beneficial pollinators
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Carrots
Loose soil from carrot growth improves drainage around pepper roots
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids, cucumber beetles, and squash bugs
Chives
Repel aphids and may improve pepper growth and flavor
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in peppers
Fennel
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of peppers and most garden vegetables
Kohlrabi
Competes heavily for nutrients and may stunt pepper plant development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2258588)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to tobacco mosaic virus and bacterial spot
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, pepper weevil, hornworms
Diseases
Bacterial spot, anthracnose, phytophthora blight, blossom end rot