Cherry Bomb
Capsicum annuum 'Cherry Bomb'
A compact, round pepper that packs surprising heat in a small, cherry-like package perfect for stuffing. These thick-walled beauties ripen from green to bright red and offer medium heat with a crisp texture that holds up beautifully when stuffed with cheese or other fillings. The productive plants are ideal for container growing and provide plenty of peppers for fresh use or preserving.
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 Cherry Bomb in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 pepper →Zone Map
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Cherry Bomb · 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 Cherry Bomb peppers store best in the refrigerator's crisper drawer for 2-3 weeks when kept in perforated plastic bags to maintain humidity while allowing air circulation. Green peppers typically last longer than fully ripe red ones. For short-term storage, leave at room temperature for 3-5 days to continue ripening.
For preservation, these thick-walled peppers excel at pickling—their sturdy texture holds up beautifully in vinegar brines. Freeze whole peppers after blanching for 2 minutes, or stuff with cheese before freezing for ready-to-cook appetizers. Dehydrating works well due to their meaty walls; slice in half, remove seeds, and dry at 135°F until brittle. Cherry Bombs also make excellent hot sauce when blended with vinegar and salt, or can be fermented whole for complex flavors that develop over 2-4 weeks.
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
Marigolds
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Oregano
Repels cucumber beetles and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Carrots
Loosens soil around pepper roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Tomatoes
Share similar growing requirements and can confuse pests through companion cropping
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing them away from peppers
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve pepper growth and flavor
Keep Apart
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Walnut Trees
Produce juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in peppers
Brassicas
Compete heavily for 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 #171719)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to tobacco mosaic virus and bacterial spot
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, pepper weevil, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, blossom end rot