Sweet Pepper 'Cubanelle'
Capsicum annuum 'Cubanelle'
Often called the 'Italian Frying Pepper,' this sweet, thin-walled variety is prized for its exceptional flavor and tender texture that makes it perfect for quick cooking. Popular in Caribbean and Italian cuisine, Cubanelle peppers offer a mild, sweet taste with just a hint of heat that appeals to all palates. Their elongated shape and vibrant color make them as beautiful in the garden as they are delicious on the plate.
Harvest
60-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Sweet Pepper 'Cubanelle' in USDA Zone 7
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Sweet Pepper 'Cubanelle' · 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 Cubanelles store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer for 7-10 days, though their thin walls make them more perishable than thick-walled varieties. For best quality, store unwashed in perforated plastic bags at 45-50°F with high humidity.
For longer preservation, Cubanelles excel at freezing due to their intended use in cooked dishes. Wash, remove seeds, and slice into strips before freezing on trays, then transfer to freezer bags. They'll maintain quality for 6-8 months and work perfectly for sautéing straight from frozen.
These peppers also shine when pickled — their tender flesh absorbs brine beautifully. Use a standard vegetable pickling recipe with vinegar, water, salt, and your preferred spices. Properly canned pickled Cubanelles last 12-18 months. Dehydrating works but requires careful monitoring due to their high moisture content — slice thin and dry until leathery for best results.
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
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Tomatoes
Share similar growing conditions and can help shade pepper roots from intense sun
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Oregano
Deters pests like aphids and spider mites with strong aromatic compounds
Carrots
Help break up soil for pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Onions
Repel aphids, cutworms, and other pests that commonly attack peppers
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Keep Apart
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts or kills pepper plants
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 #169394)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to common pepper diseases
Common Pests
Aphids, pepper weevil, European corn borer, flea beetles
Diseases
Bacterial spot, phytophthora blight, pepper mottle virus