Sweet Pepper 'King Arthur'
Capsicum annuum 'King Arthur'
A premium hybrid bell pepper that produces enormous, blocky fruits with incredibly thick walls and exceptional sweetness. This variety consistently wins taste tests among gardeners for its crisp texture and superior flavor that develops even more complexity when roasted. 'King Arthur' sets the gold standard for homegrown bell peppers with its reliable production and restaurant-quality results.
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 Sweet Pepper 'King Arthur' in USDA Zone 7
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Sweet Pepper 'King Arthur' · 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 'King Arthur' peppers store exceptionally well due to their thick walls. Keep unwashed peppers in the refrigerator's crisper drawer for 2-3 weeks, or at room temperature for 7-10 days. The thick flesh maintains crispness longer than thin-walled varieties.
For freezing, these peppers excel when diced or sliced — their substantial walls hold texture better than most varieties after thawing. Blanch for 3 minutes, cool quickly, and freeze in portions. They're perfect for roasting and freezing whole after charring the skin.
Dehydrating works well for making pepper flakes or powder, though the thick walls require longer drying times. Fermentation is another excellent option — the natural sugars in 'King Arthur' create complex flavors when lacto-fermented into hot sauces or relishes.
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
Share similar growing conditions and pest management, can be grown together efficiently
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Oregano
Deters pests like aphids and spider mites with its strong aromatic oils
Carrots
Help break up soil for pepper roots and don't compete for the same nutrients
Onions
Repel aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects that damage peppers
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling squash bugs
Keep Apart
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of peppers and most vegetables
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in peppers
Brassicas
Compete heavily for nutrients and may stunt pepper growth through root competition
Apricot Trees
Can harbor verticillium wilt which easily spreads to peppers and causes plant death
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169394)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Resistant to tobacco mosaic virus
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, pepper weevils, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial spot, anthracnose, pepper mild mottle virus