Fish Pepper
Capsicum annuum
Initial color is lime green, turning to golden yellow when ripe. Excellent, sweet flavor. Medium-large fruits are mostly 3-lobed and slightly elongated.
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 Fish Pepper in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tropical →Zone Map
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Fish Pepper · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
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.
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, whiteflies, and thrips while potentially enhancing pepper flavor
Marigolds
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural pest-repelling compounds
Tomatoes
Share similar growing requirements and benefit from same beneficial insects
Oregano
Attracts beneficial insects and repels cucumber beetles and aphids
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while attracting predatory insects
Carrots
Help break up soil for pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial wasps and hoverflies that prey on pepper pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve pepper growth and flavor
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to peppers and inhibits their growth
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper germination and growth
Brassicas
Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and may stunt pepper development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169910)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Bacterial Leaf Spot races 1-10 (Intermediate); Phytophthora Blight (Intermediate); Tobamovirus races 0 (High)
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, flea beetles, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, pepper mild mottle virus, anthracnose