Pimento Pepper
Capsicum annuum 'Pimento'
vegetableA heart-shaped sweet red pepper with thick, dense flesh and an intensely sweet, almost candy-like flavor. The pepper inside stuffed olives and pimento cheese. Smaller and sweeter than a bell pepper with more flavor per bite. Excellent fresh, roasted, and pickled. Very productive compact plants that ripen reliably even in shorter seasons.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~75 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
18-24 in
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Planting Depth
1/4 in seed; transplant to first true leaf
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 11
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At transplant; side-dress with compost at first flower
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer at transplant; low-nitrogen formula once flowering begins
🌱 Growing Guide
Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost. Transplant after soil is warm and nights stay above 55 F. Pimento peppers are compact — 18 to 24 inches — and rarely need staking. They ripen faster than most sweet peppers. Pick primarily at the full red ripe stage for the sweetest flavor, though they are also edible green. Water consistently to prevent blossom drop.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Jul 13
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Basil — Repels aphids and whiteflies from pepper plants
- Tomato — Compatible warm-season bed companion
- Carrot — Compatible root zone; loosens soil near peppers
- Marigold — Nematode suppression and beetle deterrence in the bed
❌ Keep away from
FennelBrassicas
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; reflective mulch
Maintain consistent soil moisture; avoid temperature extremes during flowering
Row cover early season; diatomaceous earth around transplants
Rotate crops annually; destroy infested fruit promptly
🌾 Harvest & storage
Harvest at full red for sweetest flavor and best texture. Pimento peppers are 2 to 3 inches across when ripe. They do not develop their characteristic sweetness at the green stage. Cut with shears leaving a short stem. Refrigerate and use within 1 week, or roast and freeze. Excellent in water-bath canning as roasted pimentos.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Very high in vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene. Pimentos have one of the highest vitamin C concentrations of any sweet pepper. Rich in capsanthin, a carotenoid that gives the deep red color and has antioxidant properties.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.