California Wonder Pepper
California Wonder Pepper is a classic heirloom sweet bell pepper that has set the standard for home gardens since its introduction in 1928. This open-pollinated variety produces large, blocky fruits with thick walls and a crisp, sweet flavor. It’s prized as one of the largest heirloom bell peppers available, making it perfect for stuffing, slicing into salads, or roasting on the grill. The plants are vigorous and productive, typically yielding four to five sizeable peppers per plant in a season. Gardeners love its reliability and disease resistance, and even beginners find it an easy and rewarding pepper to grow in containers or garden beds.
- This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.
- Each packet will have a little over 25 seeds.
California Wonder Pepper is a classic heirloom sweet bell pepper that has set the standard for home gardens since its introduction in 1928. This open-pollinated variety produces large, blocky fruits with thick walls and a crisp, sweet flavor. It’s prized as one of the largest heirloom bell peppers available, making it perfect for stuffing, slicing into salads, or roasting on the grill. The plants are vigorous and productive, typically yielding four to five sizeable peppers per plant in a season. Gardeners love its reliability and disease resistance, and even beginners find it an easy and rewarding pepper to grow in containers or garden beds.
- This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.
- Each packet will have a little over 25 seeds.
California Wonder Pepper is a classic heirloom sweet bell pepper that has set the standard for home gardens since its introduction in 1928. This open-pollinated variety produces large, blocky fruits with thick walls and a crisp, sweet flavor. It’s prized as one of the largest heirloom bell peppers available, making it perfect for stuffing, slicing into salads, or roasting on the grill. The plants are vigorous and productive, typically yielding four to five sizeable peppers per plant in a season. Gardeners love its reliability and disease resistance, and even beginners find it an easy and rewarding pepper to grow in containers or garden beds.
- This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.
- Each packet will have a little over 25 seeds.
Growing Instructions
California Wonder peppers thrive in warm, sunny conditions and rich, well-drained soil. If transplanting, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, and transplant seedlings outside once nights stay above 55°F (after all danger of frost). If direct sowing, wait until all frost danger has passed and sow seeds 12"-18" apart at a depth of 1/4". Choose a spot with full sun (i.e., at least 6 hours) for best yields. The plants reach about 2 feet in height and have a sturdy, upright habit, though it may help to support them once they are heavy with fruit to prevent branches from bending. Keep soil evenly moist. Peppers like consistent moisture but dislike waterlogged roots. Avoid excessive fertilizer, as too much nitrogen will encourage leaves over peppers.
Harvest, Storage, and Use
California Wonder peppers mature about 70-80 days from transplant and about 90-100 days from planting if direct sowing. You can harvest the fruits when they are firm and green or allow them to fully ripen on the plant to a rich red color for extra sweetness and vitamin C. The skin will be glossy and the walls feel firm to the touch when ready. To harvest, use a sharp tool like pruners or a knife to cut the stem an inch above the pepper.
In the kitchen, chop these peppers fresh into salads, sauté them with onions for fajitas, or stuff and bake them for a classic meal. Their thick, tender walls make them a favorite for stuffing and roasting. Extras can be diced and frozen for winter use, or even pickled.
| 👍 Good companions | Basil (repels pests and enhances flavor), marigolds, cilantro, oregano, thyme, onions and leeks (repels pests), radishes (break up soil), nasturtiums (trap crop for pests), carrots and spinach (grow well in the shade of peppers), and tomatoes if carefully planted to avoid resource competition | ||
| 👎 Bad companions | Potatoes (compete for nutrients), tall crops like corn or pole beans (too much shade), fennel, large brassicas like cauliflower and kale (inhibit growth) | ||
| Growing zones | 3-10 | Crop type | Annual |
| Crop difficulty | Easy | Seed type | Open-Pollinated |
| Sowing method | Both | Containers? | Yes |
| Sun req. | Full Sun | Ideal soil temp. | 70-90°F |
| Days to germination | 14-21 days | Days to maturity | 70-80 days |
| Seed spacing | 12"-18" | Row spacing | 18"-24" |
| Seed depth | 1/4" | Needs support? | No |