Container planting is a staple for gardeners and growers alike. When the weather gets nicer and spring is in full swing, youd want to fill up your porch or patio with full compact plants. These varieties are also perfect for people who are short on space like small yards and balconies.
Luckily for gardeners, you can grow some of your favorite live pepper plants from the comfort of your porch! We put together a list of some of the best compact pepper plants perfect for easy and simple container planting!
Growing peppers in containers is a great option for gardeners with limited space. With the right variety, peppers can thrive in pots on a sunny patio or balcony. Here are my picks for the 10 best peppers to grow in containers
1. Sweet Banana Pepper
The sweet banana pepper is a classic snacking pepper that grows well in containers. These yellow peppers are about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. The plants grow 24-36 inches tall and produce dozens of crunchy, mild peppers perfect for eating fresh or pickling. Sweet banana peppers are easy to grow, very productive, and compact enough for pot culture.
2. California Wonder Bell Pepper
California wonder bell peppers are blocky, 4-lobed, thick-walled peppers that turn from green to red when mature. The 3-4 inch peppers are sweet and crunchy, with medium thick walls that are great for stuffing. This heirloom bell pepper variety grows 18-24 inches tall and produces good yields in a container.
3. Cayenne Pepper
If you like spicy food cayenne peppers are a must-grow. The skinny tapered pods turn from green to bright red when ripe. Dried and ground, cayenne peppers make a handy spice for spicing up dishes. Cayenne is very productive even in containers. The 24-36 inch tall plants can be pruned to control size.
4. Jalapeño Pepper
No container garden is complete without some jalapeño peppers! Jalapeños are easy to grow and very prolific. The spicy pods are 2-3 inches long usually harvested green and used fresh or pickled. Jalapeño plants are compact at 18-36 inches tall and produce dozens of peppers even when grown in a pot.
5. Serrano Pepper
Similar to jalapeños but hotter, serrano peppers are another excellent option for container culture. The small, skinny peppers pack some serious heat. Green serranos are often used fresh while red ripe ones are dried. The 24-36 inch tall plants produce lots of peppers and are happy growing in a pot.
6. Habanero Pepper
Habanero peppers are among the hottest you can grow. The wrinkly 2 inch long pods pack a mighty punch! While habaneros like warm weather, they can be grown in containers and moved to a sheltered spot for winter. The 24-30 inch tall plants yield dozens of searingly hot peppers perfect for hot sauce.
7. Cherry Bomb Pepper
Cherry bomb peppers are as adorable as they are tasty. The round, cherry-shaped peppers are only 1-1.5 inches across. They ripen from green to bright red. Cherry bomb peppers are mildly hot with a nice hint of heat. The compact 10-12 inch tall plants thrive in containers and yield loads of cute little peppers.
8. Corno di Toro Pepper
Also known as “bull’s horn” pepper, this Italian heirloom has a distinctive long, twisted shape. Corno di toro peppers are 6-9 inches long and turn from green to bright red. They have thin walls and a mildly spicy flavor. The 24 inch tall plants produce good yields and are suitable for growing in pots.
9. NuMex Twilight Pepper
Add some color to your container garden with NuMex twilight peppers. These pretty ornamental peppers ripen from purple to yellow, orange, and finally red. They have a mild, fruity taste. The 12-18 inch tall plants yield well and look beautiful cascading from a hanging pot.
10. Patio Snacker Pepper
As the name suggests, patio snacker was bred for container growing. The ultra-compact 10 inch tall plants produce dozens of 3-4 inch long yellow peppers. Patio snacker is early to ripen, prolific, and thrives in a pot. The crunchy peppers are sweet and delicious. This is definitely one of the best pepper varieties for container culture.
When choosing peppers for containers, look for naturally compact varieties under 24 inches tall. Make sure the container is at least 12 inches deep and wide to accommodate the pepper’s roots. Use a quality potting mix and provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. With the right variety and care, you can grow a bountiful pepper harvest on your patio this summer!
10 Compact Pepper Plants for Container Planting
Species: Capsicum AnnuumHeat Level: 5,000 SHUsOrigin: USAPlant Height: 10″
First on our list is the Patio Fire & Ice compact pepper plant. Starting off on a smaller foot, this tiny plant grows up to a measly 10″ tall and produces upward-growing clusters of colorful peppers that ripen from green to yellow, and finally to red.
Patio Fire & Ice Pepper Plants work for any type of container planting and make a fantastic choice for a hanging plant. They grow so small, you can just as easily keep them indoors on a windowsill and pluck these mild-flavored peppers straight off the plant when you need them – very handy!
- Browse through more of our Mild Pepper Seeds!
Species: Capsicum AnnuumHeat Level: 2,500+ SHUsOrigin: JapanPlant Height: 2 ft.
Shishito pepper plants are another good choice for container growing. Popular in Japanese cuisine, Shishitos have an elongated, wrinkly appearance that dissuades some from wanting to use them. But their mild smoky-citrusy flavors make them a delight to eat!
Whats great about Shishito peppers is that you can expect an early bounty of peppers from these 2 ft. tall plants. As a tip, place Shishito plants on your patio or porch with plenty of space, as they prefer plenty of room to spread out. While they are considered compact vertically, they arent considered compact horizontally.
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Container planting is a staple for gardeners and growers alike. When the weather gets nicer and spring is in full swing, youd want to fill up your porch or patio with full compact plants. These varieties are also perfect for people who are short on space like small yards and balconies.
Luckily for gardeners, you can grow some of your favorite live pepper plants from the comfort of your porch! We put together a list of some of the best compact pepper plants perfect for easy and simple container planting!
6 Pepper Varieties That THRIVE In Containers
FAQ
What kind of peppers grow well in pots?
Banana Peppers – These plants are more compact than bell peppers and are highly productive, making them ideal for container gardening.
How many peppers can you grow in a 5 gallon bucket?
Generally, one pepper plant per 3-5 gallon container is best. With a planter box, multiple plants can be used when spaced 12-18 inches apart.
What should not be planted next to peppers?
- Fennel: Secretes allelopathic chemicals (like anethole) that inhibit pepper growth and attract pests like aphids.
- Corn: A heavy feeder that can deplete soil nutrients quickly.
What are the easiest peppers to grow?
2) What are the easiest peppers to grow? If you don’t want to wait too long for germination, Capsicum Annuum are probably the easiest to grow. These include jalapeños, serranos, cayennes, Thai peppers, Anaheim, Hatch, poblano, many ornamentals and more.