A Guide to Pepper Plants Starting With “Be” – Bell Peppers, Bishop’s Crown, Banana and More

Peppers starting with “be” include some of the most popular varieties grown in home gardens and commercially. The initial letter encompasses sweet bell peppers, mildly hot varieties like banana peppers, and ornamental types like the distinctive Bishop’s Crown.

Overview of Main Pepper Varieties Beginning with “Be”

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers, also called sweet peppers, are the most widely recognized and grown. Their name comes from the characteristic blocky, bell-shaped form. While they start out green, bell peppers ripen into various colors depending on cultivar – most commonly red, but also yellow, orange, purple, brown or even white.

Popular bell pepper types include

• Green Bell – Grassy, vegetal flavor even when unripe. The iconic green pepper.

• Red Bell – Sweet, tangy taste when fully ripe. The most common mature color.

• Yellow Bell – Mild, fruity notes. Brightens any dish.

• Orange Bell – Slightly less sweet than red. Great for grilling or roasting.

• Purple Bell – Sweet yet robust flavor. Offers unique visual appeal.

Bell peppers range from 3 to 6 inches long. Their crunchy texture and sweet taste make them incredibly versatile – delicious raw, sautéed, stuffed, grilled or pickled.

Bishop’s Crown Peppers

Also called Christmas bell peppers, these ornamental varieties are named for their distinctive conical shape topped with a little tail resembling a Bishop’s ceremonial headwear. Most start out green and ripen to red.

The 2 to 3 inch tapered pods grow on compact 18 inch plants. They have thin, crunchy walls and a sweet, mild taste perfect for snacking. Their unique shape also makes them an eye-catching addition to relish trays or crudités platters.

Banana Peppers

As the name suggests, banana peppers are elongate and curved like their namesake fruit. Ranging from pale green to yellow, orange and finally crimson red when fully ripe, the slender peppers grow 5 to 6 inches long.

Banana peppers rate about 500 Scoville heat units – mildly hot with a hint of tang. Their thin walls make them a choice pepper for pickling, frying into crisp pepper rings, or adding a gentle heat kick to sandwiches and tacos. Sturdy 2 to 3 foot tall plants yield prolific amounts of fruit.

Beaver Dam Peppers

This Hungarian heirloom wax pepper dates back to 1912. The tapered, cone shaped fruits reach about 6 inches long, starting out pale yellow then turning orange and finally red when mature.

With a Scoville rating around 5,000 units, Beaver Dam peppers offer moderate heat along with thin, crunchy flesh that’s delicious fresh. Their eye-catching colors also make them nice for pickling, salsas and stir fries.

Other Less Common “Be” Peppers

While the varieties above are the most widely grown, there are also some other more obscure peppers that start with “be” such as:

• Bee Sting – Tiny round peppers packing searing habanero-like heat.

• Beaver Creek Giant – A modern bell pepper that can grow over 1 foot long! Impressive but requires staking.

• Bishop’s Hat – Another ornamental type with a distinct tapered shape.

• Besler’s Cherry – Prolific heirloom cherry-type pepper with pendant fruits.

Growing Tips for Popular “Be” Pepper Varieties

Bell Peppers – Choose compact, container-friendly varieties like ‘Red Knight’ or ‘King Arthur’. Give plants warm soil (at least 65°F) and full sun. Maintain even soil moisture. Bell peppers are heavy feeders – fertilize regularly. Harvest peppers once they reach full size and color.

Bishop’s Crown – Start seeds 8-10 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant into a sunny spot with nutrient-rich soil. Add a balanced fertilizer monthly. Likes consistent moisture. Harvest peppers once they turn completely red.

Banana Peppers – Direct sow after danger of frost has passed or start seeds indoors 2 months before outdoor planting time. Space plants 18-24″ apart in full sun. Banana peppers thrive in organically rich, well-draining soil. Keep soil consistently moist and feed plants every 2-3 weeks.

Beaver Dam – Start seeds indoors up to 10 weeks before last expected frost. Harden off and transplant outdoors once night temps stay above 55°F. Grow in full sun and fertile, well-draining soil. Water 1-2″ per week. Harvest peppers once they turn crimson red.

Pepper varieties that start with “be” include many garden favorites like bell peppers, Bishop’s Crown ornamental peppers and banana peppers. When searching seed catalogs or reading descriptions, remember that “be” also encompasses some more obscure heirlooms and hot varieties like Beaver Dam and Bee Sting.

The initial letter covers a diverse range of pepper shapes, colors, sizes and heat levels. Both novice and seasoned gardeners can find “be” peppers suited to their climate, space constraints and culinary tastes. These versatile fruits bring vivid colors and flavors to salads, sandwiches, stir fries and more.