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Growing Orange Horizon Peppers in the Vegetable Garden

Sow your Orange Horizon seeds indoors approximately eight weeks before the last frost date of your growing zone. This variety thrives in warm conditions, so maintaining a soil temperature of around 75-85 F (24-29 C) will encourage germination. Plant seeds about a quarter-inch deep in a seed starting medium, such as coconut coir. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and provide plenty of bright light, either from a sunny window or a grow light, to prevent seedlings from becoming leggy.

As the seedlings grow and the risk of frost passes, prepare them for the outdoors by hardening off. This process involves gradually exposing plants to outdoor conditions over 7-14 days to toughen them up. Select a well-draining garden spot that receives full sun for at least 6-8 hours daily. Choose a spot that has not grown peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplants in the last three years to avoid soil depletion and disease transfer. Enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to ensure it's fertile and airy. A calcium supplement at the time of transplantation can help avoid blossom end rot. Orange Horizon peppers prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, around 6.0-6.8.

When nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 55 F (13 C), and your seedlings are 4-6 inches tall with several true leaves, they’re ready for transplant. Space the plants about 18-24 inches apart in rows that are 2-3 feet apart to give them ample room to grow. Water the seedlings gently but thoroughly after transplanting to settle the soil around the roots and reduce transplant shock.

Consistent watering is key, but avoid waterlogged soil to prevent root rot. Use a mulch such as straw or wood chips at the base of the plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. These peppers love warmth and sunlight. Consider using black plastic or a dark-colored mulch to warm the soil if you’re in a cooler climate. Feed your peppers every 4-6 weeks with a balanced fertilizer to support their growth, especially once they flower and set fruit.

While not always necessary, pruning your Orange Horizon plants can help manage their size and improve air circulation. Remove any lower leaves that touch the ground to prevent disease, and consider topping the plant by pinching off the tip of the main stem to encourage bushier growth and potentially more fruit. Horizon pepper plants benefit from support such as staking to help support the weight of the fruits.

Harvesting Orange Horizon Peppers

Orange Horizon peppers typically mature in about 70-80 days after transplanting. Harvest when the peppers reach their characteristic bright orange color and classic bell pepper shape cutting them from the plant with scissors to avoid damage. Horizon peppers can also be harvested when still green for a slightly more bitter flavor and lower sugar content.

About Orange Horizon Pepper Garden Seeds

This classic orange sweet bell pepper is a must-have for home gardeners and market growers. The 18-30-inch plants produce 4-inch bell peppers with thick walls and a wonderfully sweet and mild flavor.

Planting sweet bell pepper seeds is easy to do in most USDA zones. Technically a tropical perennial, the bell pepper plant is grown as an annual during the frost-free growing seasons of each zone.

Known for its fruity sweet flavor, this beautiful bell is a culinary staple in restaurants and home kitchens worldwide. Sweet peppers can be eaten raw with vegetable dip, on fresh salads, stuffed with various fillings, and cooked. Sweet bell peppers are also a delicious pizza topping. Bell peppers can also be dried and powdered for use as a spice in soups, stews, and sauce

Rich in Vitamin C, potassium, and other antioxidants, sweet orange bell peppers are a nutritious addition to healthy meals. Carotenoids, which are found in relatively high amounts in bell peppers, may contribute to eye health.

Although pepper plants are native to the tropical regions of South America and Mexico, the sweet bell pepper was developed in Hungary in the 1920s.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Orange bell peppers are one of my favorites for making fajitas. I usually do a variety of yellow, red, and orange for the visual appeal. However, orange bells are my favorite tasting pepper fresh or lightly cooked."

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Other Resources

• Scoville Heat Scale

Orange Horizon Pepper Seeds Per Package:

• 500 mg - Approximately 70 Seeds
• 0.25 oz - Approximately 1,000 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 4,000 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 16,000 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 64,000 Seeds
• 5 lb - Approximately 320,000 Seeds

Non-GMO Orange Horizon Pepper seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.