Purple Beauty Pepper Plant History

(Capsicum annuum) The best open pollinated purple bell available. Under ideal conditions plants are capable of producing 10-12 large, sweet bell peppers. The deep purple color is absolutely stunning. Fruits will hold in the purple stage for several weeks before ripening to deep red when fully mature. Sweet, 70-75 days from transplant.

Growing Purple Beauty Sweet Pepper

We recommend starting seeds indoors rather than in the garden. However, if you live in a warm, frost-free area, peppers may be direct-seeded in the garden. The soil temperature should be at least 70°F for optimal seed germination, so keep them in a warm area for the best and fastest results. Use a heat pad under the seed tray, if necessary. Plant seeds about ¼-inch deep (or refer to the seed packet).

Soil should be well draining, but be sure to maintain adequate moisture either with mulch or plastic covering. Read more about using mulch. Water one to two inches per square foot per week, but remember that sweet peppers are extremely heat sensitive. They are also susceptible to blossom-end rotif watering is not adequate. If you live in a warm or desert climate, or are simply experiencing a hot, dry summer, watering everyday may be necessary. Fertilize with a low-nitrogen fertilizer after the first fruit set. (Too much nitrogen can cause the plant to produce foliage instead of flowers and fruit!) Weed carefully around plants to avoid disturbing roots. If necessary, support plants with cages or stakes to prevent bending. Try commercially available cone-shaped wire tomato cages. They may not be ideal for tomatoes, but they are just the thing for peppers. Or, build your own garden supports.

Preserving And Storing Purple Beauty Pepper Plant

The easiest way to preserve peppers is to freeze them. Peppers are one of the few vegetables that can be frozen without having to blanch first. Surprisingly, frozen peppers do not turn to mush when thawed either. They do lose some of their crispness, but maintain the flavor of fresh peppers.

Purple Beauty Pepper Recipes

This garlic and herb sautéed bell pepper recipe can be used to create an appetizer or a colorful vegetarian side dish, or included in an antipasto platter. The bell pepper strips cook up quickly and are at their best paired with the garlic and herbs.

Pepper Nutrition

Peppers are mainly made up of water and carbs. Most of the carbs are sugars, such as glucose and fructose. Bell peppers are also a decent source of fiber. They are very high in vitamin C, with a single one providing up to 169% of the RDI. Other vitamins and minerals in bell peppers include vitamin K1, vitamin E, vitamin A, folate, and potassium. Peppers contain many healthy antioxidants, including capsanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, quercetin, and luteolin. These plant compounds are associated with many health benefits.

Other Pepper Varieties Worth Checking Out

 Trinidad – We tried this pepper at one of our growers farms this year. We thought he was tricking us into a world of hurt as it looks like a habanero. Wow! Sweet with a mild heat and almost perfume-like after taste. We couldn’t stop eating them! Fruits are about a 1 ½” long, shaped like a habanero and are finished when yellow-orange. Perfect pickling pepper and excellent garden snack. 85 days.

 Red Habanero – A favorite among “chili-heads” for making salsa, sauces and drying. This hard to find red strain of hot habanero peppers is extremely productive. Plants grow 30″ tall and can have 100-200 fruits each in a good season.