Banana peppers are delicious, crunchy peppers that have countless uses in the kitchen. I especially love them for making pickles, but they can be eaten fresh, fried with other veggies, roasted, and even stuffed.
Unfortunately, not all grocery stores sell fresh banana peppers. So, you’ll have to grow your own to have a steady supply. In this article, I’ll show you how to grow banana peppers from seed to harvest, step by step.
We have many posts on growing peppers, but this one will focus specifically on the banana pepper plant. The pods are larger than many other types, and they are usually harvested before fully ripening.
To make it easy, I’ll break down every step of the growing process. This includes selecting quality seeds, germinating at the right time indoors, taking care of the seedlings, moving the plants outdoors, and finally harvesting your banana peppers. Let’s get started!
Adding plants to your home or office is one of the easiest ways to liven up the space. Not only do plants add natural beauty, but they can also improve air quality. If you’re looking for a unique way to incorporate some greenery, consider hanging banana pepper plants. These pepper plants have gorgeous foliage and fruits that will cascade down in a beautiful arrangement.
An Overview of Banana Peppers
Banana peppers are a medium-hot pepper variety that are often pickled and used as a condiment. They are milder than jalapeno peppers but bring a nice kick of heat and tangy flavor. The peppers grow on attractive bushy plants that can reach up to 3 feet tall. The slender, curved fruits grow up to 6 inches long and ripen from green to yellow and then red.
In addition to being used for pickling, banana peppers can be eaten fresh in salads, on sandwiches, pizza and more Their versatility and manageable spice level make them a great option for adding flavour and color to many dishes
The bushy pepper plants have sturdy stems and lush green leaves that look beautiful even before the peppers grow in. This makes them a wonderful ornamental plant as well. Let’s look at why hanging banana pepper plants are such a creative way to decorate with plants.
Benefits of Hanging Banana Pepper Plants
Here are some of the best reasons to hang banana pepper plants in your home or office:
Cascading Foliage and Fruits
Hanging the pepper plants allows the bushy leaves and pendant fruits to gracefully cascade down. This creates a lovely draping effect that instantly livens up any space. The fruits hang down in an eye-catching way, adding movement and interest.
Convenient for Small Spaces
Having pepper plants in hanging baskets helps maximize vertical space. You can hang them in corners, next to windows, over cabinets and more. This allows you to add greenery and infuse spaces with nature even if you don’t have a lot of horizontal room.
Allows You to Admire the Plants Up Close
Hanging the banana pepper plants at eye level or slightly above lets you get a good look at the foliage, flowers and fruits. Displaying them at this height highlights their beauty. Tabletop plants can easily get buried behind other items.
Creativity and Customization
You can plant your banana peppers in basic hanging pots or get creative with the type of vessel. Try repurposing baskets, buckets, planters and more to use as unique hanging containers. This allows you to add a fun DIY touch.
Quick and Easy to Install
It’s very simple to hang plants with hooks, chains, macrame and more. This means you can easily add greenery without major installations or mess. Just add some hanging hardware, arrange your plants, and enjoy!
Tips for Growing and Displaying Hanging Banana Peppers
If you’re inspired to try out cascading banana pepper plants, here are some tips:
-
Choose compact, bushy transplants with healthy foliage. Make sure the stem where it meets the soil is sturdy enough for hanging.
-
Use a high quality potting mix and make sure the hanging container has drainage holes. The plants need soil that can hold moisture but won’t get waterlogged.
-
Hang the plants in a spot that gets 6-8 hours of full sun daily. Banana peppers require a lot of strong light.
-
Use sturdy hanging hardware that can support the weight of the plant and soil when fully watered. Test it out before permanently installing.
-
Arrange 3-5 plants together in a large hanging basket for a fuller, cascading look. Or use individual smaller baskets.
-
Consider pairing the peppers with trailing vines or flowers for added visual appeal. Sweet potato vines, ivy and petunias complement them nicely.
-
Keep plants consistently watered when the top inch of soil dries out. Use a watering can with a long spout to easily reach hanging baskets.
-
Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season for plentiful peppers.
-
Prune off spent fruits and any damaged foliage to maintain an attractive appearance.
Eye-Catching Ways to Show Off Cascading Peppers
Here are some fabulous ways to display your hanging banana pepper plants:
-
Hang them along the edge of an indoor balcony or loft area so the foliage and peppers can trail down.
-
Display them on the porch or patio, using hooks on the eaves or ceiling. Let them flank the outdoor living space.
-
Install sturdy hooks on the exterior wall near windows and arrange plants to cascade on either side.
-
Cluster 3-5 hanging baskets from loops on an exterior pergola or gazebo. Train the stems and fruits to create a “pepper chandelier”.
-
In a sunroom, hang banana pepper plants in the corners or along the central beam for bursts of greenery.
-
Suspend small individual baskets over an outdoor dining table or kitchen island so the fruits hang at eye level.
-
Hang banana pepper plants near the front door to greet visitors with beautiful cascading foliage and soon-to-be vibrant fruits.
-
Flank a mailbox or front entrance with matching hooks and hanging baskets overflowing with the colorful pepper plants.
No matter where you choose to display them, creatively suspending banana pepper plants is sure to add beauty and transform the look of your space! Enjoy watching the leaves and slender fruits gracefully trail down.
Common Questions about Hanging Banana Pepper Plants
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about caring for and displaying cascading banana pepper plants:
How big do hanging banana pepper plants get?
The plant itself will reach 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. Allow some extra room for the cascading leaves and peppers.
How much sun do they need?
Banana pepper plants require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is ideal. Hang them in a bright, sunny spot.
What are good companion plants?
Consider pairing banana peppers with trailing herbs like thyme or oregano. Petunias, million bells, ivy, sweet potato vines and verbena also complement them beautifully.
How often do I need to water hanging pepper plants?
Check soil moisture frequently and water when the top inch becomes dry. Don’t let plants wilt badly between waterings. More frequent watering may be needed in hot weather.
Should I fertilize the plants?
Yes, use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the active growing and fruiting season. This will promote vigorous plants and greater yields.
How long will it take before I can harvest peppers?
It will take 70-90 days from transplanting before banana peppers are ready to start picking. The fruits ripen from green to yellow and then red when mature.
Add Charming Cascading Greenery to Your Space
Hanging banana pepper plants are a fabulous way to bring ornamental flair and edible color to any area, both indoors and out. Their trailing habit allows you to maximize vertical space and highlight their natural beauty. Display them near entries, patios, windows and walkways to infuse your decor with graceful greenery and pops of peppery color. Get creative with your hanging containers and arrangements. In no time, you’ll be enjoying their charming cascades and harvesting tasty fruits.
Water and Fertilize Regularly
Once your banana peppers are established outside, they should grow to a full, mature size quickly. If you are growing in pots, then be sure to follow a regular fertilizing regimen to ensure steady, healthy growth.
Potted plants should be watered when the first 1-2 inches of soil dries out. In cooler weather, this may be once per week. In hot weather, you will need to water much more frequently, often every day on the hottest days of the summer.
In-ground plants should be mulched after transplanting. I like to use shredded leaves or straw, because they slowly add nutrients to the soil as they decompose. A thick layer of mulch, 3-4″ deep, helps reduce the need to water and also suppresses weeds.
Once your plants reach a mature size, they should begin to produce flowers. Pepper flowers will eventually turn into the fruits, so the more flowers, the better.
To encourage more flowers, reduce the amount of nitrogen you are providing to the plants. We usually change to a low-nitrogen fertilizer, or simply reduce the amount of fertilizer all-together. This change comes mid-season, usually about 1 month after the plants move outside.
Get Growing Supplies
Growing banana peppers will go much smoother if you plan ahead. Like any hobby, you can spend a lot of money on high-end supplies and gadgets. However, this is not necessary if you prefer to keep things simple.
For an easy start, try our pepper starter kit. It is made to last, and has all the essential containers (and seeds) for starting peppers indoors.
Required supplies:
- Seeds (or live seedlings)
- Potting soil (buy soil locally to save money)
- Seedling cells or small pots
- Large growing containers (unless growing in-ground)
- Fertilizer – If you plan to grow in containers, nutrients can get washed out by heavy rain or watering. Get some good fertilizer to keep your plants happy through to harvest.
Optional Supplies:
- Seed heating mat – This speeds up germination by keeping the soil between 80-85°F before sprouting.
- Thermometer – It is always a good idea to monitor temperature and humidity while your plants are indoors.
- Grow light – If you grow many plants, a grow light is a worthwhile investment (learn more).
- Water spray bottle
With these supplies, you can grow any pepper variety from seed. However, it isn’t just as simple as popping a seed in the soil and waiting. Your plants will need the right amount of light, water, and nutrients, as well as close attention to catch any issues that arise.
Banana peppers make wonderful potted plants, but they will need a fairly large container. If you have a raised bed or an in-ground garden, I would recommend starting there. You won’t need to water as much, and plants will need little or no fertilizer.
Here are some benefits and drawbacks of each growing method:
- In-ground plants require less maintenance once they are established. When mulched, the soil will stay moist much longer than potted plants. Also, rich garden soil rarely needs fertilizer for growing vegetables. However, in-ground plants are tough to move once transplanted.
- Potted plants are great for the beginner gardener. They can be moved around easily, and can be grown on balconies and in small spaces. However, they will need much more frequent watering (often 1-2 times per day on hot summer days) and regular fertilizer.
Potted banana pepper plants.
Once you have your plan, you are ready to start growing your banana peppers. The next step is sowing your seeds, so let’s get planting!