Growing Cubanelle Sweet Peppers in Your Garden

The Cubanelle sweet pepper is a distinctive variety prized for its elongated shape and mild, sweet flavor. Known for its productive plants and versatile fruit, this pepper is perfect for gardeners seeking a reliable producer that thrives in warm conditions. Cubanelle peppers are ideal for roasting, frying, and fresh eating, delivering consistent harvests throughout the growing season.

Why Choose Cubanelle?

Cubanelle peppers are celebrated for their unique tapered shape and consistently sweet, mild taste. These plants are vigorous growers that produce abundant yields of medium-sized peppers throughout the season. The peppers have thin to medium walls that make them perfect for whole roasting, pan-frying, or grilling. Their elongated form and tender flesh are ideal for traditional Cuban and Latin American dishes. This variety is an excellent choice for gardeners who want something different from standard bell peppers or those seeking a reliable, productive variety with authentic culinary appeal.

Planting and Care

Start Cubanelle seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. These peppers love warmth, so maintain soil temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for best germination results. Once seedlings emerge, provide plenty of bright light to develop sturdy, compact plants.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed. Space plants 16 to 20 inches apart in a sunny location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Water consistently to maintain evenly moist soil, and apply mulch around plants to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Cubanelle peppers thrive with steady, attentive care throughout the growing season.

Harvesting Your Peppers

Cubanelle peppers can be harvested at the green stage when they reach full size, or left on the plant longer to mature to a red color for increased sweetness. Both stages offer excellent flavor and versatility. Pick peppers regularly to encourage the plant to continue producing abundant fruit. Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut peppers from the plant rather than pulling them, which can damage branches.

Storage and Use

Fresh Cubanelle peppers store well in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Their thin walls make them ideal for roasting whole over an open flame or in the oven until the skin blisters, then peeling away the charred exterior. They're also excellent for pan-frying, grilling, or slicing fresh into salads. Whether roasted, fried, or enjoyed fresh, Cubanelle peppers deliver authentic flavor and culinary versatility to your kitchen.

In Summary

The Cubanelle Pepper has a double identity as a Cuban pepper and an Italian frying pepper. It’s slightly spicy—and would have to be to earn a place in the ingredients list of sofrito or as a topping on a sausage sandwich. But it’s still considered mild. The long 5"-7", curved, tapered fruits ripen from green-green to yellow-green to red-orange to red-red. Whatever cuisine you relish, its thin skin makes it perfect for pickling, roasting, bbq, frying, or stuffing.

• Sweet and crunchy
• Long, tapered fruits
• Harvest any color
• Good for containers

SEED PLANTING TIPS

• Botanical name: Capsicum annuum
• Pepper size: Large/5"-7" long
• Plant support: Tomato cage or stake
• Depth to plant seeds: .25" deep
• Spacing between plants: 18"-24" apart
• Spacing between rows: 24"-36" apart
• Days to germinate (sprout): 7-21 days
• Germination soil temps: 75F-85F
• Soil needs: 6.0-7.0 pH
• Sun needs: Full sun
• Frost hardy: No
• Planting season: Spring, summer
• # of plants per sq. ft.: Appx. 1 plant per 2 sq. ft.
• Days to maturity: 65-75 days

Good companion plants: Basil, Carrot, Cucumber, Eggplant, Okra, Rosemary, Sage, Squash, Tomato