How to Grow Admiration Pepper
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Admiration Pepper
Capsicum annuum 'Admiration'
vegetableAdmiration is a hybrid bell pepper variety known for its large, blocky red fruits and high productivity. It produces abundant yields of sweet, thick-walled peppers that mature from green to vibrant red. This determinate variety is popular in home gardens and commercial settings for its disease resistance and consistent performance.
When should you plant Admiration Pepper in your zone?
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Example Admiration Pepper timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Admiration Pepper
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Admiration Pepper
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Admiration Pepper dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown as annual in cooler zones 3-4 with season extension
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Get my Admiration Pepper timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
4-6 weeks indoorsSmall seedlings with 2-4 true leaves emerge 7-14 days after planting. Cotyledons (seed leaves) are followed by true pepper leaves.
Provide bright light or grow lights 14-16 hours daily. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Maintain 70-75°F soil temperature. Begin fertilizing weekly with diluted liquid fertilizer once true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks after hardeningTransplants develop into bushy plants 6-12 inches tall with multiple stems and branching. Dark green foliage becomes dense; no flowers yet.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting. Plant outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil is 60°F or warmer. Mulch around base (2-3 inches). Pinch off first flower buds to encourage branching and stronger plant structure.
Flowering
3-4 weeksSmall white or pale yellow flowers appear in leaf axils and branch terminals. Flowers are self-pollinating and typically solitary or in clusters. Plant reaches 18-24 inches in height.
Maintain consistent watering. Provide support with stakes or cages as needed. Apply balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) every 2-3 weeks or switch to potassium-rich fertilizer (10-5-20) to promote flowering. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Pollinate by hand if grown indoors or in low-pollinator areas.
Fruiting
6-8 weeks (green stage) plus 4-6 weeks to full red maturitySmall green bell peppers develop from flower sites, initially thumb-sized, then expanding to 3.5-4 inches long and wide. Peppers remain green for 40-50 days, then gradually turn bright red at maturity.
Maintain consistent moisture to prevent blossom-end rot and fruit cracking. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer; emphasize potassium and phosphorus. Support heavy fruit load with stakes or cages. Remove lower leaves if needed for air circulation. Continue regular pest/disease monitoring.
Harvest
8-12 weeks of continuous harvestFully mature peppers are firm, thick-walled, glossy, and deep red. Plants are heavily laden with multiple fruits at various stages of ripeness.
Harvest green peppers (immature) by cutting with pruners, or wait for red color development for sweeter flavor. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Handle fruits gently to avoid bruising. Can continue harvesting until first frost in cool climates.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs; reflective mulches deter populations
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Increase humidity and air circulation; spray with water to dislodge; use miticide or neem oil if severe; beneficial mites help control
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Remove and destroy infested fruit; use pheromone traps; apply spinosad or pyrethrin-based insecticides; practice crop rotation
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Use blue or yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap; neem oil application; encourage natural predators
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Yellow sticky traps; spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil; reflective mulch; parasitic wasps (Encarsia formosa) provide biological control
Uses
Fresh Eating & Raw Salads
CulinaryRed Admiration peppers are sweet, crisp, and thick-walled, perfect for fresh salads, slicing for crudités, or eating whole as a nutritious snack. The mature red color indicates higher sugar content and vitamin C concentration. [source]
Cooking & Roasting
CulinaryThe thick walls make Admiration peppers excellent for roasting, grilling, sautéing, or stuffing. They hold their shape well during cooking and develop sweet, complex flavors when cooked. [source]
Vitamin C & Antioxidants
MedicinalRed bell peppers contain 3x more vitamin C than green peppers and are rich in antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. Regular consumption supports immune function and eye health. [source]
Food Preservation
HouseholdAdmiration peppers can be frozen, dried, roasted and canned, or fermented for long-term storage. Blanching and freezing is the simplest method for preserving harvest abundance. [source]
Pollinator Garden Support
WildlifePepper flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Growing Admiration peppers supports pollinator populations while producing fruits that benefit from their visits. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
For green peppers, harvest when firm and 3-4 inches long, typically 60-70 days after transplant. For sweeter, red-mature peppers, wait 100-120 days after transplant when peppers have fully colored. Cut peppers with 1-2 inches of stem attached using pruning shears rather than pulling, which can damage the plant. Regular harvesting (every 3-5 days) encourages more flower and fruit production. In cooler climates, pick green peppers before first frost.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Admiration is a hybrid F1 variety, meaning seeds saved from the plant won't produce true-to-type offspring; commercial seeds must be purchased annually.
- 🌱 Bell pepper plants are actually perennial and can live 2-3+ years in frost-free climates, though production typically declines after the first year.
- 🌱 Red bell peppers are actually mature green peppers—the plant redirects energy to color development rather than producing new flowers, which is why red peppers are more expensive at markets.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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