How to Grow Big Orange
Wikimedia Commons
Big Orange
Capsicum annuum
vegetableBig Orange is a large, sweet bell pepper variety known for its substantial size and vibrant orange color when mature. These peppers are ideal for fresh eating, stuffing, and cooking due to their thick walls and sweet flavor. The plants are productive and relatively easy to grow in warm climates.
When should you plant Big Orange in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Big Orange timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Big Orange
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 Big Orange
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Big Orange dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-10; best as annual in cooler zones or in containers
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Get my Big Orange timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
3-4 weeksTiny plants with 2-4 true leaves, beginning to establish root system
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide 14-16 hours of grow light if starting indoors. Maintain 70-75°F temperature.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlants develop multiple stems and leaf sets, reaching 6-12 inches tall before flowering begins
Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors. Space properly for air circulation. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. Pinch early flower buds to encourage branching.
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall white flowers appear at leaf nodes; plants are 12-18 inches tall
Ensure consistent watering and adequate warmth (70-85°F). Apply phosphorus-rich fertilizer to encourage fruit set. Avoid nitrogen excess which delays flowering.
Fruit Development
3-4 weeksGreen peppers form and grow rapidly, reaching 4-5 inches long and 3-4 inches wide
Water consistently; irregular watering causes blossom end rot and cracking. Support heavy fruit with stakes or cages. Apply mulch to regulate soil temperature.
Maturation & Harvest
2-4 weeks per fruitPeppers transition from green to bright orange color; walls thicken and flavor sweetens
Continue regular watering and feeding. Harvest green peppers anytime or allow full color development (orange stage) for sweetest flavor. Each plant can produce 6-12 large peppers.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybugs and lacewings
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Increase humidity; spray leaves with water; apply sulfur dust or neem oil; maintain adequate watering
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Remove affected fruit immediately; use insecticidal sprays; practice crop rotation; monitor with traps
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage parasitic wasps
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Provide air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove infected leaves; use copper-based fungicide
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryBig Orange peppers are excellent raw in salads, as crudités, or grilled whole. Their large size and thick walls make them ideal for stuffing with grains, meats, or vegetables. The sweet flavor intensifies when roasted. [source]
Preservation
CulinaryThese peppers can be frozen, pickled, or dried for later use. Roasting and freezing preserves their sweetness for winter cooking. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalOrange peppers are rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and lycopene, supporting immune function and eye health. Ripe orange peppers contain more vitamin C than green ones. [source]
Ornamental value
HouseholdThe large orange fruits are visually striking in the garden and create excellent photo opportunities. Container-grown plants make attractive patio specimens. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe pepper flowers attract bees and beneficial insects, supporting garden ecosystem health and fruit production. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest peppers when they reach full size and develop bright orange color for maximum sweetness and vitamin C content (typically 60-90 days after transplanting). Use pruning shears to cut peppers rather than pulling to avoid plant damage. Green peppers can be harvested earlier if desired. Continue harvesting to encourage more fruit production. Peppers can be left on the plant to fully ripen over 2-3 weeks after turning orange.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Bell peppers are technically fruits (berries), not vegetables, because they develop from the flower's ovary and contain seeds.
- 🌱 The orange color develops due to carotenoid pigments like beta-carotene and capsanthin, which increase as the pepper ripens—orange peppers contain about 2.5 times more vitamin C than green peppers.
- 🌱 A single Big Orange pepper plant can produce 6-12 large fruits in a season under ideal conditions, with continuous harvesting encouraging even more production throughout the growing period.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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