How to Grow Bristol Queen Pepper
Bristol Queen Pepper
Capsicum annuum 'Bristol Queen'
vegetableBristol Queen is a bell pepper cultivar known for its large, blocky fruits that ripen from green to a deep red color. It's a prolific producer that thrives in warm conditions and is popular for fresh eating and cooking. The plants are compact to medium-sized, making them suitable for both garden beds and containers.
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Example Bristol Queen Pepper timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Bristol Queen 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 Bristol Queen Pepper
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Bristol Queen Pepper dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 6-9; can be grown in zones 3-5 as annuals with season extension
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Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, typically 2-4 inches tall
Provide warm temperatures (70-80°F), bright light, and consistent moisture. Keep under grow lights 14-16 hours daily. Avoid damping off by ensuring good air circulation.
Vegetative
4-6 weeksBushy growth with increasingly larger leaves; plant is 6-12 inches tall, no flowers yet
Transplant to larger pots as needed. Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions if direct sowing is planned. Maintain consistent warmth (65-75°F minimum). Fertilize lightly with balanced NPK every 2 weeks.
Flowering
4-6 weeksPlant develops white flowers in leaf axils; buds and open blooms visible throughout the plant
Ensure consistent watering and adequate calcium to prevent blossom end rot. Maintain warm temperatures (70-80°F) for good fruit set. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage over flowers. Light feeding with phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
Fruiting
6-8 weeksSmall green peppers develop and grow larger, remaining green initially. Fruits are blocky, 3-4 inches long and wide.
Continue consistent watering—critical during fruit development. Mulch around base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Support heavy-laden branches if needed. Remove some fruits early if desired for larger peppers.
Ripening to Red
2-3 weeksGreen peppers gradually transition to glossy deep red color over 2-3 weeks. Fruits become sweeter and develop thicker walls.
Maintain consistent watering and warmth. Red peppers are more nutritious and sweeter. Be patient—this stage takes 2-3 weeks after green stage. Harvest when fully red or leave on plant for continued ripening.
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. Use row covers on young plants.
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Increase humidity and spray with water to dislodge. Use miticide or neem oil if severe. Remove heavily infested leaves.
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Use reflective mulches; spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap. Remove weeds that harbor thrips.
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Remove infested fruit immediately and destroy. Use pheromone traps. Rotate crops. In severe cases, use approved insecticides early season.
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Yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage parasitic wasps.
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryBristol Queen peppers are versatile in the kitchen, used fresh in salads, sliced for snacking, roasted, stuffed, or grilled. Red peppers are sweeter than green and excellent for sauces, salsas, and Mediterranean dishes. [source]
Preservation and canning
CulinaryThese peppers can be frozen, pickled, roasted and canned, or dried. Their thick walls make them ideal for roasting and preserving in oil. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalBristol Queen peppers are rich in vitamin C, especially when red-ripe, and contain capsaicinoids and phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. Used traditionally for immune support. [source]
Ornamental garden use
HouseholdWith their attractive bright red fruits contrasting with dark green foliage, Bristol Queen peppers make beautiful edible ornamental plants in gardens or containers. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifePepper flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden, supporting broader garden ecosystem health. [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 green peppers 60-70 days after transplanting for tender peppers, or wait 80-90 days for fully red, sweeter fruits. Cut peppers with pruning shears rather than pulling to avoid damaging the plant. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Bristol Queen is prolific and can produce 15-25 peppers per plant throughout the season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Bristol Queen was developed by breeders in the UK and is known for its exceptional productivity—a single plant can produce 20+ large peppers in a season.
- 🌱 Red bell peppers contain nearly three times as much vitamin C as green peppers and are naturally sweeter due to higher sugar content that develops as they ripen.
- 🌱 Peppers are actually berries botanically, and the plant is a perennial that can be overwintered and regrown in warm climates, producing for multiple years.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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