How to Grow Champion
Wikimedia Commons
Champion
Capsicum annuum
vegetableChampion is a popular sweet bell pepper variety known for its large, blocky fruits and high productivity. It produces thick-walled peppers that transition from green to red as they mature, making it excellent for fresh eating and cooking. This determinate variety is reliable and widely grown by both home and commercial gardeners.
When should you plant Champion 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 Champion timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Champion
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 Champion
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Champion dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown in cooler zones with season extension techniques
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Seedling
2-3 weeks from germinationSmall plants with first true leaves emerging; plants are delicate and tender.
Keep soil consistently moist under grow lights or in bright windowsill. Maintain temperature around 70-75°F. Thin to strongest seedlings. Bottom heat (70-80°F) accelerates germination.
Vegetative
4-6 weeks from germinationPlants develop multiple true leaves and strong stems; roots establish well. Height reaches 4-6 inches before transplanting.
Provide 14-16 hours of light daily. Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions (hardening off) 7-10 days before transplant. Maintain consistent watering. Feed weekly with dilute balanced fertilizer.
Flowering
3-4 weeksPlants reach 12-24 inches tall with numerous flower buds. White flowers appear at leaf axils. Early flowers may drop if temperatures fluctuate or stress occurs.
Maintain consistent water and temperature (70-80°F ideal). Avoid nitrogen-heavy fertilizers; switch to balanced or phosphorus-rich formula. Mulch around base to regulate soil temperature and moisture. Pinch early flowers if desired for more robust plant development.
Fruiting
4-6 weeks until mature green stageSmall green peppers develop from flowers. Fruits enlarge rapidly and thicken. Plants become heavy with fruit as harvest approaches.
Maintain consistent deep watering. Support heavy branches with stakes or cages. Continue regular fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Remove any diseased or damaged fruit immediately. Watch for pests and diseases.
Harvest/Maturity
Continuous until frost or end of season (90-120+ days in season)Peppers reach full size and wall thickness. Color transitions from dark green to red when fully ripe; can harvest at either stage.
Pick peppers regularly to encourage continued flowering and production. Use sharp scissors to avoid damaging branches. Green peppers are ready 60-90 days from transplant; red peppers take an additional 2-3 weeks. Continue fertilizing and watering until first frost.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water jet; use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs. Reflective mulch deters population buildup.
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Mist plants regularly to increase humidity. Use neem oil or miticide spray. Remove heavily infested leaves. Increase air circulation.
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Use blue or yellow sticky traps. Apply spinosad or neem oil. Remove affected flowers and fruit.
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Use row covers on young plants. Apply kaolin clay spray. Use pyrethrin-based insecticides if severe.
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Yellow sticky traps. Neem oil or insecticidal soap spray. Reflective mulch. Encourage parasitic wasps.
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Maintain consistent soil moisture. Add calcium amendments (lime or crushed eggshells). Mulch to stabilize soil moisture and temperature.
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryChampion peppers are versatile in the kitchen, perfect for fresh salads, stir-fries, fajitas, and stuffed pepper recipes. Their thick walls make them ideal for grilling, roasting, or sautéing. [source]
Preservation and canning
CulinaryThe thick, firm flesh of Champion peppers makes them excellent for roasting, freezing, or pickling. They retain good texture and flavor when processed. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalRed Champion peppers are rich in vitamin C and various antioxidants including capsanthin and quercetin. These compounds support immune function and may have anti-inflammatory properties. [source]
Pest management and companion planting
HouseholdPeppers planted with basil and other companion plants create beneficial garden ecosystems that support natural pest control through diverse insect populations. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifePepper flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that support fruit production. The flowers provide nectar and serve the garden's broader ecological 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
Champion peppers can be harvested at the mature green stage (60-90 days from transplant) or allowed to ripen to full red color (add 2-3 weeks). Green peppers are crisp and ideal for cooking; red peppers are sweeter with higher vitamin C. Use sharp pruners or scissors to cut peppers at the stem, leaving a short stub to avoid damaging the plant. Harvest regularly to promote continuous production throughout the season. Pick peppers before the first frost in cooler zones.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Champion is a hybrid variety bred to combine early maturity with high productivity and large fruit size, making it a favorite of commercial growers and home gardeners alike.
- 🌱 Peppers continue to produce fruit until the first hard frost, and a single mature Champion plant can yield 10-20+ peppers in a season under ideal conditions.
- 🌱 The transition from green to red in Champion peppers represents a significant increase in sweetness and vitamin C content—red peppers can contain up to 300% more vitamin C than green peppers.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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