How to Grow Cherry Red Pepper 'Jingle Bells'
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Cherry Red Pepper 'Jingle Bells'
Capsicum annuum
vegetableJingle Bells is a compact ornamental pepper variety that produces abundant small, round cherry-like peppers that ripen from green to bright red. The plant is decorative and productive, making it ideal for containers, garden borders, or as an ornamental houseplant. The peppers are mild to moderately hot and can be used fresh or dried.
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Example Cherry Red Pepper 'Jingle Bells' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Cherry Red Pepper 'Jingle Bells'
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 Cherry Red Pepper 'Jingle Bells'
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9-11; grow as annual in cooler zones
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny cotyledons emerge, developing into first true leaves with serrated edges
Maintain 75-80°F soil temperature; provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights; keep soil moist but not soggy; thin to strongest seedlings
Vegetative
4-6 weeksPlant develops bushy growth with multiple stems and dark green lance-shaped leaves; compact form typical of dwarf variety
Transplant to larger pots once true leaves appear; maintain consistent warmth (70-75°F); pinch growing tips if needed to encourage bushiness; harden off before planting outdoors
Flowering
3-4 weeks, overlapping with fruitingSmall white or pale purple flowers appear in clusters at leaf nodes; flowers are self-fertile
Maintain full sun exposure and warm temperatures (75-85°F); ensure consistent soil moisture and nutrient availability; apply balanced fertilizer (like 5-10-10) weekly; insects or gentle hand shaking aids pollination
Fruiting
4-6 weeks per fruit setSmall round peppers develop and enlarge to cherry-like size (0.5-1 inch diameter); color transitions from green through yellow-orange to bright red
Maintain warm conditions and full sun; water consistently and deeply; apply potassium-rich fertilizer (like 5-10-20) every 2 weeks to support fruit development; stake if fruit load becomes heavy
Harvest/Mature
8-12 weeks or until frostPlant continues producing abundant ripe red peppers; ornamental appeal peaks with colorful fruit at various maturity stages visible simultaneously
Harvest regularly to encourage continued production; use sharp pruners or scissors to avoid damaging branches; in warm climates, plants may overwinter and produce next season; reduce watering in winter if growing indoors
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water jet; use neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly; maintain adequate humidity
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Remove by water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Use blue sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap; apply spinosad if infestation is severe
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; maintain good air circulation
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Remove infested fruit; use row covers; maintain sanitation; apply spinosad if necessary
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryJingle Bells peppers are mild and can be eaten fresh in salads, sliced as snacks, or used in cooking. They add sweet, slightly peppery flavor and vibrant color to dishes. [source]
Drying and pickling
CulinaryThe small round peppers are ideal for drying whole to create decorative garlands or dried pepper strings. They can also be pickled whole for preservation and flavor. [source]
Container and indoor gardening
OrnamentalJingle Bells is exceptionally ornamental with its compact bushy form and colorful fruit at various stages. It thrives in pots on patios, balconies, windowsills, and as an indoor houseplant. [source]
Festive decoration
HouseholdThe bright red peppers and abundant fruit production make this plant popular for holiday decorating and gifting as a living ornament during winter months. [source]
Bird and pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe flowers attract bees and other pollinators early in the season, while ripe peppers can attract birds. It provides food and habitat value in ornamental gardens. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest peppers when fully red for maximum sweetness and ornamental appeal, typically 60-90 days after planting; pick regularly with sharp scissors or pruners to encourage continued production; peppers can be harvested earlier at green stage if desired; wear gloves if variety is spicy; regular harvesting extends fruiting period through season
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Jingle Bells peppers are named for their bell-like appearance and compact growth habit, making them popular as living Christmas decorations that produce fruit for weeks
- 🌱 Unlike true bell peppers, these ornamental cherry peppers remain on the plant longer and continue producing through cooler fall months, extending the harvest season
- 🌱 The plant can live for multiple years in warm climates and may overwinter indoors, regrowing from the same rootstock year after year with proper care
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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