How to Grow Hawaii Red
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Hawaii Red
Capsicum annuum var. annuum
vegetableHawaii Red is a sweet bell pepper variety known for its vibrant red color, blocky shape, and sweet flavor. It develops from green to a deep crimson-red color as it matures, offering excellent yields and ornamental appeal in the garden. This variety is prized for fresh eating, cooking, and roasting.
When should you plant Hawaii Red in your zone?
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Example Hawaii Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Hawaii Red
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 Hawaii Red
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Hawaii Red dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-11; best performance in zones 6-10 with long, warm growing seasons
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Seedling
4-6 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, delicate and pale green
Keep soil warm (70-80°F) and moist. Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily. Thin or transplant to individual pots when first true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksRapid stem and leaf expansion, bushy plant 6-12 inches tall with multiple branches
Maintain consistent warmth (75-85°F during day, 65-70°F at night). Water regularly and feed with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Pinch stem tips at 6 inches to encourage bushiness.
Flowering
3-4 weeksPlant develops small white flowers at branch tips; plant reaches 18-24 inches tall
Continue warm conditions and consistent watering. Switch to lower-nitrogen fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-10) to encourage fruiting. Ensure good air circulation to prevent disease.
Fruit Development & Green Stage
4-5 weeksFlowers set fruit developing small blocky peppers that remain green, gradually enlarging
Maintain steady water supply; inconsistent watering causes blossom-end rot. Support heavy fruit with stakes if needed. Continue feeding with lower-nitrogen fertilizer.
Ripening to Red & Harvest
3-4 weeks per pepperPeppers turn from green to bright red, becoming thicker-walled and sweeter; peppers reach 3-4 inches long
Allow peppers to stay on plant as long as possible for full ripeness and maximum sweetness. Harvest when fully red or pick green peppers for faster new fruit development. Protect from late-season cold.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water; use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Introduce ladybugs or parasitic wasps. Remove heavily infested leaves.
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Increase humidity and air circulation. Spray leaves with water. Use miticide or neem oil if severe. Remove infested leaves.
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Remove and destroy infested peppers. Use pheromone traps to monitor. Apply spinosad or pyrethrin sprays. Rotate crops annually.
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Use yellow sticky traps. Spray with water to dislodge. Apply insecticidal soap, neem oil, or horticultural oil. Introduce parasitic wasps.
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Remove heavily infested flowers/leaves. Use blue sticky traps. Spray with neem oil or spinosad. Maintain good air circulation.
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryHawaii Red peppers are sweet and mild, excellent raw in salads, slaws, and fresh preparations. When fully red, they offer heightened sweetness and are perfect for roasting, grilling, stuffing, and stir-frying. [source]
Roasting and sauce making
CulinaryThe thick, juicy walls make Hawaii Red ideal for roasting whole or in halves. Roasted peppers can be used in romesco sauce, red pepper coulis, or pureed into soups. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalRed peppers contain significantly higher vitamin C levels than green peppers and are rich in lycopene and other antioxidants that support immune function and reduce inflammation. [source]
Ornamental garden display
HouseholdHawaii Red peppers are highly ornamental with their bushy habit and progression from green to vivid red fruits, making them attractive in vegetable gardens and even container plantings. [source]
Drying and paprika production
CraftFully red peppers can be dried whole or sliced for long-term storage and ground into homemade paprika or pepper flakes with concentrated flavor. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Hawaii Red peppers can be harvested green (50-60 days) or left on the plant for 30+ additional days to turn red and develop maximum sweetness and vitamin C content. Cut peppers with scissors or pruners leaving a short stem; do not pull. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Peppers typically last 2-3 weeks post-harvest if stored at 50°F.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Hawaii Red peppers turn from green to red as they mature because the chlorophyll breaks down, revealing carotenoid pigments. Red peppers contain up to 11 times more beta-carotene than green peppers and have a noticeably higher vitamin C content.
- 🌱 The 'Hawaii' designation in this variety name reflects its development and popularity in Hawaiian agriculture, where the warm, long growing season is ideal for producing sweet, thick-walled peppers.
- 🌱 Peppers are perennial plants that can live for 2-3+ years in tropical or warm climates, continuously producing fruit. In temperate zones, they're grown as annuals but will keep producing until frost kills them.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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