How to Grow Red Arrow Pepper
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Red Arrow Pepper
Capsicum annuum
vegetableRed Arrow is a sweet bell pepper variety known for its elongated, tapered shape and vibrant red color at maturity. This compact, productive plant produces thin-walled peppers with a sweet flavor, ideal for fresh eating, cooking, and roasting. It's a popular choice for gardeners seeking early, reliable yields in a relatively short growing season.
When should you plant Red Arrow Pepper in your zone?
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Example Red Arrow Pepper timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Red Arrow 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 Red Arrow Pepper
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Arrow Pepper dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension techniques
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Get my Red Arrow Pepper timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
4-6 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves emerge from soil after 7-14 days
Provide 14-16 hours of grow light daily, keep soil warm (70-80°F), maintain high humidity, thin to strongest seedlings
Vegetative
3-4 weeks after transplantingYoung transplants develop multiple branches and establish root system before flowering
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors; space 18 inches apart; establish consistent watering routine; fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced NPK fertilizer
Flowering
3-4 weeksSmall white flowers appear at branch junctions; plant becomes bushy and more robust
Reduce nitrogen fertilizer, increase phosphorus and potassium to support flowering; maintain consistent watering; pollinate flowers by gently shaking plant in morning or allowing bees access
Fruiting
6-8 weeksGreen peppers develop from flowers and gradually enlarge; color remains green for 4-6 weeks before turning red
Continue consistent watering and fertilizing; provide stakes or cages for support; remove any yellowing leaves; allow first peppers to mature fully for plant vigor
Harvest
4-8 weeks, until frostPeppers reach full size and transition from green to bright red; skin becomes glossy and firm
Harvest peppers once fully red for sweetest flavor; use knife or pruners to cut from stem rather than pulling; continue harvesting to encourage more fruit production
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water stream; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce ladybugs or lacewings
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Increase humidity; spray leaves with water; apply neem oil or miticide; remove heavily infested leaves
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Remove and destroy infested fruit immediately; use floating row covers early season; apply spinosad if infestation occurs
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce parasitic wasps
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Use floating row covers early; apply diatomaceous earth; spray with pyrethrin if needed
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryRed Arrow peppers are versatile in the kitchen, excellent for fresh eating raw in salads, slicing for appetizers, or cooking in stir-fries, fajitas, and pasta dishes. Their thin walls make them ideal for roasting and peeling for use in sauces. [source]
Roasting and preservation
CulinaryThe thin walls of Red Arrow peppers make them perfect for charring and roasting, then freezing or preserving in oil for long-term storage. Roasted peppers can be used in soups, spreads, and Mediterranean dishes. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalRed peppers are excellent sources of vitamin C, especially when fully ripe, supporting immune function and skin health. They also contain capsaicinoids and other antioxidants that may reduce inflammation. [source]
Ornamental garden value
HouseholdRed Arrow peppers add vibrant color and visual interest to vegetable gardens and containers throughout the growing season. The glossy red fruits are highly decorative and attractive to pollinators. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe white flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden, improving overall garden ecosystem health and supporting fruit set. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Red Arrow peppers can be harvested at green stage (60-70 days) or allowed to mature to full red color (80-90 days) for sweeter flavor. Cut peppers from stem using a knife or pruners rather than pulling to avoid plant damage. Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruit production throughout the season. Peppers are ready when skin is smooth, glossy, and firm. Continue harvesting until first frost.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Arrow peppers turn from green to bright red as they mature because chlorophyll breaks down and red carotenoid pigments accumulate—allowing the plant to photosynthesize longer while signaling fruit ripeness to animals.
- 🌱 This variety was developed in Japan and is known for its exceptionally early fruiting compared to standard bell peppers, making it popular in regions with shorter growing seasons.
- 🌱 Peppers are botanically berries, not vegetables, because they develop from the flower's ovary and contain seeds—making Red Arrow peppers technically fruits rather than vegetables in botanical terms.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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