How to Grow Red Cutlass
Wikimedia Commons
Red Cutlass
Capsicum annuum
vegetableRed Cutlass is a distinctive bell pepper variety known for its elongated, curved shape resembling a cutlass sword and vibrant red color at maturity. It produces high yields of sweet, crisp peppers with thin walls that are excellent for fresh eating and cooking. This ornamental yet productive variety adds visual interest to gardens while delivering reliable harvests.
When should you plant Red Cutlass 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 Red Cutlass timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Red Cutlass
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 Cutlass
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Cutlass dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9-11; can be grown as annual in zones 5-8 with warm season timing
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Get my Red Cutlass timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, tender and delicate appearance
Provide 14-16 hours of grow light daily, maintain warmth (70-75°F), keep soil moist but not waterlogged, thin to strongest seedlings
Vegetative
4-6 weeksBushy growth with increasing leaf development; plant becomes robust and stockier
Harden off before transplanting, maintain consistent warmth (65-75°F), water regularly, apply dilute fertilizer every 2 weeks, pinch early flower buds to encourage branching
Flowering
3-4 weeksSmall white or pale pink flowers appear in leaf axils; flowers drop and set fruit
Maintain consistent watering, switch to lower nitrogen/higher phosphorus fertilizer, avoid overhead watering, ensure nighttime temperatures above 60°F for fruit set
Fruiting
4-6 weeksSmall green peppers develop and enlarge; distinctive curved shape becomes apparent
Water deeply and consistently, mulch to retain moisture, support heavy fruit with stakes if needed, reduce nitrogen fertilizer, watch for pests
Ripening
2-3 weeks per fruitPeppers transition from green to vibrant red; skin becomes glossy and firm; flavor becomes sweeter
Maintain consistent watering without overwatering, reduce fertilizer, monitor for sun scald on exposed fruit, pick mature peppers to encourage more production
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water stream, insecticidal soap, neem oil, or introduce ladybugs
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Increase humidity, spray with water, apply neem oil or miticide, remove heavily infested leaves
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Remove infested fruit immediately, use insecticidal sprays, practice crop rotation, use insect netting
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Remove weeds, use reflective mulch, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, introduce beneficial insects
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, introduce parasitic wasps
Uses
Fresh eating and salads
CulinaryRed Cutlass peppers are sweet and crisp with thin walls ideal for slicing into salads, appetizer platters, and fresh eating. The distinctive curved shape makes them attractive for presentation. [source]
Roasting and cooking
CulinaryThe thin walls of Red Cutlass peppers make them excellent for roasting, grilling, and stir-frying. They cook quickly and develop a mild, sweet flavor. [source]
Pickling and preservation
CulinaryRed Cutlass peppers can be pickled whole or sliced for preserving, creating attractive condiments with their unique curved shape. [source]
Ornamental garden appeal
HouseholdThe striking curved red peppers and lush foliage make Red Cutlass an attractive ornamental addition to gardens and container displays, combining beauty with productivity. [source]
Vitamin C source
MedicinalRed peppers are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and beneficial phytonutrients that support immune function and overall 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 at green stage for crisp texture and mild flavor, or wait for full red color for sweeter, riper peppers (about 2-3 weeks after turning red). Cut peppers with pruning shears rather than pulling to avoid damaging the plant. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season. Peppers store well in cool conditions for 1-2 weeks.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Cutlass peppers get their name from their distinctive curved, sword-like shape that resembles a traditional cutlass blade.
- 🌱 Pepper plants can produce fruit for multiple years in warm climates; in cooler zones, they are grown as annuals but can be overwintered indoors in containers.
- 🌱 The same pepper plant can produce hundreds of individual peppers throughout the season when harvested regularly and provided with consistent care.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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