How to Grow Red Treasure
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Red Treasure
Capsicum annuum
vegetableRed Treasure is a compact, ornamental bell pepper variety that produces abundant small, cube-shaped red peppers on bushy plants. It's prized for both its decorative appeal and culinary use, offering a mild, sweet flavor. The plants are relatively small and manageable, making them ideal for containers and garden borders.
When should you plant Red Treasure in your zone?
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Example Red Treasure timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Red Treasure
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 Treasure
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Treasure dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown as an annual in cooler zones 3-4
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Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves; delicate appearance requiring protection
Keep soil warm (75-85°F), maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging, provide bright light, ensure good air circulation to prevent damping off
Vegetative
4-6 weeks after transplantingPlants develop multiple stems and branches; leaves are dark green and glossy; bushy growth habit becomes apparent
Harden off transplants gradually before planting outdoors, space appropriately, apply mulch around base, pinch off early flower buds to encourage branching
Flowering
3-4 weeksSmall white or pale purple flowers appear at branch tips; flowers are delicate and numerous
Maintain consistent watering and warmth (70-85°F), feed with balanced or slightly phosphorus-rich fertilizer every 2 weeks, ensure pollinator access or gently shake plants to aid pollination
Fruiting
4-6 weeksSmall cube-shaped peppers develop and grow; peppers transition from green to red over 2-3 weeks; fruits are compact and ornamental
Maintain steady watering without overwatering, apply low-nitrogen fertilizer to support fruiting, remove any damaged fruit, thin fruits if clusters are too dense to allow proper sizing
Harvest
Ongoing from mid-summer through first frostPeppers reach full size (approximately 1.5-2 inches) and turn bright red; mature fruits are firm and glossy
Harvest when fully red for sweetest flavor, use pruning shears to avoid branch damage, continue harvesting to encourage more fruit production through season
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs; use reflective mulches
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Increase humidity through regular misting, spray with water to dislodge, apply neem oil if infestation persists
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, encourage natural predators
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Remove and destroy infested fruit immediately, maintain good sanitation, apply spinosad if necessary
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Use row covers on young plants, apply neem oil or pyrethrin sprays, maintain consistent watering to reduce stress
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryRed Treasure peppers have a sweet, mild flavor ideal for fresh consumption in salads, slicing for snacks, or dicing into cooked dishes. Their small size makes them perfect for stuffing whole or adding to stir-fries. [source]
Ornamental decoration
HouseholdThe compact bushy habit and abundant colorful fruit make Red Treasure an excellent ornamental plant for container gardens, landscape borders, and decorative kitchen gardens. Plants remain attractive throughout the growing season. [source]
Roasting and preserving
CulinaryRed Treasure peppers can be roasted whole, dried for storage, or preserved through canning, pickling, or freezing. Their thin walls make them ideal for quick roasting. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalRed peppers are rich in vitamin C and carotenoid antioxidants, particularly when fully red-ripened. They support immune function and overall wellness. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe abundant small flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, making Red Treasure valuable in pollinator gardens. [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 Treasure peppers are best harvested when fully red and glossy, typically 70-90 days after transplanting. Use clean pruning shears or scissors to cut peppers from the stem rather than pulling, which can damage branches. For sweeter flavor, allow peppers to fully mature on the plant before harvesting. Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruit production throughout the season. Peppers can be harvested at green stage and will ripen off the plant, but red-ripened fruits offer superior flavor and nutritional value.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Treasure peppers transition from green to red as they mature; fully red fruits contain significantly more vitamin C (about 3 times more) than green peppers of the same variety.
- 🌱 The compact, ornamental nature of Red Treasure makes it one of the best pepper varieties for container gardening, window boxes, and indoor growing under grow lights.
- 🌱 Each Red Treasure plant can produce 20-40+ small peppers in a single season, making it exceptionally productive relative to its small size and perfect for small space gardeners.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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