How to Grow Sherwood Red
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Sherwood Red
Capsicum annuum var. longum
vegetableSherwood Red is a sweet bell pepper variety known for its deep red color, excellent flavor, and reliable production. It develops from green immature fruit to vibrant red when fully ripe, making it attractive both in the garden and in the kitchen. This variety is prized for fresh eating, cooking, and roasting applications.
When should you plant Sherwood Red in your zone?
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Example Sherwood Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Sherwood 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 Sherwood Red
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Sherwood Red dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 6-10; can be grown as annual in zones 3-5 with season extension
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Seedling
6-8 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves develop 6-8 weeks after sowing. Seedlings are delicate with thin stems.
Provide 14-16 hours of grow light daily, maintain 70-75°F soil temperature, keep soil moist but not waterlogged, avoid cold drafts below 60°F
Transplant/Vegetative
4-6 weeksPlants develop deeper root systems and multiple leaf sets. Stems thicken and branching begins.
Harden off for 7-10 days before planting outdoors, wait until nighttime temperatures consistently exceed 60°F, space 18 inches apart, stake or cage for support, apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks
Flowering
4-6 weeksSmall white flowers appear at branch axils. Multiple flowers develop across the plant.
Maintain consistent watering (critical at this stage), do not over-fertilize nitrogen (reduces flowering), ensure adequate sunlight, gently shake plants to aid pollination, maintain temperatures 65-80°F
Fruit Development & Maturation
6-8 weeks (green stage); 3-4 weeks (color change to red)Green peppers form and gradually enlarge. Fruit transitions from green to red as it ripens, developing full color and sweetness.
Continue consistent watering and drip irrigation preferred, apply balanced fertilizer or low-nitrogen formula, pinch off first 1-2 peppers to promote plant vigor, prune lower leaves for air circulation and disease prevention
Harvest & Maintenance
8-12 weeks (main harvest period)Fruit reaches full red color and optimal sweetness. Plants continue producing throughout season if harvested regularly.
Harvest by cutting (not pulling) with knife or pruners, pick regularly to encourage more production, deadhead any diseased flowers, continue consistent watering and fertilizing, extend season with frost cloth in fall
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce ladybugs; use reflective mulch; spray strong water stream to dislodge
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Increase humidity, spray with neem oil, use miticide if severe, ensure adequate watering
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Remove infected fruit, use pheromone traps, apply spinosad, rotate crops, control weeds
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap, encourage beneficial insects, vacuum adults in severe cases
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Maintain consistent calcium and water availability, avoid over-fertilizing nitrogen, mulch soil, maintain pH 6.0-6.8
Uses
Fresh eating and salads
CulinarySherwood Red peppers are sweet and crisp when raw, making them ideal for fresh salads, crudité platters, and sandwich fillings. Their deep red color adds visual appeal and nutritional richness to any dish. [source]
Roasting and cooking
CulinaryThe thick-walled fruit is excellent for roasting whole or halved, charring and peeling for use in sauces, soups, and Mediterranean dishes. Roasting brings out natural sweetness and develops complex flavor. [source]
Preservation and storage
CulinarySherwood Red peppers can be frozen, canned, dehydrated, or fermented for long-term storage. They retain good flavor and texture when frozen for later use in cooking. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalRed peppers are extremely high in vitamin C (even more than oranges), capsanthin, and other antioxidants that support immune function and reduce inflammation. A single Sherwood Red pepper provides substantial daily vitamin C requirements. [source]
Garden ornament and visual interest
HouseholdThe transition from green to brilliant red makes Sherwood Red peppers beautiful landscape elements. Plants laden with ripening fruit serve as attractive focal points in vegetable gardens and containers. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick peppers when they reach full red color for sweetest flavor (usually 3-4 weeks after turning from green). For earlier harvest, pick at green stage. Cut with pruners or sharp knife 1 inch from stem; do not pull. Morning harvest provides crispest texture. Sherwood Red continues producing until first frost; extend season with frost cloth or row covers.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red peppers are actually fully mature green peppers that have continued ripening on the plant; this extra ripening time develops higher sugar content and vitamin C levels compared to green peppers.
- 🌱 Capsanthin, the compound giving red peppers their vibrant color, is the same pigment found in paprika and is often used as a natural food colorant in commercial products.
- 🌱 Peppers are fruits botanically (they develop from the flower's ovary), not vegetables, and they're technically berries in the nightshade family along with tomatoes and eggplants.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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