How to Grow Summer's Kiss
Wikimedia Commons
Summer's Kiss
Capsicum annuum
vegetableSummer's Kiss is a ornamental pepper variety that produces small, elongated fruits that ripen from green to a vibrant red or orange. These peppers are both decorative and edible, offering mild to moderate heat with a slightly sweet flavor, making them ideal for container gardens and landscape displays.
When should you plant Summer's Kiss 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 Summer's Kiss timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Summer's Kiss
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Summer's Kiss
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Summer's Kiss dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-11, can be grown as an annual in zones 2-4
Sign up free to see if Summer's Kiss grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Summer's Kiss timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plants with first true leaves emerging, 2-4 inches tall
Maintain warm soil (70-80°F), provide bright light 14-16 hours daily, water gently to keep soil moist
Vegetative
3-4 weeks after transplantingBushy plant with multiple stems and leaves, 6-12 inches tall, no flowers yet
Harden off transplants over 7-10 days before outdoor planting, fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer, pinch tips to encourage bushiness
Flowering
3-4 weeksSmall white or pale purple flowers appear throughout the plant canopy, plant 12-24 inches tall
Maintain consistent watering and temperature (65-80°F), reduce nitrogen-heavy fertilizers and increase phosphorus, ensure good air circulation
Fruiting
3-4 weeksGreen peppers develop at flower sites, gradually enlarge to 2-3 inches long
Continue consistent watering, mulch heavily to retain moisture, support branches if needed with stakes or cages, fertilize every 2-3 weeks
Ripening & Harvest
4-8 weeksPeppers transition from green to red, orange, or yellow depending on variety, full color development indicates ripeness
Maintain steady watering and feeding schedule, harvest mature peppers to encourage continued production, pick before first frost in cooler zones
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7-10 days; encourage natural predators like ladybugs; prune heavily infested areas
-
Increase humidity by misting, spray with water to dislodge, use neem oil or miticide if severe; ensure good air circulation
-
Use yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, vacuum adults with handheld device if indoors
-
Remove affected leaves, spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil, use blue sticky traps, introduce beneficial insects
-
Remove and destroy infested fruits, use insecticide early in infestation, practice crop rotation, sanitize garden tools
Uses
Fresh consumption and cooking
CulinarySummer's Kiss peppers can be eaten fresh in salads, sliced as crudités, or lightly cooked. They have a mild to moderate heat level with subtle sweetness, making them versatile for various dishes. [source]
Container and landscape decoration
OrnamentalThese peppers are highly ornamental with their colorful fruit display, making them perfect for decorative container gardens, patios, and borders. The plant's compact bushy form and vibrant peppers add visual interest to gardens. [source]
Pickling and preservation
CulinaryThe small elongated peppers are ideal for pickling whole or in halves, providing an attractive and flavorful preserved product for long-term storage. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidant source
MedicinalRed and orange peppers are rich in vitamin C and lycopene, supporting immune function and providing antioxidant benefits. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden, supporting broader ecosystem 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
Pick peppers when they reach full size and desired color (red/orange), usually 60-90 days after transplanting. For ornamental display, harvest green or partially colored peppers. For maximum flavor and heat development, allow to ripen fully on plant. Cut peppers with scissors to avoid damaging branches. Continuous harvesting encourages prolonged production throughout season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Summer's Kiss peppers become increasingly spicy as they ripen, with fully red peppers containing more capsaicinoids than green ones—ripe peppers can have 2-3 times the heat level of unripe fruit.
- 🌱 Ornamental pepper varieties like Summer's Kiss can be overwintered indoors as houseplants in cooler climates and will often re-fruit the following year if provided adequate light and warmth.
- 🌱 Peppers are berries botanically speaking, and a single Summer's Kiss plant can produce 50+ peppers over a growing season when properly cared for and harvested regularly.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Summer's Kiss planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Summer's Kiss seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Summer's Kiss timeline →