How to Grow Temari Purple
Wikimedia Commons
Temari Purple
Capsicum annuum
vegetableTemari Purple is a compact, ornamental pepper variety that produces small, round, purple fruits on a bushy plant. The peppers are edible and transition through multiple colors as they mature, making them both decorative and culinary. This variety is ideal for container gardening and adds visual interest to any garden.
When should you plant Temari Purple 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 Temari Purple timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Temari Purple
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Temari Purple
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Temari Purple dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-11; grows as annual in cooler zones 3-4
Sign up free to see if Temari Purple grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Temari Purple timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
1-2 weeksSmall green leaves emerge from soil; plant is 1-2 inches tall with delicate cotyledons
Maintain warm temperatures (70-80°F), high humidity, and bright light; keep soil moist; provide 12-16 hours of grow light if indoors
Vegetative
4-6 weeksPlant develops true leaves and grows taller; multiple stems form as plant branches out; compact, bushy shape develops
Continue warm conditions; thin seedlings or pot up; fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer; pinch growing tips if needed for bushiness
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall white flowers appear on branch tips; plant reaches mature height of 12-18 inches
Ensure consistent watering and warmth (70-85°F); apply flowering fertilizer (higher phosphorus); ensure good air circulation to prevent disease
Fruiting
3-4 weeksSmall round fruits form and begin green; gradually transition through yellow and orange before turning deep purple at full maturity
Maintain consistent watering and warm temperatures; support heavy fruit clusters with stakes if needed; continue fertilizing; watch for pests
Harvest
Ongoing until frostPeppers reach full purple color and firm texture; plant continues producing new flowers and fruits
Harvest peppers when fully colored; continue watering and fertilizing for continuous production; remove any diseased foliage
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Increase humidity; spray with water; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce predatory mites
-
Spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap; apply neem oil; attract beneficial insects like ladybugs
-
Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; increase air circulation
-
Remove affected fruits; use pheromone traps; apply spinosad or neem oil; rotate crops annually
-
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps; increase humidity
Uses
Ornamental fresh use
CulinaryTemari Purple peppers are edible and can be used fresh in salads, sliced as garnish, or added to dishes for color and mild, slightly sweet pepper flavor. Their small size makes them perfect for individual servings. [source]
Roasting and cooking
CulinaryThe small round peppers can be roasted, stuffed, or added to stir-fries. When fully mature (purple), they develop a sweeter, more complex flavor than green stages. [source]
Ornamental container gardening
CraftTemari Purple's compact growth habit, multiple color changes, and abundant fruit production make it exceptionally popular as a decorative houseplant or patio container plant. The colorful peppers add visual interest indoors and outdoors. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe small white flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden, supporting local ecosystems while improving fruit set. [source]
Indoor decorative plant
HouseholdWith adequate light (grow lights work well), Temari Purple can be grown indoors year-round as an attractive houseplant that produces edible peppers while adding color and greenery to living spaces. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest peppers when fully colored purple for best flavor and ornamental appeal; can be harvested green or at any color stage; use pruning shears or scissors to cut fruit from stem to avoid damaging plant; harvest regularly to encourage continuous production throughout season; first peppers mature 70-90 days from transplanting
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Temari Purple exhibits dramatic color changes as it matures, transitioning from green to yellow to orange and finally to deep purple, allowing multiple harvests at different color stages for both culinary and ornamental purposes.
- 🌱 The name 'Temari' comes from the Japanese decorative balls (temari), reflecting the pepper's round, ball-like shape and the fact that it originated from Japanese horticulture.
- 🌱 This variety is an exceptionally prolific producer for its compact size, often yielding 50-100+ small peppers on a single plant throughout the growing season, making it ideal for succession planting and continuous harvests.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Temari Purple planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Temari Purple 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 Temari Purple timeline →