How to Grow Tempest Pepper

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Tempest Pepper

Capsicum annuum 'Tempest'

vegetable

Tempest is a compact, ornamental pepper variety that produces abundant small, upright fruits that ripen from green to red. It's prized for both decorative garden appeal and culinary use, with a moderately hot fruity flavor.

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Example Tempest Pepper timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Tempest Pepper
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Tempest Pepper
Around Jun 16

≈ 60 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Tempest Pepper dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8-10 hours optimal for prolific fruiting

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Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; water deeply 1-2 times weekly depending on temperature and rainfall. Reduce watering frequency as peppers mature to concentrate flavor.

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Spacing: 18 inches

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Days to maturity: 60-90 days from transplant to first mature peppers

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Planting depth: 0.25 inches for seeds; transplant at soil depth (same depth as container)

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Perlite or vermiculite for drainage Balanced fertilizer (NPK 10-10-10)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-9, can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension; zones 10+ as perennial

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings with 2-4 cotyledons; very delicate and pale green

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Maintain soil moisture and warm temperatures (70-80°F). Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily; use grow lights if needed. Thin to strongest seedlings.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Compact bushy plant with multiple branching stems; dark green glossy leaves developing; still no flowers

Transplant outdoors after last frost danger when soil reaches 60°F. Space 18 inches apart. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced formula. Pinch off first flowers if desired to encourage more bushy growth.

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Small white flowers appear in leaf axils; plant is compact and densely flowering with buds at various stages

Continue consistent watering; do not overwater or excess nitrogen will reduce fruit set. Ensure adequate pollination—flowers are self-pollinating but benefit from air movement. Maintain temperature 70-85°F for best pollination.

Fruiting

3-4 weeks per flush; multiple flushes possible

Small upright peppers form and enlarge; fruits initially green, gradually turning red over 2-3 weeks per pepper

Reduce nitrogen; increase potassium and phosphorus for fruit development. Water consistently—fluctuating moisture causes blossom end rot and cracking. Support heavily laden branches with stakes if needed. Continue light feeding every 3 weeks.

Harvest & Maturity

4-6 weeks and ongoing

Peppers reach full size and color (red); plant continues producing new flowers and fruits if conditions remain favorable

Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Pick peppers at any stage—green peppers are milder, red are fully mature and sweeter. In zones 3-4, cover with frost cloth as nights cool. In warm zones, mature plants may continue producing through fall/winter.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Onions Garlic Spinach Carrots Marigolds Nasturtiums Borage Parsley

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Kohlrabi Beans (can compete for nitrogen) Other Capsicum species (for seed purity if saving seeds)

Common Pests

Spray with strong water jet to dislodge. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.
Increase humidity by misting foliage. Use miticide or horticultural oil spray. Remove heavily infested leaves. Maintain adequate watering.
Yellow sticky traps to monitor and reduce populations. Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap on leaf undersides. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Remove and destroy infested fruits immediately. Maintain good sanitation. Use insecticide as a last resort in severe infestations.
Use row covers on young plants. Apply neem oil or spinosad spray. Maintain good garden hygiene.
Maintain consistent soil moisture. Mulch around base. Add lime to soil if calcium deficient. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer.

Uses

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Fresh & Cooked Peppers

Culinary

Tempest peppers are versatile in the kitchen. Green peppers offer fresh, grassy notes suitable for raw slicing or cooking; red peppers develop sweeter, more fruity undertones perfect for roasting, stuffing, or adding to salsas and stir-fries. [source]

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Heat & Spice

Culinary

Tempest peppers possess moderate to warm heat levels (typically 50,000-100,000 Scoville units), making them suitable for those seeking a noticeable kick without extreme burn. They can be dried and powdered for pepper flakes or hot sauce production. [source]

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Decorative Garden Plant

Ornamental

Tempest's compact, bushy form with glossy foliage and bright red upright fruits makes it an attractive ornamental pepper. It works well in containers, borders, and landscape plantings where both beauty and food production are desired. [source]

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Capsaicin Health Benefits

Medicinal

Peppers contain capsaicin, an alkaloid compound with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Fresh or dried Tempest peppers can be used in remedies, teas, or as part of topical preparations for joint pain and inflammation relief. [source]

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Pest Deterrent

Household

Capsaicin extracted from hot peppers or pepper sprays made from dried Tempest peppers can deter garden pests and wildlife. The distinctive pungent capsaicinoid compounds irritate insects and mammals, offering a natural pest management approach. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Tempest peppers can be harvested at any stage. Pick green peppers for milder flavor with a fresh crunch; allow them to fully ripen to red (7-10 days after reaching full size) for sweeter, fruity flavor. Use pruning shears or scissors to cut rather than twist and pull. In warm zones (9-10), plant can persist into winter and be harvested year-round. For colder zones, harvest all mature peppers before first frost, then bring potted plants indoors or harvest all fruit and allow vine to mature seed.

Fun Facts

🌱 Tempest peppers were specifically bred to be ornamental annuals that produce abundant small fruits suitable for container growing, making them popular as edible houseplants or patio décor.
🌱 All peppers, including Tempest, are technically fruits (berries) that develop from a single flower with multiple chambers, though culinarily treated as vegetables due to their savory applications.
🌱 Pepper plants in ideal conditions can live for several years as perennials in USDA zones 9-10; gardeners in colder zones often overwinter small potted plants indoors on sunny windowsills.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun pH Pollination Transplant

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