How to Grow The Bishop
Wikimedia Commons
The Bishop
Capsicum annuum 'The Bishop'
vegetableThe Bishop is an ornamental pepper variety that produces striking, upright cone-shaped fruits that mature from green to deep purple-black, then to bright red. These compact plants are highly decorative and produce edible peppers with mild to medium heat. They are prized both for their visual appeal in gardens and as ornamental houseplants.
When should you plant The Bishop in your zone?
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Example The Bishop timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant The Bishop
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 The Bishop
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact The Bishop dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 9b-11 outdoors; excellent as indoor potted plants in cooler zones
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seed leaves emerge, followed by true leaves. Plant is delicate and small.
Keep soil warm (70-75°F), maintain consistent moisture, provide bright indirect light. Thin seedlings to strongest one per cell.
Vegetative
4-6 weeksPlant develops multiple stems and a compact, bushy form with glossy dark green leaves.
Provide full sun, fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer, maintain consistent watering. Pinch out early flower buds to encourage branching.
Flowering
3-4 weeksSmall white or pale purple flowers appear at leaf axils. Flowers are followed by tiny green peppers.
Maintain full sun and warm temperatures (70-80°F). Continue regular fertilizing, switch to lower nitrogen fertilizer to encourage fruiting. Ensure good air circulation.
Fruiting
6-8 weeksPeppers develop and mature through color stages: green → dark purple-black → bright red. Multiple fruits per plant create striking display.
Provide consistent watering and feeding, support heavy fruit clusters if needed. Remove any diseased fruits. Peppers may remain on plant for extended color show.
Harvest/Production
6-12 weeks (or longer in warm climates)Plant continues producing flowers and fruits throughout season. In mild climates, can produce for months.
Harvest peppers as needed for culinary use or leave on plant for ornamental effect. Continue fertilizing and watering. Monitor for pests and disease.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity, spray with water, use neem oil or insecticidal soap; isolate heavily infested plants
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Spray with strong water stream, use neem oil or insecticidal soap, introduce ladybugs, avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, ensure good air circulation
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Remove affected leaves, use blue sticky traps, spray with neem oil, maintain adequate humidity
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Remove infested fruits immediately, use insecticidal sprays at first sign, practice crop rotation in outdoor gardens
Uses
Fresh and Cooked Pepper
CulinaryThe Bishop peppers are edible with mild to medium heat levels and can be used fresh in salads, roasted, stuffed, or sautéed. When red-ripe, they develop a sweeter flavor profile. [source]
Ornamental Indoor Plant
HouseholdThe Bishop is exceptional as a potted ornamental plant for windowsills, patios, and indoor spaces, prized for its compact habit and striking multi-colored fruit display throughout the growing season. [source]
Dried Pepper and Spice
CulinaryPeppers can be dried whole or ground into powder for use as a mild spice and garnish, maintaining their ornamental appeal even when dried. [source]
Pollinator and Bird Attraction
WildlifeThe flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while the brightly colored ripe fruits attract birds and wildlife, making it valuable in pollinator and wildlife gardens. [source]
Capsaicinoid Content
MedicinalLike all peppers, The Bishop contains capsaicinoids with potential anti-inflammatory and thermogenic properties, though mild compared to hot pepper varieties. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Peppers can be harvested green for milder flavor or left on the plant to mature through purple to deep red for sweeter, more complex flavor. For ornamental use, leave fruits on plant to showcase color progression. For eating, use clean scissors or pruners to avoid damaging plant. Peppers will store 1-2 weeks in refrigerator. Can be used fresh, dried, or roasted.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The Bishop gets its name from its bishop's hat-like shape and deep purple color reminiscent of religious vestments
- 🌱 This variety is particularly popular in Europe and has become a trendy ornamental houseplant, often sold during autumn and winter holidays for its festive appearance
- 🌱 The peppers change color dramatically over the course of 4-6 weeks, transitioning from green to almost black-purple to vibrant red, sometimes displaying all colors simultaneously on the same plant
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