The pepper harvest season is in full swing. Whether hot or sweet peppers, each kind can be clipped from the plant when the fruit reaches its mature size. The difficult part is waiting for them to ripen to their nice deep color. For some varieties, it can take a month or more for the peppers to color up to their final red, yellow, orange, or brown color.

That’s why I planted several of each of six different peppers in my container garden this season. I can start harvesting and enjoying the peppers on one plant while waiting for the other peppers to ripen to their rich jewel tones.

Here’s the annual pepper roundup for this season, in case you’d like to add a few to your garden next year.

Top-performing pepper varieties for growing in pots

‘Escamillo’ is a 2016 All-America Selections (AAS) national vegetable winner. These large sweet peppers are on their way to ripening to a brilliant golden yellow. The plants are especially productive, even in containers, with large perfectly shaped fruits. ‘Escamillo’ has a great taste for eating fresh in salads or roasting on the grill.

‘Fresno’ is one of my all-time favorite hot peppers. These fruits ripen to a brilliant red earlier than other peppers and have the best balance of heat and flavor I’ve found in a pepper of this size. They’re good eaten raw, but the flavor intensifies when roasted. I plan to grow more containers of these next season.

‘Jalapeño’ peppers are a must for any pepper lover. These peppers start to produce early and will keep growing until the weather turns cold. I’ve used jalapeños for just about everything—sliced as a condiment for noodle bowls, roasted and chopped for salsa, stuffed with cheese and fried, pickled in brine, and even candied.

‘Rachel’ is a jalapeño-type pepper that has extra firepower. I bought one of these plants at the Baker Creek Spring Planting sale. ‘Rachel’ is a pepper named for the daughter of the farmer who created it. These peppers are light green and grow upright on tall plants.

‘Lemon Drop’ is another pepper I picked up at the Baker Creek sale. This plant is proof that it pays to try a few new pepper varieties every season. The plant itself is almost 3 feet tall, and it’s loaded with these bright green peppers that are about 3 inches long and slightly cone-shaped. With time they’ll ripen to bright yellow. ‘Lemon Drop’ has high heat with a fruity taste that will be great for pickling or drying and grinding into a seasoning.

‘Ghost’ pepper is one of the peppers at the top of the heat scale. It’s my first time growing these slightly scary-looking peppers, and I’ll need to take extra precautions for handling them. Once they ripen to red and get their full mango-like taste, they’ll be ready to use in small quantities for salsas and sauces.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

Ho-Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Versatile Tool: The Easy Digger Korean Triangle Blade Ho Mi Ho-mi is a versatile gardening tool designed for leveling and digging in home and garden settings. Efficient Design: Its unique triangular blade shape allows for easy soil penetration and efficient leveling of garden beds or landscaping areas. Durable Construction: Crafted with sturdy materials, this tool ensures long-lasting performance and reliability. Ergonomic Handle: The comfortable handle provides a secure grip, reducing hand fatigue during extended use. Compact Size: Its compact design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces and store when not in use.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon