If you’re looking to grow peppers but don’t have enough space for a full-fledged garden, container gardening may be the perfect solution for you. Fortunately, peppers are a great option for containers because they are compact and won’t require much space.
In general, the best container size for any pepper would be one that is about 20-25cm wide and deep (10-12 inches). In this post, we will look at some of the best pepper varieties you can grow in containers.
Tip
To measure the spiciness or heat of chili peppers and other spicy foods, Scoville units are used as a scale. The higher the Scoville unit, the spicier the pepper. For example, bell peppers have a Scoville rating of zero, while the Carolina Reaper, one of the hottest peppers in the world, can reach over 2 million Scoville units.
Contents
1. Jalapeño Peppers
Jalapeño peppers are a very popular choice for container gardening. They are known for their medium spice level and are commonly used for pickling, salsas, and other Mexican dishes. Jalapeño peppers are typically green when unripe and turn red as they mature and grow to be about 5-8cm (3 inches) long.
| Name | Jalapeño |
| Hardiness zones | 9-12 |
| Scoville scale | 4,000-8,500 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 80-90 |
| Plant height | 90cm (3ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, rich, fertile |
Tip
All peppers are perennials in zones 9 and above. In lower zones, they are either grown as annuals or overwintered.
2. Bolivian Rainbow
The Bolivian Rainbow variety produces small conical fruits that ripen through shades of pale yellow, orange, pink, purple, red, and chocolate brown. This semi-dwarf plant is an ornamental pepper, fitting very well in containers. Bolivian Rainbow continues to bear flowers and fruit without slowing down, right up until the frost. The spicy, tangy, and fruit-like flavor of these peppers makes them perfect for salads, pickling, stir-fries or snacking.
| Name | Bolivian Rainbow |
| Hardiness zones | 9-11 |
| Scoville scale | 10,000-30,000 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 75-85 |
| Plant height | 70cm (1ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, rich |
3. Carolina Reaper
Carolina Reaper peppers are known for their intense level of spiciness. It has a unique fruity flavor that lasts only for a brief moment before the heat takes over. These peppers start off as lime green in color and eventually darken as they mature. When fully grown, they turn a beautiful bright red color with a distinctive wrinkled and gnarled tail. Carolina Reaper is used by extreme spice enthusiasts who mix tiny amounts into hot sauce, chili, salsa, and even in competitive eating challenges!
| Name | Carolina Reaper |
| Hardiness zones | 9-12 |
| Scoville scale | 1.5-2 million SHU |
| Days to maturity | 90-100 |
| Plant height | 1-1.5m (5ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 8-10 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, rich, ferile |
4. Banana Pepper
Besides their eye-catching shape and color, banana peppers have a mild, sweet taste and pleasant crunch. Many describe the flavor as having honey-like notes. These peppers average 10-15cm (6 inches) long, ripening from pale green to bright golden yellow when mature. Banana peppers bear early and heavily on tall plants and are well suited for containers.
| Name | Banana pepper |
| Hardiness zones | 8-11 |
| Scoville scale | 0-500 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 60-75 |
| Plant height | 90cm (3ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, moist, loose |
5. Shishito Peppers
These thin-walled Japanese heirloom peppers grow about 5-10cm (4 inches) long. The wrinkled fruits ripen from dark green to bright red if allowed, but Shishitos have the best flavor when harvested green. The plant yields dozens of sweet, aromatic peppers that are often sautéed or grilled whole.
| Name | Shishito pepper |
| Hardiness zones | 8-11 |
| Scoville scale | 50-200 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 60-70 |
| Plant height | 60cm (2ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, rich |
6. Thai Hot Peppers
This super-hot variety only reaches 30cm tall at maturity with tiny fruits, making it perfectly suited for growing in containers. These small peppers first emerge a dark green before ripening to bright red. But what Thai Hot peppers lack in size, it more than makes up for in spiciness thanks to their high Scoville ratings of over 100,000 Heat Units! Just be sure to handle Thai Hot peppers with caution and keep away from children and pets.
| Name | Thai Hot pepper |
| Hardiness zones | 9-11 |
| Scoville scale | 50,000-100,000 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 85-100 |
| Plant height | 30cm (1ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, fertile |
7. Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are a great option for people who want to grow their own food but have limited space. They are compact enough to be grown in containers and yet produce large fruit. Bell peppers start off green but eventually ripen to various bright colors such as red, orange, yellow, purple, or even chocolate brown depending on the variety. You can choose to harvest these crunchy peppers at any stage of ripeness, although they will taste sweeter as the color develops.
| Name | Bell pepper |
| Hardiness zones | 7-12 |
| Scoville scale | 0 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 75-90 |
| Plant height | 90cm (3ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, sandy, rich |
8. Cherry Pepper
These small round peppers look just like cherries! Despite their tiny size, each plant can produce tons of peppers all season long. Their shiny skins ripen to bright crimson when mature. Depending on the variety, cherry peppers can range from sweet to mildly hot and are perfect for pickling, fresh salsas, and much more!
| Name | Cherry pepper |
| Hardiness zones | 9-11 |
| Scoville scale | 1,000-5,000 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 80-90 |
| Plant height | 90cm (3ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, fertile, slightly acidic |
9. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne peppers are a great option for growing in containers, a single plant can yield tons of thin, red peppers that are bursting with fiery hot flavor. The fruits grow to be about 15cm (6 inches) long. These peppers have a high Scoville rating of around 30,000-50,000 units!
| Name | Cayenne pepper |
| Hardiness zones | 9-11 |
| Scoville scale | 30,000-50,000 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 70-80 |
| Plant height | 60cm (2ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, rich, moist |
10. Habanero
When ripe, Habaneros take on a wrinkled appearance in colors ranging from lime green to vivid orange or red depending on the variety. Habanero peppers have a fruity, slightly citrusy initial taste instantly followed by intense heat. This popular pepper variety will give you a generous yield.
| Name | Habanero |
| Hardiness zones | 8-12 |
| Scoville scale | 100,000 to 350,000 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 75-100 |
| Plant height | 1.2m (4ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, slightly acidic |
11. Ghost Pepper
Ghost peppers, with their fittingly sinister name and appearance, are among the world’s hottest varieties. They are perfect for container gardeners who want extreme heat. Their fiery heat reaches over 1 million Scoville units! These peppers start as dark green before ripening to a wrinkled, deep red color. Ghost peppers are commonly grown in containers and a single plant can give a very large yield. However, handle the pods with extreme caution and keep them away from kids and pets due to their dangerous heat level.
| Name | Ghost pepper |
| Hardiness zones | 8-11 |
| Scoville scale | 1,041,427 SHU |
| Days to maturity | 100-150 |
| Plant height | 1.2m (4ft) |
| Light | Full sun, 6-8 hours |
| Soil | Well-draining, moist, fertile |
FAQ
How deep do containers need to be for peppers?
A container that is at least 20-25cm (10-12 inches) wide and deep is best, but the size can vary depending on how deep the plant’s root system is and how tall the plant will grow to be.
How many peppers plant per pot?
The number of pepper plants per container depends on container size and plant variety. Generally, a 5 gallon container (20 liters) can hold a single plant while larger containers can support more. It is important to provide enough space for each plant to grow and thrive.
How many peppers will one plant yield?
Pepper plants can produce different amounts of fruit depending on the type of pepper and its growing conditions. A healthy plant can typically yield anywhere between 20-50 peppers during its growing season. However, some varieties are known to be more productive and can produce much more.
What are the easiest peppers to grow?
The easiest types of peppers to grow are bell peppers, banana peppers, and jalapeño peppers. These varieties are low maintenance and can thrive in a variety of growing conditions.
