Lipstick Capsicum

Capsicum annuum (nightshade)

Also known as: Lipstick Pepper, Lipstick Pimento

A pimento-type heirloom named for its elongated, bright red, lipstick-like shape. Compact plants set heavy yields of thick-fleshed, cone-shaped fruit that ripen quickly from green to a glossy deep red, prized for their exceptionally sweet, juicy flesh. Bred to perform reliably in cooler summers, Lipstick is naturally early and productive even where the growing season runs short — a good choice for fresh eating, roasting, or slicing into salads.

Days to harvest 70 days
Fruit size Up to 10cm, cone-shaped, tapering to a point
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 10–14 days at 20–25°C
Spacing 35–45cm apart
Aspect Full sun, well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Frost sensitive — needs reliably warm nights

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun spot with fertile, well-drained soil. The compact habit makes this one of the more forgiving capsicums for smaller garden beds or 20L pots.

Soil preparation: Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost worked in.

Support: Rarely needed given the compact habit, though a light stake can help if the plant is carrying an especially heavy crop.

Watering & feeding: Water consistently and avoid letting the soil dry out. Feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser once flowering begins. Mulch to retain soil moisture.

Harvest: Pick regularly once fruit reaches full size to encourage continued production. Sweetest when left to fully ripen to red. Cut rather than pull to avoid damaging the plant.

Timing: Expect first harvest around 70 days after transplanting — noticeably earlier than many capsicums, making it a reliable choice for shorter growing seasons.

Key features

  • Open-pollinated pimento-type heirloom
  • Compact, naturally early-maturing plants
  • Elongated, cone-shaped fruit to 10cm
  • Thick, juicy, exceptionally sweet flesh
  • Performs reliably in cooler, shorter seasons
  • Excellent fresh, roasted, or in salads

Short season tips

Best started indoors on heat mats — this variety needs 20–25°C soil to germinate reliably, slightly cooler than many capsicums. Sow 8–10 weeks before the last frost or purchase as 6–8-week-old seedlings. Transplant into the garden only once soil temperature has reliably warmed to at least 15°C. Its naturally early habit and reliable performance in cooler summers make it one of the better options for a shorter or unpredictable growing season.

  • Spring
  • Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

  • Basil (particularly good for capsicums) Marigolds Onion Parsley
  • Other nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes) Fennel

A pimento-type pepper with roots tracing back to South American pimiento varieties, brought to Europe by Spanish and Portuguese explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries. Developed specifically to crop reliably in cooler, shorter growing seasons, it became a favourite among northern-climate gardeners for its early maturity and dependable sweetness.