Sweet Banana Capsicum

Capsicum annuum (nightshade)

Also known as: Sweet Banana Pepper, Banana Pepper

A cheerful, old-fashioned heirloom named for its long, tapering, banana-like shape. Likely of Hungarian origin, it was introduced to American gardens in the early 1930s and went on to win an All-America Selections award in 1941 — a testament to how well it's stood the test of time. Fruit starts a pale, waxy yellow-green and ripens through orange to a brilliant red, sweetening as it goes, with a mild, gently tangy flavour that holds up beautifully whether eaten fresh, sautéed, or pickled.

Days to harvest 70–75 days (green), 75–100 days (fully ripe)
Fruit size 15–18cm, long and tapering
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 7–14 days at 24–29°C
Spacing 30–45cm apart
Aspect Full sun, well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Frost sensitive — needs reliably warm nights

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil. A reliable, easy-going capsicum that adapts well across a range of garden conditions. Or use 20-30L pot.

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

Support: Light staking can help once plants are heavily loaded with fruit, though it's not always necessary given the compact habit.

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

Harvest: Pick first fruit once it reaches usable size to encourage further production. Flavour becomes sweeter and more complex as fruit ripens from yellow through to red — all stages are edible. Cut rather than pull to avoid damaging the plant.

Timing: Expect first harvest around 70–75 days after transplanting for green fruit, or 75–100 days if left to fully ripen to red.

Key features

  • Open-pollinated heirloom, likely Hungarian in origin
  • All-America Selections award winner, 1941
  • Long, tapering, banana-shaped fruit to 15–18cm
  • Ripens from pale yellow-green through orange to red
  • Mild, sweet, slightly tangy flavour
  • Excellent fresh, sautéed, or pickled

Short season tips

Best started indoors on heat mats — this variety needs 24–29°C soil to germinate reliably. 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. Avoid disturbing roots when transplanting — capsicums resent being moved and stall easily. An early, reliable producer, making it a good option where the growing season runs shorter than ideal.

  • Spring
  • Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

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

Believed to have originated in Hungary, Sweet Banana was introduced to American growers in the early 1930s and went on to win an All-America Selections award in 1941 — a mark of quality that helped cement its lasting popularity. Now widely grown across home gardens for its dependable yields, mild flavour, and long, colourful fruit.