Grow a garden filled with Anaheim Chili plants, from freshly harvested Capsicum annuum pepper seeds. The Anaheim Chili pepper is an heirloom variety, which was introduced in the early 1900’s. The plants themselves will reach a mature height of roughly 24 to 30 inches tall, producing fair yields of 6 inch hot peppers. The fruits ripen from green to red, and are about 6 inches in length. Anaheim chili peppers aren’t very hot, ranging anywhere between 500 to 1,000 units on the Scoville heat scale. These peppers are used in all sorts of salsa’s, sauces and other culinary dishes.
Anaheim Chili peppers are categorized as annual plants. They grow fairly quickly, from freshly harvested seeds, establishing leaves and fruits late in the Summer season. They will bare plenty of fruit, and will later wilt with the cooler temperatures of the Autumn season. If you choose to save some of the seeds, this pepper plant can be resown the following season.
Quick Facts
- Type: Pepper (Hot)
- Heirloom: Yes
- Color: Green / Red
- Height: 24″ – 30″ Tall
- Harvest: 80 – 85 Days
- Fruit Size: 6″ long peppers
- Environment: Full Sun
Sowing The Seed
Peppers are best started indoors, in a controlled environment, 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost. Sow them in peat pots, at a depth of 1/4” under topsoil. Peat pots will allow you to transplant the entire pot directly into the garden when the weather is warm and will also prevent root shock. Check below for additional info on spacing & growth habits.
Growing Conditions
Pepper plants will thrive in the heat of summer, so they should receive full sunlight for the majority of the day, with temperatures of at least 75F or more. A soil that is rich in organic matter is best, with a pH level of at least 6.2 and 7.0. Also make sure that your sowing medium is well drained, or your plants can wilt due to being waterlogged. Water your pepper seeds daily to provide them with ample amounts of moisture until germination has occurred.
Germination & Growth
Pepper seeds typically take anywhere between 14 to 28 days to germinate. After your seedlings start to grow, they will mature to an estimated height of roughly 24 to 30 inches tall and spread at least 24 inches wide. On average, Pepper plants can be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart from one another, in rows spaced 18 inches apart. These plants do very well when grown directly in the garden, or in large pots and containers as well.
Harvesting Anaheim Chili Peppers
Once the plants are established, your fruits will grow to a size of roughly 6 inches in length. They ripen from green to red, meaning that they are ready for picking. Simply snip or pick the stems an inch from the fruits and eat fresh, or store them by drying, freezing or pickling / canning. Harvest in roughly 80 to 85 days.