Peppers to Grow in Containers

Jalapeño

Jalapeño peppers are some of the easiest peppers to grow in pots on a sunny patio or in a small backyard garden. There are many varieties to choose from, and ripe peppers can develop yellow, orange, or red coloring.

For a milder flavor, harvest jalapeños when they are slightly immature with smooth green skin. For maximum heat, allow them to develop more color and “corking” lines.

Thai Chili

Thai chilis produce small, upright red peppers that become extremely hot when mature. The plants usually grow 1 to 2 feet tall, but a single plant can produce more than 100 peppers in a season when given plenty of light.

Thai chilis are commonly used in cooking and stir-fries. They can also be dried and ground into homemade chili powder.

Shishito

Shishito peppers originated in Japan and are commonly served charred or blistered with a little salt as an appetizer.

They have a smoky flavor and relatively mild heat. They are slightly hotter than a standard jalapeño but much milder than Thai chilis.

Shishito plants can be grown in small 12-inch pots, although they perform even better in 5-gallon containers.

Ghost

Ghost peppers are among the hottest peppers you can grow and are suitable for gardeners who enjoy extreme heat.

They have a Scoville rating of over 1 million, making them around 200 times hotter than a standard jalapeño.

Ghost peppers grow well in well-draining containers that are at least 3 to 5 gallons in size.

Habanero

Habanero peppers are hotter than jalapeños and are commonly used to make homemade salsa.

They take longer to mature than some other pepper varieties but are long-season producers that can continue producing fruit well into fall in many areas.

A single habanero plant can produce around 50 to 100 peppers, even when grown in a small space.

Banana

Banana peppers are commonly eaten fresh in salads or sliced and pickled for use as sandwich toppings.

They are well suited to container growing, and mature plants generally reach about 30 inches tall.

Cayenne

Cayenne peppers are commonly dried and ground into a spice, but they can also be eaten fresh, cooked, pickled, or used in salsas and hot sauces.

They typically take about 70 to 100 days to reach full maturity. Harvest them when the skins turn a bright fire-engine red.

Healthy cayenne plants can produce approximately 30 to 80 peppers. Their heat level is usually around 10 times hotter than jalapeños.

Ornamental

Ornamental peppers are generally well suited to container growing, and their compact size makes them useful for small gardens and patios.

Popular varieties include ‘Easter,’ ‘Bolivian Rainbow,’ and ‘Numex Twilight.’ They produce small peppers that change color, ranging from yellow, orange, and red to deep purple.

These peppers are mainly grown for their unusual colors and attractive appearance rather than their flavor, but they are edible and can be quite hot.

Bell

Bell peppers are larger than most hot pepper plants, but they can still be grown successfully in containers with proper care.

Use a sturdy container that holds at least 3 to 5 gallons. Bell pepper plants also benefit from additional support to prevent their tall stems from breaking and to help support their larger, heavier fruits.