Senga's Blog
Eco-chic Outdoor Living & Exterior Design
Feb. 19/2010 The Planning Stage: Baby Belle Peppers
Colourful Edibles for Your Containers
Hors d'oeuvres? Instant snack? Or the prettiest little pepper you'll ever see? Personally I am not a pepper fan – no way no how! To me they taste and smell like old gym socks – not that I have ever taste tested a pair (although our dog Shelby has chewed on a few!). But this is a staple favourite of my husband chef and he tirelessly tries to incorporate them into many dishes hoping that I won’t notice. But I can see and smell them a mile off. And not like a 10 year old I 
carefully mine them off of pizzas and pick them out of salads and vegetable dishes. And then there is the Shelby eagerly waiting under the table to pick up those chunks that ‘accidently’ fall off my plate and onto the floor!
It seems like people can't get enough of these crisp, sweet cuties so I am succumbing to popular vote and meeting my husband half way and have come up with growing the miniature version of this vegetable. Truth be known I am excited by the ornamental merits of this particular mix of red and yellow baby fruits that grow in pretty bunches on extremely prolific, dense and compact plants. They will make the perfect compliment in my ornamental container garden in our outdoor dining patio.
Baby Bell Peppers Information You Need to Know
Botanical name: Capsicum annuum ‘Red F1 and Yellow F1’
Common Name: Red F1 and Yellow F1 Baby Bell Peppers
Country of Origin: Italy
Description: Red and Yellow Heavy 2”x 2.5” long fruits on compact 2’ high plant.
Best harvested: Can be picked when green but leave them on vine and allow turning yellow or red will result in a sweeter in taste.
Time to Plant: Indoors Feb 15 (6 - 8 weeks before last spring frost).
Where to Sow and Grow: Full sun min. 6 hours/day and lots of heat and moisture.
Space: Individual containers 40cm dia. (15”) x 40cm (15”) tall. Or in garden 60cm (12”) apart
Maturity: 80 Days
Tip: Water daily when plant begins setting fruit.
Taste: Sweet
Uses: Slice in salads, stuffed, roasted, stir fried, or simply grilled on the BBQ.
Place in Garden: In containers on patios for ornamental as well as edible.
