EXPLORE PEPPERS
Peppers With Personality.
From Sweet & Mild to Seriously Hot.
Discover colorful sweets, flavorful culinary peppers, unusual specialties, and serious heat—distinctive varieties selected for flavor, character, and proven backyard performance, offered seasonally as both starter plants and fresh-picked produce.
EXPLORE THE COLLECTION
Find the Right Pepper for You
From sweet and mild favorites to serious heat and unusual specialties, explore the collection by flavor, heat level, and culinary use to discover peppers worth growing—and eating.
Sweet & Mild
Flavor-forward peppers with little to no heat, perfect for fresh eating, cooking, roasting, and more.
Medium Heat
Approachable heat with plenty of flavor for everyday cooking, salsas, pickling, and fresh use.
Hot Peppers
Flavorful peppers that bring serious heat to sauces, cooking, drying, and adventurous eating.
Superhot Peppers
Extreme-heat varieties grown for experienced chile enthusiasts, collectors, and serious hot-sauce makers.
Specialty & Unique
Distinctive peppers selected for unusual colors, shapes, flavors, histories, and standout garden appeal.
Fresh Peppers
Discover the sweet, hot, and specialty peppers currently coming out of the garden during harvest season.
FEATURED PEPPERS
A Few Backyard Favorites
From sweet and flavorful to seriously hot, these are just a few of the distinctive pepper varieties you’ll find growing at KC Backyard Garden.
Fish Pepper
A historic hot pepper with striking variegated foliage and striped fruits that ripen through a beautiful range of colors.
Doe Hill Golden Bell
A charming heirloom sweet pepper with small, golden-orange fruits prized for their rich flavor and crisp texture.
Jimmy Nardello
A beloved Italian heirloom with long, slender red peppers celebrated for their exceptional sweet flavor when fried or roasted.
Brazilian Starfish
An unusual Brazilian pepper with distinctive star-shaped fruits, fruity flavor, and a lively kick of heat.
Pimenta de Neyde
A dramatic dark-purple pepper prized for its striking appearance, fruity flavor, and serious heat.
Fried Chicken
A rare and unforgettable superhot with deeply textured fruits, intense heat, and a look unlike almost anything else in the garden.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions? I've Got You Covered.
From choosing the right tomato for your space to understanding availability and harvests, here are answers to some of the questions I hear most often.
What’s the difference between sweet, mild, hot, and superhot peppers?
Pepper heat is commonly measured using the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) scale, but heat can vary somewhat based on variety and growing conditions. Sweet peppers have little to no noticeable heat, while mild and medium peppers add increasing levels of warmth. Hot peppers deliver considerably more heat, and superhot varieties can reach extreme levels. Check the individual variety information to find a pepper that matches your preferred flavor and heat level.
How do I choose the right pepper plant for my garden?
Start with how you plan to use your peppers—fresh eating, cooking, frying, sauces, drying, preserving, or simply growing something unusual. Then consider your preferred heat level, available growing space, and whether you’ll be planting in the ground, a raised bed, or a container. KC Backyard Garden offers everything from sweet heirlooms to unusual specialty peppers and seriously hot varieties, so there’s plenty to explore beyond the typical garden-center selection.
Can I grow peppers in containers?
Absolutely. Many pepper varieties grow very well in containers when given adequate root space, good drainage, consistent moisture, and plenty of sunlight. Container size requirements vary by variety, but larger containers generally provide more consistent moisture and room for healthy root development. If space is limited, ask about varieties that are particularly well suited for patios, decks, and container gardens.
How much sun do pepper plants need?
Peppers generally perform best in full sun, with at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Plenty of sunlight supports strong growth, flowering, and fruit production. During periods of extreme summer heat, however, some afternoon protection can help reduce plant stress and sunscald on exposed fruit.
When are peppers ready to harvest?
Many peppers can be harvested while green or immature, but allowing them to mature often develops their characteristic color, flavor, sweetness, and heat. Depending on the variety, ripe peppers may turn yellow, orange, red, purple, brown, or other colors. Check the information for your specific variety, since each pepper has its own ideal harvest stage—and you can often harvest at multiple stages depending on how you plan to use it.
How hot are your hot and superhot pepper varieties?
Heat levels vary dramatically across the KC Backyard Garden pepper collection. Some varieties provide manageable warmth, while our hottest peppers can reach extremely high Scoville ratings and should be harvested, prepared, and handled carefully. Individual variety information provides more specific heat guidance so you know what you’re growing before you take that first bite. 🌶️🔥
NEED A LITTLE HELP?
Have a Pepper Question?
Not sure which plant is right for your space, wondering what’s currently available, or looking for something specific? Send me a quick note and I’ll be happy to help point you in the right direction.