Red Knight X3R Hybrid Pepper Seeds

Days to Maturity: 66 from transplant

Superior disease resistance makes this big, blocky, delicious bell pepper one of the easiest to grow. Red Knight stands up to all types of bacterial leaf spot, not to mention tobacco mosaic virus and potato virus y. Whether you're a first-time gardener or a seasoned pro who appreciates ease of culture, you'll love how successful your pepper crop will be with Red Knight.

This big bell can be harvested green or red, depending on your needs. Thick-walled and crunchy, it sports 3 to 4 lobes and usually reaches 4½ inches high and wide. Pick it young for stuffing or slicing fresh; it will have maximum strength and keep its shape well. Or let it turn red for a sweeter, more mellow bite, packed with extra vitamins that only arise during the final days of ripening.

Red Knight is ultra-compact, with plants usually reaching just about 2 feet high. Stake them to support the bounty of heavy fruits, but feel free to grow them in large containers as well as in the garden. This is a great patio pepper, as attractive as it is productive.

Sow Red Knight X3R seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before last frost date, using your Bio Dome or other sterile, soilless medium. (If not using the Bio Dome, cover the seed lightly.) Germinate at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; it should sprout within 5 to 10 days. Grow the seedlings on at temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They're ready to transplant when they have at least 2 sets of true leaves. Tomatoes are good companions in the vegetable garden.