11 Peppers That Love Growing In Containers

If you have a sunny spot outdoors, you can probably grow peppers in containers. Whether it’s a balcony or your backyard, all you need is a bright location and a watering can.

Okay, there’s a bit more to it than just that. However, growing peppers in pots is one of the easiest ways to start growing as a beginner. In fact, it’s how we got started with our gardening journey.

One of the most important choices you’ll make is which variety to grow in a container. Some peppers are better suited for growing in pots than others. So, in this article, I’ll share 11 different peppers to grow in containers.

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1. Dwarf Peppers

If you don’t have much space, then opting for a dwarf pepper variety could be for you. There are many peppers that never grow more than 8-10″ tall, regardless of their planting location.

So, try peppers like the medusa or fire and ice to grow in small pots. You can also plant these ornamental peppers around the edges of larger planters, or along pathways for a bright pop of color.

The peppers are edible, though some taste better than others. If you are looking for low-heat peppers, the chilly chili is a good dwarf variety.

2. Cayenne Peppers

Cayenne peppers make great container plants. The size of the container you choose will impact the overall size of the plant (and harvest), so keep that in mind when picking a pot.

There are many different types of cayenne peppers, from small chilies, to the 12″+ Joe’s long cayenne. However, for container growing, I’d recommend sticking to a cayenne pepper that is on the short side, around 3-5″.

Good container cayennes include the cayenne “red ember” (pictured above), or the “cayennetta.” If you want extra heat, try the “ring of fire” cayenne.

3. Quintisho Peppers

While you may not have heard of the quintisho, it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth growing! This Capsicum chinense variety has an incredible growth pattern, perfect for growing in a container.

The plants are extremely sturdy, producing lots of branches. Later in the season, the plants are loaded with gumball-sized fruits that ripen to a beautiful golden color.

The flavor is also unique, similar to a habanero with a lovely citrus note. However, be ready for the heat, as quintisho peppers are pretty hot, around 20,000 SHUs!

4. Jalapeños

Tip: For the best results, plant jalapeños in 3-5 gallon containers or larger.

5. Thai Chilies

If cayenne pepper just isn’t hot enough for your tastes, you can step it up to Thai chilies. These fiery peppers grow on beautiful plants. The fruits grow upright in clusters, and people often say they look like flames pointing straight up!

Thai chilies are great for making homemade powder or hot sauce, and are easy to grow in pots. The smaller plant size is perfect for a balcony garden, and you can get a decent harvest off of 1-2 foot tall plants.

6. Bell Peppers

While they may not be my first recommendation to grow in pots, you can definitely grow bell peppers in containers. In fact, every year we grow at least 1 or 2 plants in pots.

The most important thing is to give each plant a large container to grow in. Bell peppers need at least a 5 gallons pot to produce a good harvest, and ideally even larger.

Choose bell varieties that are well-suited for containers like the smaller “Eros” variety, or the majestic sweet bell (pictured above).

7. Ghost Peppers

If you like it super spicy, then you’ll be happy to know that you can grow ghost peppers (and other superhots) in containers. Contrary to popular belief, ghost pepper plants can be enormous, easily producing hundreds of peppers per plant.

So, if you want a large harvest, plant your ghost peppers in the largest container possible. However, you can also keep the plants compact by growing in smaller pots.

Provide the plants with support as they grow larger to avoid broken branches. Keep in mind that ghost peppers and other C. chinense species peppers need a long growing season, often 120 days after transplanting!

8. Rocotos

Rocoto peppers are rare in the United States, and are much more popular in South and Central America. They come from another species (Capsicum pubescens), and have a distinct growth pattern.

They grow well in containers, but keep in mind that the plants don’t like excessive heat. So, it may be best to grow these in partial shade, allowing the plants to cool off during the hot afternoons.

Rocotos are tasty and hot, and have unique traits. The leaves and stems are fuzzy, and the seeds inside are black! We usually shop at semillas la palma for a good selection of rocoto seeds.

9. Habaneros

Habanero peppers are a staple in our home for making super spicy salsa and delicious habanero hot sauce. The peppers are surprisingly fruity and flavorful, if you can handle the heat!

Like ghost peppers, habanero plants can grow to be fairly large, so be sure to give them a large enough pot. However, if you’re short on space, keep them in a smaller container to keep the plant size down.

10. Aji Peppers

11. Santaka

One of our favorite simple chili peppers is the Japanese santaka variety. These plants can grow to be very large, or kept relatively compact when grown in a smaller container.

If you’re looking for a tasty, spicy culinary chili pepper, you have to try the santaka. The plants are sturdy and produce lots and lots of chilies throughout the season. This is one of the perfect starter peppers (which is why we included a seed packet with our starter kit bundle!)

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Using containers makes growing peppers accessible to almost anyone. If you’ve been thinking about trying to grow your own peppers, try any of the varieties mentioned in this article!