- Open-pollinated
- No heat
- 68 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- 0 SHU
- Green
King of the North
Open-pollinated no heat pepper from United States, 1999. Full-sized green bell that reddens in a short season, crisp and mildly sweet at either stage. Ready in about 68 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 19, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Heat
- No heat 0 SHU
- Pod
- Ribbed 4–6 oz (110–170 g) (estimated)
Blocky bell around 152 by 101 mm, large for a variety this early.
- Species
- Capsicum annuum
- Days to harvest
- 68 days (estimated) from transplant · Early
- Plant height
- 1½–2 ft (46–61 cm) (estimated) Compact
- Spacing
- 18 × 24 in (46 × 61 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 5 gal (20 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Easy-moderate (estimated) 2/5
- Skin
-
- Green
- Red
Heat
Scoville heat units
No heat
King of the North Scoville heat units: 0 SHU
No heat at all, the band California Wonder and Jimmy Nardello sit in. Sweet enough to eat raw by the handful, and it includes Habanada, a habanero with the heat bred out.
Flavor
“Full-sized green bell that reddens in a short season, crisp and mildly sweet at either stage.”
Growing calendar
68 (estimated) days from transplant Early
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 7–9 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Stuffing
- Roasting
- Slicing
- Short season
- Cold climate
- Beginner friendly
- Market favorite
Origin
King of the North is a northern bell pepper listed by Henry Fields. The Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions compendium records it as early maturing at about 65 days, a bell type with fruit around 152 by 101 mm, in a 1999 entry. It is one of the standard answers to the problem of growing full-sized bells in a short season: the plant sets fruit early rather than waiting for a long warm run. A separate improved strain is sold alongside it under the name King of the North Improved.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyAll photos
Questions
How do you grow a King of the North plant?
A King of the North plant grows 1½–2 ft (46–61 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 18 in (46 cm) apart in rows 24 in (61 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 7–9 weeks before your last frost (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does King of the North take to mature?
King of the North is ready in about 68 days from transplant.
How hot is King of the North?
King of the North sits in the no heat range, about 0–0 Scoville heat units. Figures vary between seed sellers, so treat them as a band rather than a measurement.
Can King of the North be grown in a container?
Yes — King of the North grows well in a container of at least 20 L (5 gal).
Is King of the North resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for King of the North.
