All About the Beautiful Poblano Pepper

Are you looking for a mildly spicy pepper to grow in your garden? The Poblano pepper will be the perfect heat-tolerant, low-maintenance addition to your summer vegetable garden and your recipes!

Keep reading to learn more about this pepper variety and how to keep the plants happy and healthy.

Looking for Poblano pepper seeds? Check availability here!

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History of the Poblano Pepper

The delicious Poblano pepper originates from the mountains in Mexico’s Puebla region. It most likely comes from Cholula, which has been an inhabited Mexican city since about 800 B.C. Due to its location, it is a staple to many Mexican dishes, offering food a little spicy kick.

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Characteristics of the Poblano Pepper

Poblano pepper plants can grow up to around two feet tall at full maturity. This type of pepper plant is quite heat-tolerant, as it prefers warm climates.

They produce white flowers throughout the growing season, which turn into chili peppers.

Pepper Qualities

A Poblano has an elongated heart shape and has two different colors as it grows. The first is a deep evergreen-like shade of green, and the second is brown-red. The green stage produces a milder pepper.

Pepper Size

Poblano peppers typically grow up to six inches long and about two inches wide.

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Growing and Caring for Your Poblano Pepper Plants

Growing and caring for pepper plants is relatively easy and low-maintenance. They don’t require special care outside of what you provide the rest of your garden with.

Planting from Seeds

If you decide to plant your Poblano peppers from seeds, you should start them indoors first. Build your own seed-starting setup to get a head start on the growing season.

Typically you’ll plant the pepper plants in small containers at least eight to 12 weeks before the predicted final frost. During this time, they’ll need plenty of water and warmth, so be sure to use a heating pad for your seedlings.

If you purchase pepper plants rather than seeds, you should plant them in your garden after the final frost.

Planting Zones

Poblanos grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11. They do best in warm climates (above 70 degrees every day during the growing season).

Growing Season

The growing season for Poblanos is roughly from April until the end of August. The plant will typically stop growing in height by July but can produce peppers until the end of summer.

Size and Spacing

Poblano pepper plants will grow up to 2.5 feet tall, with spreads of up to a foot. Due to their small size, you only need to plant them one to two feet apart. Rows need to be a minimum of two feet apart.

Use our How to Plant Peppers guide for more pepper-growing information.

Pollination

Poblano pepper plants are self-pollinating, as the flowers have both female and male parts.

Sunlight

This pepper variety prefers to have full sunlight when growing. Full sun is about six to eight hours of sunlight per day.

Soil

Pepper plants need slightly acidic and well-drained soil to thrive. The pH of the soil should be somewhere between 5.5 to 7.0.

Incorporating organic matter or rocks into the soil can help with proper drainage.

Watering

Poblano plants will need about an inch of water each week. Keep the soil damp to the touch but not saturated and soggy.

Fertilizing

You can typically fertilize your pepper plants every other week after planting them in your garden. They like nutrient-rich soil, so vegetable fertilizer can help supplement what the soil doesn’t have.

Pruning

Poblano pepper plants don’t need much pruning. You’ll just need to cut off any dead or diseased parts of the plant throughout the growing season.

Possible Diseases

Some diseases you might encounter while caring for your pepper plants include the following:

• Blight – a fungal disease that causes browning and yellowing.
• Verticillium wilt – a fungal disease that causes sudden yellowing and death to parts of the plant.
• Bacterial leaf spot – a bacterial disease that causes small brown spots on the leaves.

Typically the only way to get rid of diseases is to cut off the diseased areas to prevent spreading.

Possible Pests

Some pests you might notice include the following:

• Aphids – tiny sap-sucking bugs.
• Hornworms – moth caterpillars that will eat your plant.

Organic neem pesticides can help rid your plants of these pests.

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When to Harvest Poblano Peppers

These peppers are annual plants with ready-to-harvest peppers about 65 to 80 days post-planting. When the pepper is around six inches long, you can pick them. If you want them red and a little spicier, you’ll need to wait up to 100 days post-planting.

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Eating Poblano Peppers

You can enjoy this pepper variety, either raw or cooked. They make a great addition to any recipe that requires peppers.

What Do They Taste Like?

Poblanos have a delicious earthiness to them with a hint of heat. They have a mild spice level compared to other hot peppers. The pepper sits towards the bottom of the Scoville Scale at 1,000-1,500.

Cooking With Poblanos

Cooking Poblanos mellows their spiciness, allowing a little sweetness to shine. They’re one of the best peppers for stuffing, grilling, and roasting.

Drying Poblanos

Another way to use this pepper is to dry them in the oven, sun, or in a dehydrator. Dried Poblanos are Ancho chilies. They offer a nice smokiness with a little spicy kick.

Poblano Pepper Recipe Ideas

You can use these green chili peppers as toppings in many dishes such as Samosa Chaat, or feature them as the main attraction in Poblano Chicken Cheese Soup or Smoky Poblano Corn Pudding.

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Health Benefits of Poblanos

Poblano peppers are chock full of antioxidants and nutrients, including 134% of your daily vitamin C! Here are some possible health benefits from eating these peppers:

• Reduction of pain
• Reduction of inflammation
• A boost in your immune health

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Wrapping Up the Poblano Pepper

Consider the Poblano pepper if you want a new pepper variety in your garden. They are the perfect addition with their low-maintenance care requirements, heat tolerance, and large crop yields. They’ll add mild heat to all your favorite dishes and help you explore new flavors!

Read all about peppers for more information on growing peppers!