When I studied red knight bell peppers (X3R from Johnny’s Seeds) in South Dakota for graduate school, they loved the 90-degree Fahrenheit temperatures, possibly because of how dry and arid it was. Last summer, I really struggled with bell peppers as it was hot and humid with fluctuating temperatures in the 90’s and limited rainfall in July, August and early September. I grew the same red knight pepper but added a new one into the mix: SVPS0897, also called the lunchbox pepper. I wanted to change things up and try a new cultivar available that provided a unique shape that led to more convenience for healthy eating. This cultivar is resistant to bacterial leaf spot (BLS) and produces long and slender peppers that are good for dipping or snacking, similar to the shape of a jalapeno or poblano. Lunchbox or snacking peppers are hybrid varieties bred to be sweeter, better for cooking and come in various colors which appeals to the consumer.
Peppers are known for having many sensitivities during late summer, like blossom drop, sunscald and sometimes blossom end rot, which impact quality and yield of peppers over time. There is a common misconception with solanaceous crops that they thrive in very hot temperatures, but that isn’t always the case. Fruit set decreases in peppers once temperatures reach 85 degrees Fahrenheit and fruit on the vine is more susceptible to sunscald. I found that lunchbox and snacking pepper varieties performed better once temperatures settled into the 70’s and low 80’s in early September but had a hard time maintaining fruit set in the peak heat of July and August. I also noticed blossom drop and sunscald occurring during the extreme heat of the summer, which affected how many peppers I harvested. Considering how many lunchbox peppers I had on each plant in late September, this may be something to consider for high tunnel production as protected structures can get too hot for this variety. If these are planted in a high tunnel, a shade cloth may be necessary as it has been shown to decrease temperatures by 6-9 degrees according to University of Minnesota. Snacking peppers provide prolific yields, multiple harvests per plant and a unique slender shape perfect for easy access when snacking. That characteristic could provide growers a new opportunity at the market to carry sweet peppers longer into the fall with more sellable features. This may also be beneficial to urban growers, or small producers with limited growing space that could offer a different product at the market. Lunchbox, picnic or snacking pepper seeds can be found at Johnny’s Seeds, Burpees, High Mowing, Driftless Seed Supply, and Harris Seeds.*
*Illinois Extension does not endorse any seed companies listed