In this summer series, we will focus on several crops that can be grown, harvested, and enjoyed by your family and showcased to your local community at this year’s NC Mountain State Fair.

Peppers are a diverse plant with many different characteristics and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Peppers add texture, sweetness, and heat to many summer offerings, and are commonly grown in gardens all across WNC. Here is some information about how to grow, maintain, and harvest your peppers: 

• Soil Prep: Before planting, consider conducting a soil test and amend the soil if needed.

• Varieties: There are a variety of peppers including bell peppers (ex. Alliance), sweet peppers (Carmen, Lunchbox, etc.), hot peppers (Jalapenos- Early Jalapenos, Goliath Jalapenos, etc., Carolina reaper, Ghost pepper, Habanero, Cayenne, etc.), banana pepper (Escamillo, Hungarian Hot Wax, etc.), ornamental peppers (Medusa, Purple Flash, etc.), and other unique varieties. 

• Starting Seeds: Seeds can be started inside your home or outside in a covered greenhouse or hoop house in a container with soilless media to get an early start. Seeds can generally be started in mid-March and planted around mid-May after the frost free date for your area when the soil temperatures are higher.

• Germination and Care: Plants should be placed in areas that are well-drained and have 6-8 hrs. full sun to get good fruit set. Plants should be planted 1.5-2 feet from each other to allow for proper growth. In addition, staking is more than likely needed for many varieties due to the weight of the fruit. Irrigation is important with peppers needing about 1” of water per week to maintain good fruit size. Fertilization should be done on an as-needed basis prior to planting. Additionally fertilizer can be applied supplementally during the growing season.

• Ripening and Harvest: Peppers ripen and mature differently depending on the variety. Generally, peppers will ripen and harvest 60-90 days after transplanting.

This year’s NC Mountain State Fair will be held at the WNC Ag Center September 11th-20th. Entries can be submitted online and include categories specifically for horticultural categories and food preservation categories for both youth and adults to highlight peppers from their gardens. 

Entry deadline is August 28th, 2026 by 11:55pm and can be completed online, (tutorial can be found here). Entry drop-off is September 7th-8th 9:00am-7:00pm. See the full list of categories related to peppers, below:

Horticulture Entries:

Adult:

• Bell Pepper (CA005)
• Banana Pepper (CA007)
• Any other sweet pepper not listed (specify) (CA008)
• Hot Pepper (CA009)
• Best Garden Harvest Arrangement (8 or more pieces, under 40lbs, 24” x 24” x 24”) (CA066)

Youth:

• Peppers- Hot; Age 6-8 (IA002); Age 9-11 (IA202); Age 12-14 (IA602); Age 15-19 (IA802)
• Bell Peppers; Age 6-8 (IA003); Age 9-11 (IA203); Age 12-14 (IA603); Age 15-19 (IA803)
• Banana Peppers; Age 6-8 (IA004); Age 9-11 (IA204); Age 12-14 (IA304); Age 15-19 (IA804)
• Pepper- Any other sweet pepper (specify) not already listed; Age 6-8 (IA005); Age 9-11 (IA205); Age 12-14 (IA605); Age 15-19 (IA805)
• Fruit and/or vegetable arrangement in an old bucket, boot, or hat; Age 6-8 (IA049); Age 9-11 (IA249); Age 12-14 (IA649); Age 15-19 (IA849)

Food Preservation Entries: 

Adult:

• Hot Peppers in Vinegar (Whole) (EB076)
• Hot Peppers in Vinegar (Sliced) (EB077)
• Pepper Relish (EB088)
• Dried Peppers (EB109)

Youth:

• Vegetable not already listed (specify); Age 6-8 (IF007); Age 9-11 (IF207); Age 12-14 (IF607); Age 15-19 (IF807)
• Dried Vegetables; Age 6-8 (IF009); Age 9-11 (IF209); Age 12-14 (IF609); Age 15-19 (IF809)
• Relish- all types; Age 6-8 (IF029); Age 9-11 (IF229); Age 12-14 (IF629); Age 15-19 (IF829)

For comprehensive entry categories and other information, see the full fair catalog here. 

We hope to see you at this year’s NC Mountain State Fair! Reach out with entry related questions to the WNC Ag Center Fair staff by calling  (828) 687-1414. For technical questions regarding how to grow your peppers, reach out to your local Extension office and we will be happy to assist you!