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Anaheim pepper plant with long green mild chile fruit ripening red

How to Grow Anaheim Pepper From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

The Anaheim is a long, slender chile that grows 6 to 8 inches and ripens from glossy green to red. It is a mild chile, running about 500 to 2,500 Scoville, so it delivers gentle, warm flavor rather than real burn. Best known as the classic roasting and stuffing pepper for chiles rellenos, the Anaheim has thick walls and a fresh, grassy flavor. Vigorous and heavy-yielding, it is a Southwestern kitchen essential that is easy to grow at home.

Ready to grow your own? Shop Mild Pepper Anaheim Seeds from Organo Republic.

This is the quick guide to Anaheim. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, transplanting, feeding, and troubleshooting peppers, see our complete guide to growing peppers from seed.

Quick start

Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost, kept warm at 75 to 85F. Harden the plants off, then transplant them out 18 to 24 inches apart once nights stay above 55F. Give full sun, steady water, and a stake or cage to support the long fruit. Pick peppers green for roasting from about 75 to 80 days, or let them ripen to red at around 90 days for a sweeter, slightly hotter flavor.

Best tip

Anaheim is a productive, forgiving chile, but its heat and flavor deepen with warmth and sun. Start seeds indoors early and wait until nights stay above 55F to transplant. In very hot regions like Texas or Florida, a little afternoon shade during heat waves helps blossoms set; note that hot, dry stress can also push the heat higher. Pick green for roasting and stuffing, or leave a few to ripen red for a sweeter, slightly bolder flavor.

At a glance

How to Grow Anaheim Pepper From Seed — growing specifications at a glance
Botanical name	Capsicum annuum
Plant type	Warm-season annual
USDA zones	3 to 12 (grown as an annual)
Sun	Full sun (6 to 8+ hours)
Days to maturity	75 to 80 days green; ~90 red
Height	24 to 36 inches
Spacing	18 to 24 inches apart
Water	Regular and deep; keep evenly moist

Uses

The Anaheim is the go-to roasting chile. Fire-roast and peel it for chiles rellenos, green chile sauce, and enchiladas, or chop it fresh into salsas and cornbread. With its long body and thick walls, it stuffs and freezes well, and dried red Anaheims become the mild chile powder used across Southwestern cooking. At 500 to 2,500 Scoville it offers warmth without overwhelming heat, making it a versatile family favorite.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an Anaheim pepper take to grow?

Anaheim peppers are ready to pick green for roasting in about 75 to 80 days from transplant, and ripen red by around 90 days. Start seeds indoors roughly 8 weeks before your last frost.

How hot is an Anaheim pepper?

Anaheim is a mild chile, running about 500 to 2,500 Scoville, so it offers gentle warmth rather than real burn. Hot, dry growing conditions can push the heat toward the upper end of that range.

Should I pick Anaheim peppers green or red?

Pick them glossy green, around 6 to 8 inches long, for the classic roasting and stuffing flavor. If you leave them on the plant to ripen red, they become sweeter and a little hotter.

How big does an Anaheim plant get and does it need staking?

Plants grow about 24 to 36 inches tall and carry long, heavy fruit. A stake or cage helps support the branches so the long peppers do not drag the plant down.

Ready to grow your own? Anaheim seeds give you long, mild chiles that are perfect for roasting, stuffing, and green chile sauce. For the full step-by-step, see our complete pepper growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Anaheim Pepper Seeds – Non-GMO HeirloomHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Anaheim — mild chile peppers ideal for roasting and stuffing.

Price$4.99

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Pepper Seeds Variety Pack – Non-GMO Heirloom13 super-hot varietiesThirteen fiery chilis for heat lovers, from habanero to the hottest peppers we carry.

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.