Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, poblanos are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing poblanos.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Poblanos Belong To?
Poblanos (Capsicum annuum, var. annuum 'Poblano') belong to the Solanaceae family, also known as the nightshade family.
Some of their relatives include habaneros, eggplants, and ground cherries.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Poblanos?
The minimum container size recommended for poblanos is 5 gallons.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Poblanos?
Some of poblanos' best companions are as follows:
- Other peppers such as bell pepper and jalapeño
- Basil
- Clovers such as red clover
- Marigold
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Carrot
- Parsnip
- Okra
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Squash
- Eggplant
- Ginger
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Poblanos?
Poblanos are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with poblanos are as follows:
- Cabbage, komatsuna, and other Brassicas
- Beans like green beans
- Fennel
- Black walnut
- Wild ginger
What Soil Conditions Do Poblanos Need?
Poblanos prefer well-draining, rich, loamy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
How Long Do Poblanos Take to Germinate?
Poblanos take 6-14 days to germinate at a temperature of 70-90°F.
How Much Sun Do Poblanos Need?
Poblanos need full sun in most climates.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and poblanos grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need some shade.
How Much Water Do Poblanos Need?
Poblanos need 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Poblanos?
Poblanos grow fastest in temperatures of 70-85°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some poblano varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Poblanos Get?
The average height of poblanos is 2 feet.
Are Poblanos Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Poblanos are perennial, meaning that they live for longer than a couple years, when grown in Hardiness Zones 9-11.
In climates colder than this, they are annual vegetables, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year.
Learn more about USDA hardiness zones here.
How Do Poblanos Reproduce?
Poblanos reproduce by seed.
How Many Poblanos Are Produced Per Plant?
For poblanos, how many are produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and variety as well as the growing conditions.
Most poblano plants produce 8 peppers at a time. Once those 8 peppers are picked, they will produce 8 more peppers.
The number of times peppers are produced depends on growing conditions, growing season length, how quickly peppers are picked, and other factors. Most of the time, it equates to 20-40 peppers per plant per year.
Perennial poblanos may see production at the upper end of this range or even higher.
Can Poblanos Be Ingested?
Poblano fruits (peppers) are edible.
Poblanos do not have any known uses in herbal preparations.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting poblano fruits.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of poblanos rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for poblanos here!
Poblanos are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: