Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Roma Tomato vs. Banana Pepper
The comparison
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Easy |
| Germination time | 6–12 days | Not yet verified |
| Germination temperature | 24–32 °C75–90 °F | 27–32 °C81–90 °F |
| Sowing depth | Not yet verified | 6 mm¼ in |
| Spacing between plants | 46–61 cm1½–2 ft | 30 cm12 in |
| Days to maturity | 65–90 days from transplanting | 70–85 days from transplanting |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | Moderate |
| Containers | Yes, 19 L or largerYes, 5 gal or larger | Yes, 19 L or largerYes, 5 gal or larger |
| Frost tolerance | Tender (no frost) | Tender (no frost) |
| Soil pH | pH 5.8–6.8 | pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesSolanum lycopersicum
Roma is a plum-type paste tomato, Solanum lycopersicum. It is started from seed indoors or sown after frost in full sun, and it needs warm weather, steady watering, and support.
How to grow roma tomatoVegetablesCapsicum annuum
Banana peppers are mild, sweet Capsicum annuum peppers that grow best in full sun with evenly moist soil. Start seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, then set plants out after frost danger has passed.
How to grow banana pepperKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Roma Tomato vs. Banana Pepper vs. Acorn SquashAdd acorn squash as a third
Roma Tomato vs. Banana Pepper vs. Armenian CucumberAdd armenian cucumber as a third
Roma Tomato vs. Banana Pepper vs. ArtichokeAdd artichoke as a thirdRoma Tomato vs. Acorn SquashRoma Tomato against another vegetableBanana Pepper vs. Acorn SquashBanana Pepper against another vegetableRoma Tomato vs. Armenian CucumberRoma Tomato against another vegetableThe table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
