Peppers come in hundreds of varieties, and they are incredibly easy to grow. Whether you enjoy tangy bell peppers in your stir-fry, sweet banana peppers in your salads, or a hot bite of jalapeños to top off your beans, growing peppers is for you. There is a wide range of peppers to choose from, and they make a fantastic addition to any meal, whether eaten fresh, used in sauces, boiled, steamed, roasted, pickled, or dried. They are especially delicious when cooked on the grill or even fried. What’s incredible about peppers is that they are loaded with vitamins, often considered a “free” food on many diets, and, above all, they are tasty. There are just a few things you need to know to become an expert at growing peppers!
How to Grow Peppers Successfully
Choosing Your Peppers
The first step is to decide which varieties of peppers you want to grow. Reading gardening books about peppers, as well as recipe books, can help you decide based on how you plan to use them. It’s recommended to grow a few different types, ranging from sweet to hot and spicy, so you can enjoy a variety of flavors. After you’ve grown peppers for a few years, you’ll have time to experiment with different types and will surely develop some favorites.
Whether to grow peppers from seeds or transplants is a personal choice. Growing from seeds is less expensive, but it will take longer before you begin to see peppers. Unless you’re particularly interested in growing seedlings, most gardeners prefer transplanting young plants. You can find both seeds and started plants at most garden centers.
When buying started pepper plants, make sure they are healthy, with three to five sets of green leaves and sturdy stems. This is a good sign that the roots are healthy. Avoid purchasing wilted or unhealthy-looking plants, or plants that haven’t developed sufficient leaves.
Determining Where to Plant Them
There are three essential ingredients for a thriving pepper garden: direct sunlight, water, and well-draining, fertile soil. Choose a spot that receives full sunlight for most of the day. To ensure the soil is right, compost aged manure into the ground, which will provide the necessary nitrogen to get your peppers started. If possible, using black plastic mulch in early spring will help keep the soil warm, although in warmer climates, this may not be necessary. One last tip when selecting a location: avoid planting peppers in the same spot for two consecutive years, as the soil will be depleted and make your peppers more susceptible to disease.
Knowing When to Plant Them
Peppers are not frost-tolerant. If starting from seeds, they need to be started indoors in late winter. Transplants should be planted in the spring after the last frost when both the air and soil are warm.
How to Plant Them
Pepper transplants should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. The holes you dig need to be deep enough to cover the transplant’s roots. To prepare for planting, fill the holes with water and allow it to soak in. Take care when removing the transplants from their containers, making sure not to disturb or break the roots. Place the plants in the holes and cover the roots with soil, leaving a slight dip around each plant to hold water. After planting, water the transplants thoroughly.
How to Care for Peppers
Peppers are relatively easy to care for. They require deep watering to develop strong roots and prevent wilting. It’s ideal to occasionally spray them with water using a light sprayer or use a soaking hose for watering. Keeping weeds away from your pepper plants is crucial. Hoeing too close to the plants can damage them, so it may be necessary to remove weeds by hand.
While most pests don’t typically bother peppers, aphids can be a problem. You can control aphids by encouraging aphid-eating insects, like ladybugs, or by using recommended chemicals for aphid control. If you notice leaf spots, it’s important to consult with a local expert to find out the best treatment for the specific disease affecting your plants.
When to Pick Peppers
Peppers are usually ready to harvest when they are fully mature. Picking peppers frequently will increase the overall yield of your crop. If you pick peppers while they’re still immature, many of them will continue to develop. Leaving peppers on the plant until they are fully ripe can help improve the flavor, especially with certain types of peppers.
