Peppers are a delicious, nutritious crop that is easy to grow. There are many different varieties, flavors and colors to choose from – sweet, hot and more.
In order to grow peppers successfully, you need to follow a few simple tips. Start with a good quality soil, rich in organic nutrients and well-drained.
Planting
Peppers require a long growing season, warm soil and lots of sun. They are also frost sensitive.
Start seeds indoors in early spring (March in North Tennessee). Plant them outside after the last frost date has passed. Or buy starter plants for the most popular varieties at garden centers or nurseries.
Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist. Peppers need 1-2 inches of water per week.
Be sure to mulch around pepper plants with 2 to 3 inches of Scotts(r) Nature Scapes(r) bagged mulch, straw, shredded leaves, pine straw or untreated grass clippings.
Once peppers are established, you can remove the mulch. Side-dress with a time-release organic fertilizer, such as 5-10-10, at transplanting or when fruit sets.
Watering
Watering peppers is an important part of their overall growth and fruit development. Failure to water properly can cause plants to wilt, shrivel leaves and produce sour-tasting fruits.
Depending on the age of the plant, peppers need different amounts of water. Early on, they may need more frequent watering to maintain consistent soil moisture and encourage root development.
Once the plant reaches flowering and fruiting stage, it will need less water. But keep in mind that overwatering can trigger standing water, which can scald fruit and reduce leaf area.
If you’re growing indoors, check the soil moisture often to make sure your peppers are getting enough water. Warmer weather will evaporate more moisture, so adjust your watering schedule accordingly.
Fertilizing
When growing peppers, it is important to fertilize the plant with a nutrient-rich fertilizer. This will help the plant produce healthy foliage and roots.
For pepper plants, it is best to use a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These three nutrients are essential for the development of strong stems and leafy growth.
The best fertilizers are slow-release formulas that release the nutrients over time. These products are a great choice for gardeners who don’t want to reapply fertilizer frequently.
For fertilizing peppers, it is best to use a 5-10-10 fertilizer that contains 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 10% potassium. This fertilizer will provide all of the nutrients your plant needs without over-fertilizing it.
Pruning
Pruning is a vital part of pepper plant care, and it can be used to increase yields, improve fruit quality, and encourage healthy growth. Early season pruning enhances the strength and shape of the plant, while midseason and end-of-season pruning help maintain good health and pest control.
For small-fruited pepper varieties, such as habanero and jalapeno, the central growing point of the plant may be pruned or pinched to promote branching growth. Large-fruited varieties, such as bell peppers, may not be pruned the same way because they develop into a natural Y-shaped plant.
In late-season, remove leaves and branches that shade developing fruit to accelerate their color development and ripen before the first frost. This also helps the flavor of the peppers to mature quicker, ensuring you get more delicious fruits from your crop.
Harvesting
Peppers ripen at different rates and if you want to get the most out of your pepper crop, knowing when they are ripe is key. The general rule of thumb is that sweet peppers ripen around 60-90 days, and hot varieties like jalapenos and habaneros can take up to 150 days.
When ripe, the fruit has a firm texture and thick walls. You can eat them fresh, cook with them, or can them for future use.
When harvesting peppers, make sure you remove some of the stem to encourage more growth and higher yields. If you don’t, the pepper will rot more quickly and the plant will become vulnerable to disease.