How To Grow Peppers In Your Garden
Peppers are not only a versatile and delicious addition to your culinary endeavours but also a rewarding crop to grow in your garden. Whether you prefer the cool crunch of a sweet bell pepper or the feisty fire of a chilli pepper, there’s none more satisfying than those you’ve grown yourself. Read on for how to grow peppers in your garden, from choosing the right varieties to caring for your plants and enjoying a successful harvest.
Step 1: Select the right pepper varieties
Start by choosing pepper varieties that suit your taste preferences and growing conditions. The most common choices include bell peppers, jalapenos, serranos, cayenne peppers, and habaneros. Things to consider when selecting the peppers that you want to grow is the heat level, colour, and size you want.
Bell peppers have the highest Vitamin C of any fruit or vegetable. In fact, it’s 3 times more than oranges.
Step 2: Prepare the soil
Peppers thrive in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Before planting, prepare the soil by incorporating compost and aged manure to improve fertility and moisture retention.
Step 3: Start seeds indoors
Peppers need warmth and sunshine to thrive. Warmth is especially important for germination and then to encourage strong growth of the seedlings, so they will need to be started indoors or under cover in most climates for at least 8 – 10 weeks. Start by planting the seeds in seedling trays or small pots filled with seed-starting mix. Space seeds at least 2.5cm apart across the surface and then cover with a little more mix. You might want to wear gloves if handing seeds, especially hot varieties, and avoid rubbing your eyes after touching them.
Step 4: Transplant seedlings
Once the seedlings have developed a few sets of true leaves, it’s time to transplant them into your garden. Peppers love sunshine, so reserve them a place in full sun where they will get at least six hours of direct sunshine every day. Plant peppers directly into open ground that’s been improved with plenty of organic matter, such as garden compost. Set plants a minimum of 40cm apart. Use good-quality potting soil enriched with added organic matter and plant the young peppers so that the soil surface reaches just shy of the rim. This will help to avoid runoff every time you water.
Step 5: Provide adequate care
Water the peppers regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, especially during hot or dry periods. Avoid overwatering as it can lead to root rot. Mulching around the plants can help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Make sure you fertilise the peppers with an organic fertiliser or a specific pepper fertiliser.
Pepper plants prefer moist, but not wet, soil. Watering regularly will keep your plants producing fruits. Mulching will help hold moisture in as temperatures rise.
Step 6: Support and pruning
As the pepper plants grow, they may benefit from support structures like stakes or cages to prevent branches from breaking under the weight of fruit. Some pepper varieties may require pruning to maintain shape and encourage better airflow. Pinch out the growing point at the tip once plants reach about 20cm to stimulate plants to product more branches.
Early season pruning is done to accomplish three things: establishing a strong branch structure, encourage root development, and manage diseases. Late season pruning is done to hasten fruit ripening when frost threatens.
Step 7: Harvesting
Peppers typically ripen within 60 to 90 days from transplanting. Harvest them as soon as they have taken on their colour. Cut the fruit away with a sharp pair of clean pruners then store in the refrigerator ready to enjoy.
The world’s hottest pepper is the Carolina Reaper – 500 times hotter than a TABASCO® pepper. Ouch!
Growing peppers in your garden allows you to enjoy a variety of flavours, from mild and sweet to fiery and bold. By selecting the right varieties, preparing the soil, and providing proper care you can cultivate healthy pepper plants and reap a plentiful harvest.