Overview
Whether sweet or spicy, peppers add multiple dimensions to our foods. Peppers come in a grand diversity of shapes, colors and flavors. Most peppers are high in Vitamin C. Capsaicin, the 'heat' in hot peppers, provides many health benefits.
Conditions
For soil, use a fertile well-draining potting mix that’s tailored for vegetables. For best quality crop, provide full sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight per day) and consistent moisture (don’t let the topsoil become dry to the touch). Abundant phosphorus and calcium are essential for pepper skin development and needed for the best results.
Planting
Use our grow calendar tool to find specific planting dates for your region! Seeds germinate in 10-14 days.
Plant seeds indoors in starter pots or trays 8-10 weeks before the desired transplant date. Pepper seeds germinate slowly in cooler temperatures, so try to keep soil temperatures above 80°F for germination, and then around 70°F thereafter. Transition outside (harden) for 7 days before outdoor transplant. Space 12-18" apart for most peppers, though some may need 18-24" spacing for larger growth.
Care
When flowers appear, amend the soil with calcium to aid in fruit development. Crush eggshells into powder and side dress the peppers.
Harvest
Pick the first peppers promptly when they reach full size to encourage further fruit sets. The longer bell peppers stay on the plant, the more sweet they become and the greater their vitamin C content.
