How to Grow Peppers: Gardening Guide

Learning how to grow peppers is more than worth your time if you enjoy eating them as much as we do.

How many times have you bought peppers from the supermarket and later realize that they don’t have that taste that we all know and love from garden peppers? 

Even if the size of the peppers we find in any supermarket is more than generous, the taste is not at all similar to the original one. That’s why you need to learn all you can about growing peppers on your own if you want that classic garden vegetable taste.

Read on below and discover all we have to teach you all about growing peppers, from a table with facts to answers to frequently asked questions and sharing tips and tricks!

About Growing Peppers

Pepper plants are grown for their unique fruits and are one of the most popular spring plants and best summer plants to grow. They are used as food, whether fresh, cooked or preserved. Pepper plants are annual herbaceous plants, with a tendency to be woody in two parts of the growing season. 

The plant requires a medium-sized container (or around 1.5 sq ft of space in the garden), and forms as a globular bush up to 15 to 20 inches in height and 10 to 15 inches in width. In the greenhouse, pepper plants may reach heights of over 6.5 ft tall.

The pepper has its origins on the American continent (South and Central America). Pepper has been cultivated since ancient times in countries such as Peru, Brazil, Mexico, USA (Texas). In Europe, peppers were first brought and cultivated in Spain and expanded to become a traditional vegetable in Hungary (pepper cultivation for paprika).

According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) statistics, more than 2.9 million acres are currently cultivated in the world, with a total production of over 14.5 million tons. 

China and Mexico are the largest pepper producers in the world, respectively growing 234 thousand acres and 222 thousand acres. Over 333 thousand acres are cultivated in Europe, the largest cultivators being Spain with 56.5 thousand acres, Bulgaria with 56 thousand acres, Romania with about 40 thousand acres, and Hungary with over 40,000 acres.

Quick Pepper Growing Information

How much light is needed:	Pepper plants need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Pepper loves light, the lack of which causes vegetative growth to the detriment of fruiting.
How much water is needed:	Peppers need water in large quantities, as do all vegetables.
Is it best to start with seeds or plants:	It is preferable to start with seeds.
The best month to plant:	Seedlings for crops that will be planted directly in the garden can be planted until mid-March.
Preferred climate/temperature:	The plants develop and grow optimally at temperatures of 70°F to 76°F.
Is indoor or outdoor growing better:	Peppers can be grown both indoors and outdoors.
Do indoor plants need to be pollinated:	In greenhouses and solariums in spring, it is necessary to pollinate with bumblebees, in order to decrease the number of aborted flowers.
Level of difficulty to grow:	Easy.
Plant height:	Up to 15 to 20 inches high.
Time from planting to harvest:	The peppers need a period of at least 70 days to be ready for harvest.

Tips for Growing Peppers

1. Plant in Slightly Acidic Soil

According to the recommendations, before planting the seedlings it is good to add organic compost so that the vegetables benefit from the food they need.

However, At the same time, you should know that peppers can grow very well in sandy or loamy soil.

To get some beautiful bell peppers, it is recommended to fertilize the soil when the first flowers appear. Be careful, however, it is not good to fertilize the soil before flowering, the leaves may grow excessively and the fruit almost not at all.

2. Keep Pepper Plants Moist at All Times

Pepper crops should be watered constantly, especially during those periods of the year when rainfall is low (or temperatures are hot).

Watering the peppers is best done either early in the morning or close to sunset.

At any rate, keeping the soil from drying out around your pepper’s root zone is one of the secrets to growing peppers successfully.

3. Take Extra Care When Starting From Seed

Dig deep holes for each seedling, so that the plants can be placed in the corner with the soil in which they have grown so far. Before planting peppers, water each pit well. 

Specialists recommend planting two wires in the same place because when the plants grow they support each other and produce a richer harvest. Cover the free space with soil and lightly press it with your palm.

Pepper Growing FAQs

Is it necessary to prepare the seeds before sowing?

If you don’t prepare seeds properly, germination and yield will decrease significantly. By checking seeds carefully before planting and growing peppers you help prevent plants from dying in the first few days after sprouting.

Buy planting material only from trusted manufacturers. In general, the variety should be selected according to your climate. 

You may also consider preparing your pepper seeds and growing them in sponges.

What is the best way to feed pepper seedlings?

When the first shoots appear through the soil, use a weak solution of potassium humate for feeding. You may also opt for a general-purpose vegetable fertilizer (watered down at half strength).

There are seeds from last year, can we plant them?

Sure. But then they need to be germinated and soaked in a growth stimulant. At the very least, last year’s pepper seeds should be soaked in water overnight before being planted.

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