Growing Pepper Plants

When you think about it, a home garden definitely needs to have some spice to go along with everything that's nice! A healthy growth of peppers is exactly what you need to bring a bit more zip and tanginess into your garden. And the greatest part is that they aren't too difficult to grow either! You have an assortment of pepper varieties to choose from, whether it's bell peppers, green peppers, habaneros, etc.

They come in various colors and shapes and are sure to illuminate your garden. Growing a bevy of your favorite peppers is the best way to do this as most of them require the same/similar kind of conditions. So, what is stopping you from cultivating your treasure trove of bell peppers? Read on and grow now!


Start with the pepper seedlings:
Growing peppers from seedlings is the most advised way as it greatly increases your chances of success. However, you still need to put in some work to ensure that success. First off, start by drying out your seedlings for about a week. This is done by exposing them gradually to the prevalent outdoor conditions so that they don't experience much stress once you transplant them from indoor to outdoor. You get bigger and better produce and also a more hardy crop.


Prepare the conditions for pepper seedlings:
Now, while your pepper seedlings are being hardened, you can start preparing the flower bed. First off, you need to choose a sunny spot as peppers do require a good amount of sunlight. The soil that you select should be moist, well drained and loamy in nature. Give it a good layer of compost, around 1-2 inches, to make the conditions even better. But be careful in adding too much nitrogen, as it can speed up the growth process beyond what is advised.
Learn Ways to prepare healthy garden soil.

Soil & Spacing for pepper plant:
Before you plant, check that the pH level of the soil is between 6.2-7.0. Whether you plant in flower beds or rows, give each seedling a space of around 18 to 24 inches. Also, your pepper plants may require some assistance to grow in the future, so provide some support to ensure that the stems do not break as the plant blossoms.


Pepper plant maintenance tips:
Water your pepper plantation well as they need to be kept relatively moist. If you forget to do that, then you'll begin to see weaker plants with root-knot nematodes. On the other hand, however, few diseases or pests can fatally affect pepper plants. The one thing you do need to keep an eye on is a late or unforeseen frost. If you catch any hint of that, then you immediately need to cover your plants or even bring them inside.


Once your peppers are ready, use pruning shears to cut them from the plant. Don't wait too long before doing this or your pepper plant will begin to bend under the weight. But don't worry, peppers tend to continue to mature even after they've been harvested.


So go out there and begin your pepper plantation!