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Grow Your Own Peppers

Growing Peppers In The Garden Outdoors
Garden peppers are tropical shrubs grown as annuals in temperate climates. Just a few plants will provide plenty of peppers for the average family. Peppers are most commonly classified as either sweet or hot. The sweet varieties are used for salads, slicing, and are often stuffed with a variety of foods. Hot peppers are primarily used for seasoning, hot sauces, and pickling and are rarely eaten by themselves. Peppers are very easy to grow and face few insect or disease issues.

Since peppers require a long growing period, it's best to start pepper plants indoors six to ten weeks prior to planting outdoors. One seed packet of any variety will provide more than enough plants for the average family. Start seeds indoors in flats, cell inserts, or small pots under artificial light or a south facing window, or outdoors in a cold frame or greenhouse. Seeds take between one and three weeks to germinate, with supplemental bottom heat providing the fastest germination times. A lightweight soilless mix, Oasis cubes, or Grodan rockwool cubes are best for starting seeds that will be transplanted later.

If started in flats, seedlings are thinned to 2 inches apart when plants show their first true pair of leaves, and should be kept growing steadily, without check, until after all danger of frost has passed and the soil thoroughly warmed. Do not overwater, especially during damp, overcast weather, as the plants then become more susceptible to wilting and sudden death from fungus infections.

Transplanted then to a sunny spot in the garden, they should stand 12 to 18 inches assunder in rows 24 to 36 inches apart. Peppers do best outdoors in a well-drained but moist, light, warm soil well supplied with humus but not overly rich.

During extended dry spells, water thoroughly on an ocassional basis. Mulching with straw or grass clippings keeps weeds down and holds moisture in the soil. Since peppers growing requirements are very similar to those of the tomato, many gardeners intersperse the two in the garden.

When gathering the fruits it is best to cut them with a knife or pruning shears as pulling them off may damage the plant. When cutting, only leave a short piece of stem on the fruit to avoid poking holes in other fruits. When the first fall frost threatens gather all the remaining fruits both large and small into net bags and store in a cool cellar where the air is not dry, where many may keep until the holidays.