How to Grow Peppers – Growing Peppers

Ever tried a fully-ripened, garden-grown pepper? If you think you don’t like peppers, tasting one just might change your mind. Peppers come in all sizes, shapes, and colors and range from sweet to fiery hot. Learn how to grow peppers and plant a few varieties to spice up your garden.

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7 Tips for How to Grow Peppers

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Tip #1 for How to Grow Peppers:
Start seeds indoors or buy transplants

Pepper plants require a long, warm growing season. Start pepper seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Seeds should sprout in 10 – 20 days at 75°F – 85°F. Plant outside 2 weeks after your last frost date; the soil should be at least 65°F. Test soil temperature using a soil thermometer. Pepper seeds are available at Seedsnow.com. 

In the low desert of Arizona, start seeds indoors in late December or early February and again May – July. Begin hardening off transplants about 10 days before planting in late February – April. Plant a second round of peppers from July 15 – September if desired. 

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Tip #2 for How to Grow Peppers:
Plant peppers correctly

Pepper plants do best in well-draining soil amended with compost. Plant peppers deeply, so bottom leaves on stem are just above the soil to promote root development. 

When square foot gardening, plant 1 pepper per 1-2 squares. Otherwise, plant peppers 18-24 inches apart. 

Peppers grow well in containers, raised beds, grow bags, and in the ground. 

Plant peppers in an area that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. 

During the hottest times of the summer in Arizona, you may need to provide shade for pepper plants.

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Tip #3 for How to Grow Peppers:
Provide support for growing peppers and mulch well

Pepper plants are brittle and need support as they grow; a wire cage or trellis works well for this purpose. 

Pepper plants require well-draining soil, but also plenty of water, especially in the hottest times of the year. 

A thick layer of mulch around plants helps retain moisture and cools the soil a bit for the growing peppers.

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Tip #4 for How to Grow Peppers:
Pay attention to the blossoms

Remove blossoms for the first couple of weeks to direct energy to growing the plant. Once the plant is growing well and has more flowers, it is an excellent time to provide compost or organic fertilizer. Pull back mulch, spread fertilizer, and replace the mulch. 

Keep in mind that with temperatures above 90°F and below 60°F, pollination may not occur because pollen in blossoms is not viable.

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Tip #5 for How to Grow Peppers:
Harvest correctly and at the right time

To harvest peppers without breaking brittle branches, cut off with pruning shears, leaving about an inch of stem to prolong storage life. 

Peppers can be harvested at any stage of development depending on your taste preference with that particular pepper. Peppers left to mature on the vine will normally turn from green – to yellow – to orange – and then red. As color changes, the flavor and vitamins increase as well. 

Pick peppers often to encourage production. Peppers left too long on the plant will be soft and shriveled looking, and should be removed from the plant. 

Peppers are frost-sensitive; harvest fruits before frost. If frost is expected, cover plants to protect from frost. In Arizona, it is possible for pepper plants to over-winter if weather is mild.

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Tip #6 for How to Grow Peppers:
Be careful when handling peppers

Peppers contain capsaicin, an oily compound that produces heat. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin the peppers contain. Use gloves when handling hot peppers; do not touch eyes or nose as capsaicin can burn skin. 

If a burn occurs, soak in milk or wash hands with dish soap in cool water. 

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Tip #7 for How to Grow Peppers:
Enjoy the harvest!

Harvested peppers can be stored on the counter for a day or two. 

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There are as many different ways to enjoy and prepare peppers as there are varieties of peppers. Peppers are delicious eaten fresh, roasted, or stuffed. Preserve extras by freeze-drying, drying, freezing, or pickling.

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