{"id":2502,"date":"2019-06-12T07:35:43","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T07:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2502"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:41:06","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:41:06","slug":"14-steps-in-growing-peppers-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-steps-in-growing-peppers-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Steps in Growing Peppers for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Peppers are a healthy and delicious food option that can be added to a variety of recipes and meals. You can buy many peppers from your local grocery store or market, or you can grow them yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peppers are one of the easier plants to grow, and you can do so in a variety of ways. You can grow them in containers or a garden. They can be grown in most areas and tolerate both warm and cool weather. Peppers are usually harvested in late summer or early fall. You can find a variety of different types of peppers ranging from sweet to hot, at many garden centers. You can also order the seeds online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peppers are a great option for people who are new to gardening or children who want to grow their first plants. If you want to grow peppers successfully, these tips can help ensure that your peppers look and taste great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Choose Peppers That Mature Quickly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good idea to choose peppers that mature quickly and are adapted to grow in cooler temperatures. Pepper can take some time to grow and ripen on the vine. If you plant them later than normal, you may find that you still waiting for them to ripen in the fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing peppers that can tolerate the cooler temperatures will ensure they have plenty of time to ripen and won\u2019t be killed by frosts. Do your research to determine which types of peppers mature quickly and which ones can tolerate the colder temperatures? You can find both sweet and hot peppers that are adapted to cooler climates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t try to rush the process and give your peppers as much time as they need, so they taste great when it comes time to pick them. If you do find that your peppers need more time to ripen, bring your plants in if they are in pots and allow them to finish growing inside your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Start Seedlings Early<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind when growing the peppers from seeds, that the time frames on the seed packet to do account for actual seed germination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should expect seedlings to take at least six weeks longer to grow than the packet claims. For this reason, you need to buy your seeds and plant the seedlings early, so they have a chance to adapt to their transplant location before it frosts. This will also ensure that your pepper plants have time to ripen before colder weather sets in and kill the plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peppers can grow in both warm and cool temperatures, but the temperate does have an impact on their growth. They will grow much faster in warmer weather but will grow more robust in colder temperatures. Consider the seasons and temperature in your growing area and choose where to or how to grow your peppers for the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Use Fertilizer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fertilizer can be too strong for seedlings, but as soon as your pepper plants grow leaves, you can start adding organic fertilizer to them to help them grow faster and healthier. Use the half-strength fertilizer at first to help your plants grow strong enough to tolerate more potent fertilizers. If possible, use organic fertilizers in liquid form, as it\u2019s easier for the plants to digest it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose to buy fertilizer from the store, always follow the directions on the bottle because every brand is different and requires different application methods. You may also want to wear gloves when handling the fertilizer because it can burn your hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fertilizer can be applied regularly to healthy plants, but monitor them to make sure you are not adding too much. Some plants won\u2019t tolerate it as well as others and may appear burnt from it. If your plants appear to be damaged, stop using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Plant In A Warm Location<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Peppers can grow in cooler temperatures, but they love heat and sun. Growing them outside in direct sunlight will help them grow faster and could even produce more peppers. You should monitor them often though to make sure the soil around them is not dry, and the leaves aren\u2019t getting burnt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water them daily to keep them healthy and if you do see signs of sun damage, try shading them for a couple of hours a day. Even if you decide to grow them indoors, you should do so in a warm location near a window so the pepper plants can still get plenty of sun and warmth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do grow them in a cooler location, you may see that they grow okay, but grow at a much slower pace. Peppers grown in the shade are less likely to ripen before winter. If you notice your plants aren\u2019t growing properly, it may be because they aren\u2019t in a hot or sunny area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Remove Early Blooms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you finally notice your pepper plant starting to get some blooms, you may be proud and excited. The last thing you probably want to do is have to snip off those buds and blooms. While they may be a sign that your plants are growing healthy and getting ready to produce some nice peppers, you should consider pulling them from the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing so will allow the plant to use the energy and nutrients it has to grow strong roots and stems. This might not look as exciting as though blooms, but it will help to ensure that the plant produces more peppers. It might take a little longer for the peppers to appear, but they will be healthier, and you will notice you have more of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can remove the blooms my pinching them and gently pulling away for the plant. Be careful not to break the stems on the plant as you pull off the blooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Transplant During Overcast<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are going to be transplanting your peppers, you need to do so when there is an overcast or on a day when the sun is not shining too brightly. You may also want to it in the early evening when the sun is starting to go down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While peppers do love the sun and heat, their roots and leaves can dry out quickly if they are exposed to the sun. The sun can instantly kill them or burn them beyond repair. This rule applies to most types of plants. You should also make sure the area where you are transplanting the peppers, is ready for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soil should already be dug and wet so the plants can start absorbing the nutrients and water as soon as they are planted in their new location. This will reduce the amount of time the roots are exposed to the sun and help prevent the plants from going into shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Water Often<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pepper plants need a lot of water. The area where you grow them should be hot and sunny, and if you don\u2019t water them regularly, you will notice that the peppers just don\u2019t grow right. The plants will not grow strong enough to yield or support any peppers that grow on the branches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sun can burn the leaves and stems and dry out the soil quickly. You should always check the soil to see if it is dry on the surface. If it\u2019s dry, add water. Don\u2019t overwater the plants because it may cause the roots to rot or cause mold to grow on the stems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pot the peppers into pots that have a good filtration system at the bottom. This will help ensure the plants get plenty of water but that the water doesn\u2019t sit in the bottom of the pot and cause root rot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Mulch The Surface<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mulch has many benefits that can help peppers grow properly. It helps shield the roots of the plants from the sun and can act as a barrier against the wind and rain. It can also prevent the plant from getting too hot or cold. It holds in the moisture so you can water the plants less often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulch can also help make the plants sturdier so they can support more and larger peppers. You should add the mulch to the base of the plants, but do not put it up against the plants. Add about two inches of mulch to each plant for the best results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When watering, try to add the water around the mulch so it can so into the plants and soil slowly and allow the plants to absorb it better. Organic mulch is the best option as mulch that contains chemicals can actually burn the plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9. Hardening Seedlings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Starting your peppers off indoors in a modular tray is a great way to get a jumpstart to the growing season. By starting early, the plant receives the opportunity to produce more fruit during the season, and multiple harvests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the frosts are gone, and spring is in full swing, you\u2019ll want to transplant your peppers into the garden. However, this is a lousy strategy that could end up killing your plants. Your peppers require gradual adjustment to the suns intense UV rays. Leave the tray outdoors in the shade for the first three days before moving them into a sunny area of the garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This hardening strategy gives the plant time to adjust to its new environment, reducing stress during the transplanting process. Reducing stress during the transplant means that your plant takes less time to adapt to the new outdoor climate, increasing the size and quantity of peppers produced throughout the season.
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10. Build a Trellis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As your pepper prepares to fruit, it diverts a significant amount of its energy into stiffening and hardening the stems of the plant to carry the weight of the peppers. You can speed up this process by building a trellis to help support your plant. As a result of not needing to spend energy strengthen the stem, the plant focuses on producing peppers instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build and a-frame trellis using wooden beams available at the hardware store, and some mesh netting with holes around 2-inches x 2-inches. Make the top sit two feet off the floor. As the plants reach the gasps in the lattice, thread them through, and the plant will use the trellis for support. By the time the fruiting season rolls around, your tree will have the support it needs to yield large fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the end of the harvest season, cur away the trellis mesh and replace it the following season.
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11. Catch Falling Fruit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the fruiting season rolls around, your peppers start to swell to the full sized fruit ready for harvest. However, peppers won\u2019t wait for you to pick them from the plant, and if you don\u2019t check on your peppers every day during the harvest season, some of them may fall onto the floor overnight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as peppers touch the floor, they start to rot. By the time you get to them the following day, they are already beginning to decompose. Insects and disease love rotting peppers, and you run the risk of dragging disease and pest into your garden if you don\u2019t pick up the fruit in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solve this issue by placing plastic drip trays on the ground underneath the peppers. If the fruits fall onto the plate, they won\u2019t rot like they would if they hit the ground, allowing you to harvest them instead of throwing them away.
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12. Rotate crops<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When planning your garden layout, we recommend that you leave a quarter of your available growing space open when planting. Using this planting strategy allows you to rotate your crops every season, resulting in less disease, and higher yields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotation is necessary for a few reasons, with the first being that plants absorb nutrients from the soil \u2013 so, you\u2019ll need to replenish that after every season, and rotating helps you keep your crops well-fed. By resting a section of your garden every season, you allow it to deal with the stress of production while keeping perennial species healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants that experience fungal diseases may release the pathogens into the soil during the course of the season, contaminating any future crops planted at the same site. In some cases, pathogens can remain in the ground for years, even with no available water. Rotating allows you to rehabilitate the area after every season while giving your second crop fertile soil in which to grow and fruit.
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13. Harvesting Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most garden variety green and sweet peppers mature anywhere between 60 to 90-days. Hot peppers like habanero and jalapeno can take up to 190-days, depending on the variety. Red peppers will start to develop their color in the final two weeks of maturing, but they will be green until this stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longer you leave the pepper, the redder it gets. Yellow peppers change in much the same manner but take a few weeks longer than red peppers to reach maturity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red and orange or yellow peppers are sweeter than green peppers, due to the additional sugars developed in the flesh of the fruit while it grows for those extra few weeks. This sweet taste makes them the more popular variety for use in fresh salads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you go to remove the peppers from the plant, cut them off with pruning scissors. If you try to pluck them, it may result in stress damage that slows the fruiting process as the plant recovers.
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14. Storing Peppers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your pepper plants should give you anywhere between 3 to four harvests over the course of a season depending on the growing conditions and starting date of the seeds. After each fruiting, we recommend you don\u2019t rinse your peppers after harvest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dust of the excess dirt and then wrap the pepper in a paper towel, and tore in Tupperware in the fridge for up to 10 days. You\u2019ll know it\u2019s time to throw out your peppers when they start to get limp and soft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peppers don\u2019t keep in root cellars and don\u2019t bother trying to freeze your harvest, as blanching ruins peppers. You can sun-dry spicy chilies like birds-eye and habanero. We love pickling our jalapeno harvest every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to consume them in fresh salads as quickly as you can. We like to grow tomato, lettuce, and onion without pepper varieties, for a fast-harvesting salad that\u2019s great in the summertime.
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