Bell Pepper
Capsicum annuum
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Bell peppers are rewarding container vegetables that produce colorful, sweet fruit perfect for salads, stir-fries, and stuffing. While they require patience (they're slow to start), peppers thrive in containers where you can control soil temperature and move plants to maximize warmth and sun. All bell peppers start green and ripen to red, yellow, orange, or purple depending on variety.
Soil Requirements
Rich, well-draining potting mix with added compost. pH 6.0-6.8. Benefits from magnesium - add Epsom salts or dolomitic lime.
Temperature Range
70-85°F (21-29°C) optimal. Very sensitive to cold. Don't transplant until night temperatures consistently above 55°F. Fruits don't set well above 90°F.
Fertilizer Needs
Moderate feeder. Start with balanced fertilizer, switch to lower nitrogen formula when flowering begins. Too much nitrogen produces leaves at expense of fruit.
Quick Growing Tips
- Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost
- Loves heat - wait until soil is warm to transplant
- Pick green peppers to encourage more fruiting
- Stake or cage plants to support heavy fruit
- Remove early flowers to strengthen the plant first
Growing Details
Harvest Tips
Can harvest green or wait for full color (red, yellow, orange). Cut with scissors.
Companion Planting
Plant with:
Avoid planting with:
Expert Growing Tips
Pinching for Better Plants
When transplanting, pinch off any flowers or small fruit. This seems counterintuitive, but it forces the plant to establish stronger roots first. Plants that fruit too early remain small and produce less overall.
Epsom Salt Boost
Peppers need magnesium for fruit development. Dissolve 1 tablespoon Epsom salt in a gallon of water and apply when plants begin flowering, then again when fruit is developing. This prevents yellowing between leaf veins and improves yields.
Heat Accumulation
Place containers on concrete or dark surfaces that absorb heat. The warmth radiating up into the root zone promotes growth. Mulching with black plastic also raises soil temperature - particularly valuable in cool climates.
Color-Picking Strategy
Leave peppers on the plant until they're 50-75% colored, then pick and let them finish ripening at room temperature. This speeds up the plant's production of new fruit while still allowing you to enjoy fully colored, sweet peppers.
Common Problems & Solutions
Blossom Drop
Aphids
Sunscald
Blossom End Rot
Great Companion Plants
Related Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my pepper flowers falling off?
Blossom drop is usually caused by temperature stress. Peppers drop flowers when nights are below 55°F or above 75°F, or daytime temperatures exceed 90°F. Other causes include inconsistent watering, low humidity, and over-fertilization with nitrogen. Provide consistent conditions and wait for temperatures to moderate.
Why are my peppers so small?
Small fruit results from: too many peppers developing at once (pick some early), insufficient water or nutrients, too little sun (need 8+ hours), or plants stressed by temperature extremes. For larger fruit, remove some developing peppers to let the plant focus energy on fewer fruits.
How long does it take for peppers to turn color?
After reaching full size while green, peppers need an additional 2-4 weeks to change color fully. This is the longest wait! Colored peppers are sweeter and more nutritious than green. In short-season areas, start peppers extra early indoors or choose faster-maturing varieties.
Can I overwinter pepper plants?
Yes! Peppers are perennials in frost-free climates. Before first frost, cut back by half, move indoors to bright light, and reduce watering. They'll look scraggly but survive. In spring, gradually reintroduce to outdoor conditions. Second-year plants produce earlier and more abundantly.
Why does my green pepper have dark spots?
Dark, water-soaked spots could be blossom end rot (caused by calcium/water issues) or sunscald (white/tan papery patches from intense sun). Ensure consistent watering for blossom end rot. For sunscald, provide afternoon shade during extreme heat or keep foliage adequate to shade fruit.
Recommended Growing Supplies
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