How to Grow Bell Peppers
Did you know that a green pepper is a pepper that is not ripe yet? If it is left to grow then its texture and flavor will change and it will turn red in color. Follow these easy steps to start growing delicious bell peppers in no time.
Preparing the Site
Bell pepper seeds can take between 6 to 8 days to germinate when planted indoors.
Start the process by planting the seeds indoors around 7 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Use a pot that is at least 2½ inches tall.
Prepare the garden area where you will be planting the bell peppers by adding a mixture of compost, manure and a decent fertilizer.
Transplanting the Seedlings Outside
bellpeppersAfter the last occurrence of frost, you can transplant the seedlings into your prepared area. The temperature of the soil should be above 65 degrees F; if the ground is not above this temperature, do not plant the seedlings. Instead, wait for a few days until the temperature is at the correct level.
When planting the seedlings outside, space them apart by about 20 inches and lay them out in rows that are about 25 inches apart from each other. This will give them ample room to grow freely.
Watering Requirements
Water the seedlings regularly and give more water when the weather gets very hot in the summer months. Like most plants, bell peppers like to grow in moist soil and retrieve nutrients from it. You can tell if a bell pepper has not been watered enough by the bitter taste.
It can be helpful to surround the growing area with mulch to prevent weeds from growing and to help retain moisture in the soil.
Harvesting
Once the bell peppers have grown to an edible size, they are ready for picking. Bell peppers will still be green when they first reach an edible size. They can be harvested at that time if you want green bell peppers. If the peppers are left to grow and mature, they will change to an orange, yellow, purple or red color. This depends on the variety of bell pepper you are growing.
Seasons
The peppers will grow all year until frost is present. If you pick a pepper then more peppers will keep growing until the weather gets too cold.
Nutrients Required
To improve the quality of the peppers you can place a small amount of fertilizer around each of the plants when they first start to grow. Put the fertilizer about 4 inches from the stem and water for best results.
If there is too much nitrogen present in the soil then a beautiful green bushy plant will grow, but unfortunately, there will not be many peppers present.