Pepper plants range from short and wide to tall and bushy.
Correct pepper plant spacing accommodates a mature plant for overall health and productivity of the variety grown.
Here’s how to space your pepper plants for healthy growth and a good crop.
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Why Pepper Plant Spacing Matters
Good spacing is the defense against problems in the pepper patch.
Peppers aren’t difficult to grow, but they are vulnerable to a number of insect pests and diseases.
Each plant needs it’s own space.
Even short, wide peppers likehabanerothrive better when they don’t get tangled up with their neighbor.
Fungal infections, pepper weevils, andhornworms,quickly move from plant to plant infecting an entire crop.
Separation allows for early detection and keeps plants from competing for nutrients.
Adequate spacing provides good air circulation and is particularly important for varieties with dense foliage.
Pepper plants love heat, but high humidity and constant moisture on leaves lead to fungal and bacterial infections.
Soil contact quickly leads to disease and rot and invites pesky invaders to feast.
Tip
If you plan tosave seedfrom pepper plants, you should probably isolate varieties.
While peppers are self-pollinating, the flowers attract pollinators that can move pollen between varieties.
Cross pollination does not affect the current year’s crop but does corrupt seeds for the following year.
Length of your growing season, fertilizing, watering, sunlight, and disease resistance affect every plant.
Even those with sturdy stems can fall over or crack and break in windy, conditions.
One sturdy stake is usually sufficient or plants canbe caged.
A single stake won’t require any more space and can actually allow you to plant a bit closer.
Cages take up more room so leave enough between caged plants to access them.
Also remember that longer growing seasons usually mean larger plants that require more space.
Use this information as a guideline bearing in mind the specific growing conditionsin your garden.
Spacing Pepper Plants in Containers
Peppers adapt well to growing in pots.
Soil quality along with watering and fertilizing frequency are key factors for growing in containers.
Fruits may be smaller but tend to mature more quickly than garden-grown plants.
Most pepper plants need minimum 18 inches between plants and 2 1/2 to 3 feet between rows.
Space in a raised bed is used most efficiently if you stagger plants in a diamond or grid pattern.
The worst case scenario for spacing peppers too close together is losing all your plants.
Disease and pests can move fast through a closely planted patch, annihilating every plant.
Best case is you’ll end up with smaller plants and fewer fruits.
