Looking for another edible edition to your garden?
Pepper plants are a winning choice.
Your Quick Guide for Growing Peppers
Want more gardening tips?
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Which Peppers Should You Grow?
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Excited by the thought of growing a peck of peppers?
Start by choosing the right variety.
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Gather small containers for the seeds and push them down into warm and moist seed starting mix.
(He says to aim for a temperature between 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit).
This gives them time to start cultivating before they’re brought outside.
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Companion Planting
A helpful tip for protecting your peppers naturally?
Adnan says thatcompanion plantingis a great preventative measure.
Consider interplanting peppers with companion plants, like basil or marigolds, to deter pests and attract beneficial insects.
Outside of the basics, Adnan notes to be aware of how your variety of pepper grows.
While some stay lower to the ground, taller varieties will need some kind of trellis or stake.
This supports them as they grow and will prevent breakage under the weight of fruit.
Light
Peppers love sunlight, whether planted in a bed or in containers on your deck.
Adnan says they should be positioned to receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.
Soil
Peppers do best in slightly acidic soila pH between 6.0 and 6.8 is ideal.
Soil should drain well and stay warm as they grow, hence why post-frost planting is important.
This is particularly important for pepper plants and seeds that have been sown or transplanted.
Adnan says the occasional sprinkling of a balanced fertilizer is okay.
Too much can boost the look of the leaves but hinder fruit production.
Watering
Balanced watering is important, too.
Adnan says regular watering is important for keeping the soil moist.
Moisture is key, but be careful not to overwater.
“Mulching around the base of the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds,” he adds.
These are the most common pests and diseases that can afflict your plants and how to deal with them.
Plant Diseases
There are a handful of diseases that peppers are capable of developing.
These include bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, and phytophthora blight.
While they may sound disastrous, preventing them is fairly straightforward.
Adnan says to focus on measures such as crop rotation, proper spacing, and avoiding overhead watering.
If you’re worried about pepper picking influencing the growth rate, Adnan is here to ease your concerns.
He notes regular harvesting can encourage your plant to produce more fruit.
Not every pop in of pepper will need a trellis.
Pepper Maggot, University of Massachusetts Amherst
