How to Grow Peppers
- 1). Buy pepper plants at the nursery for planting after all danger of frost has passed. Otherwise, start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last expected frost.
- 2). Choose a site that gets full sun and has well-drained soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7.0 (see "How to Have Your Soil Tested"). Raised beds work wonderfully for peppers because they need warm soil, as well as warm air, to thrive.
- 3
Work a moderate amount of compost or manure into the soil, then dust the planting surface with a fine layer of Epsom salts and work it into the soil. It will provide magnesium, which peppers need for good development. - 4
Harden off the seedlings, whether homegrown or store-bought (see "How to Harden Off Seedlings"), then plant them outdoors two to three weeks after the last frost and when the soil temperature has reached 60 degrees F. Set normal-size varieties 14 to 16 inches apart and smaller ones an inch or two closer. - 5). Provide support for varieties that grow over a foot tall.
- 6
Keep the soil evenly moist; especially when the fruits are developing, peppers need about an inch of water a week. After the ground has warmed thoroughly, mulch with organic matter to conserve moisture and deter weeds. - 7). Spread compost or a balanced organic fertilizer around the plants when they flower and again three weeks later.
- 8). Harvest peppers early and often - the more you pick, the more the plants will produce.
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