Bell peppers are great additions to any dish.You can grow your own bell peppers if you eat a lot of them.Bell peppers can be grown from seeds or transplants.You can be proud of the bell peppers you will soon have.
Step 1: Bell peppers can be grown from seed.
Bell peppers are easy to grow from seed and can be found in a number of garden centers.Although green, red, yellow, and orange are the most common colors, gardeners can also grow dark brown and purple pepper varieties.Some fast ripening varieties can produce fruit in as little as two months, while others need over three months to flower.
Step 2: You can choose a starting time.
The frost-free date is two months before most bell pepper plants should be started indoors.Gardeners in warm climates may choose to wait and start their plants outside instead.This will affect when the plants start producing fruit.
Step 3: The seeds can be planted in a light-layer of soil.
The bell pepper seeds need to be lightly covered with soil.The plants should show up within a week or two.
Step 4: The seeds should be warm.
Bell pepper seeds need a warm period in order to grow.Good results can be achieved if the ambient air temperature is over 80 Fahrenheit (26.6 Celsius) and the soil is slightly warmer.The use of heating mats may benefit seeds that are slow to grow.Plants won't grow if the temperature is below 55 Fahrenheit (12.7 C).
Step 5: The seedlings should be kept from growing too tall and spindly.
Strong light is needed to keep them from growing tall and spindly.Floppy transplants can be caused by bad growth at a young stage.These tiny seedlings can be staked using bamboo or wood skewers and tied in place with plain string if this is the case.
Step 6: Remove indoor plants before planting outdoors.
In areas where pepper plants can't be started outdoors, it is a good idea to keep them out of harms way at night.
Step 7: Once they have grown their first true leaves, replant the seedlings into containers.
Bell peppers are well suited for containers.Gardeners should choose a pot that is 10 inches in depth to keep them from being overcrowded since they can reach up to 3 feet in height and width.
Step 8: The seedlings should be exposed to the correct growing conditions.
These plants need full sun growing conditions and fertile soil.They can be grown in small pots.
Step 9: Black plastic can be used to control weeds.
In cool climate areas, the former material is a good way to speed up pepper growth.Gardeners in warm climates will want to mulch because it protects their plants from hot temperatures and helps conserve water.
Step 10: The bell pepper plants should be fertilized.
These plants benefit from the addition of slow release granular fertilization, like those made with fish meal or alfalfa.If there are no peppers or leafy green plants, gardeners should cut back on the nitrogen fertilization.The element is known for producing plants that are not productive.
Step 11: Pick the bell peppers when they are ripe.
Some bell peppers can take as long as a month for the right color to develop, and almost all start off green.Tall varieties may need to be staked to support the fruit and keep the plants from falling over.
Step 12: The bell pepper plant needs protection from sudden drops in temperature.
The author of the Mother Earth News article stated that wire cages wrapped with plastic are a good way to insulate tomato plants against sudden drops in temperature.Bell jars are a way to prevent seedling from getting too cold.Plastic milk or soda bottles are more likely to be used to make these devices.
Step 13: For future planting, save the pepper seeds.
It is possible to save pepper seeds for up to two years.If growers store the leftovers in a dark, dry location, they won't have to purchase seed every year.
Step 14: Get rid of plants you don't use anymore.
Gardeners can dig the plants up once the first chill of winter sets in.The compost bin should be filled withSpecimens that are not sick.Plants with diseases can be left with the trash to stop the disease from spreading.
Step 15: The plant will bear fruit if the salts are used.
Peppers that are having difficulty bearing fruit in warm weather may benefit from being misted with a combination of 1 quart water and 1 dash of Epsom salts.Another idea is to place a small amount of salts in the ground at the base of the pepper plant and cover it with dirt so that it can soak in.
Step 16: Calcium can be used to deal with blossom end rot.
Gardeners will need to find a way to add more calcium to their soil if they end up with fruits that are black at the ends.The simplest way to get affected pepper plants to grow again is to water them with expired milk.If there isn't enough soured milk for every plant, you can mix it with water.
Step 17: You can spray the plant to get rid of the pests.
A spray of water can be used to remove aphids from a garden.If you want to try these bugs, you can use pyrethrum based sprays.These garden menaces are difficult to eradicate and may require repeated applications.
Step 18: Plants should be protected from cold or hot temperatures.
The hotter the temperature, the less fruit can be produced.They will resume production if it is a minor cold spell or heat wave.Cold temperatures are bad for the health of peppers.It is advisable to bring those who have been exposed to extremely cold weather indoors until the weather warms up.