There are many different types of peppers to choose from.If you want to grow peppers in your own backyard, you can either start your plants from seeds or buy transplants.The steps below will show you how to prepare your garden, plant peppers, and take care of them.
Step 1: Pick a variety of peppers.
There are many types of peppers on the market, and you can choose which one you want to grow.Bell peppers are the most mild of all the peppers.They are about the size of a fist and come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and green.To eat raw or add to many dishes, grow these.There are many different types of hot peppers.The anaheim pepper is the most mild of the hot peppers.
Step 2: You can choose a patch for your garden.
There is good drainage and full sunlight in the area you choose.The biggest peppers can be grown in a bed with a little shade.Peppers can be planted in the shade.Use pots or build a raised bed for peppers if your soil is rocky or prone to flooding in the rain.
Step 3: If you want to know how well your peppers will grow, you should test the soil's pH.
Peppers grow best in a soil with a high pH.On the high side of the scale, peppers can tolerate slightly alkaline conditions.The most effective strategy for keeping your soil and plants healthy could be determined by this step.
Step 4: You can amend your soil to keep it healthy.
Amendments improve aspects of the soil's physical condition, including its pH level.If your soil is acidic, you should work some lime into it a few months before planting to make sure you are in the right range.Peat moss or garden sulfur can be used if your soil is too alkaline.
Step 5: Prepare your soil.
If you want to separate the large chunks of dirt from the rocks, mix compost into your soil and remove any rocks.At a local gardening center, you can buy fishmeal, chicken manure, or a pre-mixedfertilizer.Pick any weeds that may be present to protect your pepper patch.
Step 6: It's important to find the right time to grow.
Check your pepper species to find out how long it takes to grow them.bell peppers take about 8 weeks to reach maturity, compared to 12 weeks for hot peppers.Peppers don't grow in cold soil, so wait to plant them until the weather warms up.Peppers can be planted outside one month after the last day of frost.The last frost date in your area can be found on the internet or in a farmers' almanac, and this is when you will start your peppers.Memorial day is a good time to plant peppers because you can start your seeds in March.
Step 7: You should soak your seeds.
The soaking of your seeds can help break down the seed covering and speed up the growing process of peppers.Place the seeds in a cup of water for about eight hours, or until the sink is at the bottom of the cup.To break down the seed coats, make a cup of weak chamomile tea.If the tea isn't available, use hydrogen peroxide and a cup of water to soak the seeds.
Step 8: Put your seeds in a tray.
They will only stay in this tray until they are ready to plant.If you want to make your own seeds, you can either use an old plastic or cardboard milk jug or a store-bought seed tray.The bottom of the seed tray should be filled with pebbles or small rocks.Just under the surface of the soil, plant seeds half an inch apart.
Step 9: Light can be used to help the seeds grow.
Peppers need a lot of sunlight, but they can't get enough from a window.Use any large light and place it as close to the seedlings as possible.
Step 10: When your plants start growing leaves, put them in new pots.
Once each seedling has two pairs of true leaves, transplant them from their starter trays.Pots with soil.Light the plants until they grow 3-6 in.The person is 10-15 cm tall.The leaves on a pepper plant are called true leaves, as opposed to the rounded cotyledons that grow from the seedling first.
Step 11: When they are less than 10 cm tall, you should destroy them.
Pepper plants need to be exposed to a cold environment before they can be replanted.You need to expose the plants to the outdoor climate about two weeks before you plan to transfer them outdoors.Place your plants outdoors for a few hours each day in an area that is protected from the sun and wind.Slowly extend the number of hours the plants stay outside.If you leave the peppers outside overnight, you are almost done hardening them off.
Step 12: Prepare your plants to grow.
The peppers are large enough to be planted outside if they have grown at least 3-6 in (10-15 cm) tall.
Step 13: You can plant peppers.
Place each plant between 18 and 24 inches apart and place stakes to help it stand up.If you transplant a store-bought pepper plant, this is the same process as if you grow your peppers from seeds.The peppers should be planted deep in the garden soil.There are rows of peppers about 10–15 inches apart.
Step 14: Water the plants.
When the soil is dry, pepper plants will produce the largest, most succulent fruit.The soil should be moistened by giving the plant enough water.
Step 15: mulch is added to the soil
This will help the peppers to grow and help to block out weeds from taking root.Grass clippings can be used as mulch for pepper plants.There is a layer of soil between and around each pepper plant.
Step 16: Pull weeds by hand.
Pull the weeds by hand if they pop up through the mulch.Weeds compete with plants for space and should be removed from the planting area.
Step 17: If you have to, fertilize your pepper plants.
The appearance of pale leaves is an indicator of slow growth.Spread an even coating over the planting area with a high nitrogen fertilization.Make sure you follow the directions on your bottle and water before you fertilize.
Step 18: You should harvest your peppers.
The peppers take around two months to mature.Pick your peppers early in the season to encourage your pepper plant to keep producing.If your plant is nearing the end of the production season, you can allow it to mature a bit longer.The richer the color, the more ripe the fruit is.The pepper is at the top of the stem.The peppers can be damaged if you pull on them.Pick all of the fruit, even if it is a bit under-ripe, if you are expecting a frost.Any leftover fruit will be damaged by a frost.