How to grow peppers

I know a lot of people do not like hot things but peppers offer a wide variety from hot, mild, sweet to just flavorful. Do some research on varieties and you might just find something to your taste.

I would like to share my heartbreaking story of my failed peppers a year or two ago, I actually planted these seeds in a container at our previous apartment. We moved and obviously the peppers made the move with us finding a new home in a very small narrow garden in our courtyard. To our surprise they adapted very quickly and shot into the sky, in about a month glorious small green peppers showed their heads.

Early peppers

 

Growing in full force

The peppers grew and grew and I could not wait to put them to use as I am a big fan of all things hot and spicy! A huge storm passed over us one night and as fate would have it when I went out the next morning to asses the damage I found my peppers bent over and leaning on the pavement.Most even snapped at the bend as the force of the winds were just too much.

Devastated

 

The sad trimmings

I had no choice but to trim them and hope they would recover, but being weakened they succumbed to disease and my pepper growing days were over. well at least until next season.

Now a short guide on growing peppers:

• Start seeds inside a few weeks before your last frost date in a nice warm spot. Seeds will not sprout outside in the cold and they would also not survive frost.
• When your seedlings are a bit bigger start to harden them off about two weeks before last frost date. Hardening off just means exposing the plants to more sunshine outside everyday until they can handle a full day outside.
• When the chance for frost is gone you can start to transplant your seedlings in a nice sunny spot leaving enough space between them, 25-30 Cm should be enough.
• If you are going to try and grow a pepper plant in a container be sure to use a big enough container (20 Cm should suffice),it has to have enough drainage and use only good quality soil.
• As plants grow taller you can support them with a cage or trellis to prevent bending or snapping.
• Be sure to check for pests regularly and tend to the problem sooner than later.

My cute and lazy helper, always by my side.

Happy planting!