Peppers are loved by food enthusiasts worldwide and are a great option for homegrown vegetable gardens. If you are a plant enthusiast and love adding unique flavors to your cuisines, then growing your own peppers is a great idea. But how do you going about doing that – is the million-dollar question. We are here to tell you how to grow peppers from seeds and make sure your peppers are the best in town.
So read on and find out how you can grow peppers that are simply exquisite.
Guide To Growing Peppers At Home
The first step in growing peppers is to choose the variety. There are many different kinds of peppers to choose from. Some are mild, some are sweet, some spicy, and then some very spicy. So, pick your peppers wisely, depending on your spice tolerance level. Examples of peppers you can choose from are: banana pepper, cayenne, jalapeno, habanero, and bell peppers
Once you have chosen the kind of pepper you will be growing, you can go out and buy the seeds from your local garden shop. Once the seeds are with you, you should soak them overnight before planting them the next day. Soaking them overnight gives them a better chance of sprouting
After you’ve soaked them overnight, it is time to plant them. You can choose planting trays or small pots, whatever is convenient for you. Make sure to fill the pot with a seed starting soil mix and moisten it before planting the seeds in
Ideally, you should plant around 2-3 seeds per pot or cell. This gives a higher chance that one of them may sprout and produce a healthy plant. And if you’re lucky and all three sprouts bear results, you can pick the healthiest one and sacrifice the other two
To plant the seeds, place the seed on the soil, press them down into the soil or make holes and drop the seed into the hole. Remember to plant seeds around half an inch into the soil
Once the seeds are planted, you should cover the tray or pot with a plastic sheet. This will help retain moisture and keep the soil warm. Place the pots in a warm area to ensure germination occurs or if you have heating pads use those to keep the soil warm
Once your seeds germinate and start sprouting leaves, it is time to move them into bigger pots. Choose a medium-sized pot to allow them room to grow
Eventually, you’ll want to move your plant outdoors. This is the tricky part because if you rush the switch to outdoors and it’s still cold out, then your plant’s growth may be stunned – or worse, it might die. Peppers hate the cold, so only move them outdoors when the chances of frost are completely over, and the soil has warmed up to a temperature of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit
With that, we conclude our step by a step-by-step guide on how to grow your peppers. They are pretty simple to grow. This is a general guide and can be applied to all kinds of peppers. Below we have stated some tips and tricks on caring for your pepper plant. Continue reading to find out what those tips are.
Caring For Your Pepper Plant
Once you have planted your peppers, it is important to know how to care for the plant. Let’s look at the important factors you need to consider when growing peppers.
Fertilization
Once the seeds sprout and you notice 3-4 leaves, it is time to fertilize. You can use fish and kelp fertilizer. This is ideal for vegetables, fruits, and herbs as it ensures that your plant produces larger fruits and healthy foliage. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers as that will only encourage foliage growth and not pepper growth.
Watering
Peppers always need to be in moist soil, so they need watering regularly. Make sure that the soil is never soggy. Over watering will cause the roots to be deprived of oxygen. A good tip is to let the top half-inch of the soil dry out slightly in between watering sessions. This will keep the soil from becoming soggy.
Light
When growing the seedlings indoors, make sure to keep the pots near a windowsill; or if you own a growing light, use that. Peppers need light to grow and be strong. So use a grow light and leave it on for 14-16 hours. And when you move your plant outdoors, ensure they have full sun exposure at least 8 hours every day.
Hardening
When you move your plants outdoors, make sure to harden your plant. Hardening is when you place your plants outside to get them accustomed to the outdoor environment. The best way to do this is by placing the plants outdoors for half an hour every day and then gradually increasing the time as the days go by. Harden your plants for at least 7-10 days before moving them.
Air
One trick that is tried and tested in growing pepper seedlings is to air the plant. When the leaves have sprouted, use a fan to provide a light breeze over the seedlings to encourage faster growth and to make the plant stockier.
How To Harvest Peppers
Once your plant starts growing and blossoming, it will eventually be time to harvest your peppers. Harvesting peppers is easy; you can pluck them from the stem they are attached to. Harvesting, however, is different for different varieties. Some peppers are harvested in their immature stage, while others are left on the plant to ripen. You will have to follow the instructions on the seed packaging to understand the best time to harvest your peppers.
Final Thoughts
So there you go, now you know how to grow peppers from seeds in a few simple and easy steps. Make sure to follow these instructions for a good harvest. And read up on your variety before planting, so you know exactly what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often do I need to water my pepper plants?
A: You will need to water your pepper plants regularly, making sure the soil is never soggy. Over watering can cause the roots to be deprived of oxygen. A good tip is to let the top half-inch of the soil dry out slightly in between watering sessions.
Q: What type of fertilizer should I use for my pepper plants?
A: You can use fish and kelp fertilizer when fertilizing your pepper plants. This is ideal for vegetables, fruits, and herbs as it ensures that your plant produces larger fruits and healthy foliage. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers.
Q: How much light do pepper plants need?
A: Pepper plants need light to grow and be strong. When growing the seedlings indoors, make sure to keep the pots near a windowsill. When you move your plant outdoors, ensure they have full sun exposure at least 8 hours every day.
