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Pepper Growing Guide🌶️: Planting, Pruning, and Harvesting Sweet & Hot Varieties

Pepper Growing Guide🌶️: Planting, Pruning, and Harvesting Sweet & Hot Varieties

Introduction

Peppers are a warm-season favorite, from sweet bells to fiery chilis. They love sunshine, consistent hydration, and thrive in SIPs and wicking beds, where bottom-up watering ensures strong roots and bigger yields. Whether you’re using a LifeSpace Garden or building your own raised-bed setup with GardenWells inserts, peppers reward you with colorful, flavorful harvests all season.

When to Plant Peppers

  • Starting Indoors: Begin seeds indoors in March or early April under grow lights. See the March Gardening Guide for indoor seed-starting tips.

  • Transplanting Outdoors: Move peppers into SIPs or raised beds in May or June once nights stay above 13°C. Visit the May Gardening Guide for transplanting steps.

  • Peak Season: June through August are prime growth months — see the June Gardening Guide for SIP watering strategies.

Square Foot Gardening Spacing

  • Spacing: 1 pepper plant per sq ft

  • Depth: Plant seedlings so the root ball is just below soil level

  • Companions: Great alongside basil, onions, and carrots.

How to Plant Peppers

Starting Indoors (Preferred)

  • Sow seeds 8–10 weeks before last frost in a warm, bright location.

  • Use grow lights for 14–16 hours daily and maintain temps around 24°C.

  • Harden seedlings off for 7 days before transplanting into SIPs or wicking beds.

Direct Seeding (Optional)

  • Possible in warmer climates but less reliable; transplanting yields stronger plants.

Watering Your Peppers

Peppers thrive on deep, consistent hydration:

  • Use your WaterStem: when the Hummingbird rises, the reservoir’s full; when it drops, refill.

  • Before establishment: Top-water gently for 7–10 days after transplanting.

  • After establishment: Refill reservoirs every 1–2 weeks, adjusting for heat and fruit load.

  • Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and stabilize soil temperatures.

  • For summer SIP tips, check the July Gardening Guide.

Harvesting Peppers

  • Green Stage: Pick early for crisp, mildly flavored peppers.

  • Fully Ripe: Allow to mature to red, yellow, or purple for maximum sweetness or heat.

  • Chili Varieties: For drying, harvest when skins firm up and use drying racks in a warm space.

  • For extending production into fall, visit the September Gardening Guide.

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue Likely Cause Solution
Blossom Drop Cool nights or heat stress Keep peppers warm, mulch, and ensure steady hydration
Yellowing Leaves Nutrient deficiency Use compost tea or balanced organic fertilizer
Aphids / Pests High-density planting Interplant basil or marigolds for natural pest deterrence

Companion Plants for Peppers

Best companions (with cross-links):

  • Basil → Repels pests and improves pepper flavor.

  • Onions & Scallions → Natural pest deterrents, great for SIP edge planting.

  • Carrots → Shallow roots complement deeper pepper roots.

  • Spinach → Ideal early-spring interplant under young peppers.

  • Marigolds → Deter nematodes and aphids while attracting pollinators.

Avoid planting with:

  • Fennel → Inhibits pepper growth.

  • Heavy nitrogen feeders like corn nearby, which can reduce fruiting.

Layout Tip:

  • Plant 1 pepper per sq ft in SIPs or wicking beds.

  • Surround peppers with basil, marigolds, or scallions for pest control and pollinator support.

  • Use spinach or lettuce in early spring to maximize SIP bed productivity.

Product Tips

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