Bell Pepper Growing Guide

Bell peppers are heat-loving and the most colorful summer vegetable in the garden. From sweet peppers in rainbow colors to habaneros spicy, all peppers prefer a long, warm growing season. These vegetables are mostly found in shades of orange, yellow, red, and green. However, you can also grow purple, brown, and white varieties.

This comprehensive bell pepper planting and growing guide will help you start, grow, and harvest this excellent vegetable. See how to grow delicious bell peppers from seeds or seedlings.

About Bell Peppers

Bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) are attractive, healthy vegetables that add sweetness and crunch to summer dishes like salsas, baked peppers, kebabs, and salads. They have a long growing season (it takes 60 to 90 days to ripen). Therefore, most home gardeners buy seedlings from a garden nursery rather than growing them from seed.

Bell peppers have smooth skin and fresh, crisp flesh inside. The fruit is hollow, with several seeds clustered in the center. They need warm temperatures to germinate and grow fruit. Green and red peppers are excellent sources of vitamins C and A and contain some minerals. Like tomatoes, bell peppers are members of the nightshade family but are less picky about growing conditions.

Types of Bell Peppers

Dozens of bell pepper varieties are available, including hybrids and heirlooms. No matter what zone you live in, you can find a variety suitable for your climate. Bell peppers can mature into colors like yellow, red, orange, creamy ivory, brown, or deep purple. Bell peppers are also called sweet peppers, but not all sweet peppers are bell peppers.

Lipstick, Marconi, Gypsy, Corno di Toro, and other sweet pepper varieties produce elongated fruits with more seeds than bell peppers, which produce blocky fruits. On the other hand, thin, long, sweet peppers are used in salads and pickles. Choose varieties that ripen fast to their full colors because fully mature peppers are tastier and more nutritious.

Green Peppers that turn Red: Lipstick, Gypsy, Ozark Giant, Lady Bell, Mini Belle Blend, Bell Boy

Yellow Peppers: California Wonder, Early Sunsation

Orange Peppers: Orange Sun, Gourmet, Milena

Right Location and Soil Needs

For bell peppers to thrive, choose a sunny location in your garden that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. This vegetable loves warm temperatures and grows well above 21°C or 70°F.

Bell peppers grow best in nutrient-rich, well-drained, and loamy soil. They thrive in soil with a balanced pH between 6.2 and 7. However, they can handle slightly alkaline conditions near 7.5. A mix of sandy and loamy soil ensures the soil drains properly and warms quickly. Test the soil to determine its pH and need for soil amendments. Mix a lot of organic matter into the soil before planting.

Spacing and Depth

Space bell pepper plants 15-18 inches apart in rows and space the rows 2-3 feet apart. When planting indoors, sow seeds ¼ inch deep. When transplanting outdoors, dig a deep hole 3-4 inches deep. Check the tag on the seed packet for spacing exceptions.

When to Plant Bell Peppers

Bell pepper is an annual plant in the vegetable garden that needs heat to germinate and grow properly. You can plant bell peppers from late April or early May through July and August in most growing zones. Bell peppers are grown best and crop best in greenhouses. Pepper seeds germinate best at 75°F, while established plants need day temperatures above 75°F. To start indoors, sow seeds 8-10 weeks before the last spring frost date. Plant pepper outdoors when all danger of frost has passed to prevent cold damage.

Fertilization Needs and Type of Fertilizers

Bell peppers are heavy feeders, so they benefit from regular fertilizer applications. Feed your plants every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season. Apply a high-phosphorus or high-potassium fertilizer at planting time and again when flowers bloom. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers in the early season, as they can promote extra foliage growth instead of healthy flowers and fruit development.

Water Needs and Ideal Irrigation System

Regular, consistent watering is essential for growing healthy bell peppers. Water plants deeply, about one to two inches per week. Peppers enjoy thorough watering but ensure plants do not get waterlogged or dry out for long. Slow, deep watering strengthens the root system of plants. Inconsistent watering during hot weather will let plants wilt, making them prone to blossom-end rot. Container plants may need daily watering in hot summer because the compost dries quickly. Mulch the plants to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.

A drip irrigation system is the ideal method for watering bell pepper plants. The drippers in drip tubing provide a slow, deep, and steady water supply to the plant's roots without overwatering or underwatering.

Harvesting and Usage

Bell peppers are ready to harvest 60 to 90 days after fruit formation, depending on your pepper varieties. Picking peppers is about color and the first frost date in your growing zone. Harvest bell peppers when the fruits are uniformly colored, glossy, and heavy, depending on size. Outdoors, plants will start fruiting later in August and finish in early fall. Once the plants start producing fruits, pick them once they reach their full size and color. Regular harvesting will encourage plants to produce more flowers and fruits. Use sharp and clean pruners or scissors to cut the stems of fruits.

Raw bell peppers taste wonderful in salads or as a snack with hummus or dip. You can stuff peppers with rice, crumbs, meat, or bread and bake them. Bell peppers can be refrigerated for up to 10 days after picking, but their skin can sink if they are refrigerated for too long. They taste best when eaten fresh from the garden.

Life Cycle of the Bell Pepper Plant

Bell peppers are tropical plants that are planted as annuals. Their lifecycle starts with seed germination, which takes 7 to 21 days. After germination, seeds grow into seedlings. Once seedlings are 6-8 weeks old and the last frost has passed, they are transplanted into the garden or larger pots.

Then, the vegetative growth stage starts, in which leaves, stems, and roots are developed. The plant takes 2-3 months from transplanting to reach maturity and start flowering. As the plants mature, they enter the flowering phase, in which they start producing flowers along the stems. After flower formation, the plant begins forming small peppers. Remember that not all flowers will produce pepper, which is normal.

After fruit formation, bell peppers take 50 to 90 days to transition from green to their final color (red, orange, or yellow) and ripen fully. The time the plant takes to ripen varies depending on the variety.

Common Diseases and Care

Bell peppers have a few serious pests and disease problems. Aphids, thrips, pepper weevils, hornworms, flea beetles, and other sap-sucking insects can be problematic. Pepper weevils lay eggs in the fruit flesh and destroy it. Flea beetles can defoliate seedlings, while hornworms can defoliate established plants. Check under leaves and shoot tips regularly to prevent larvae from getting established. If a pest infestation occurs, use neem oil or insecticidal soap to control it effectively.

Furthermore, bell pepper plants are susceptible to fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Once the infection develops, it can spread and damage the entire crop. The plants can also fall prey to fungi such as bacterial wilts and cankers and viruses such as tomato-spotted wilt and cucumber mosaic viruses. Regularly look for any signs of disease damage. If needed, use a fungicide to prevent the spread of disease or remove the affected part immediately. Disease-resistant varieties should also be grown to avoid common pepper diseases.

Read More: 10 Common Plant Diseases and How to Treat Them

The Bottom Line

Growing colorful bell peppers in your home garden is an exciting garden project. With their crisp texture, nutritional benefits, and a rainbow of colors, bell peppers are a versatile addition to many dishes. With a little planning, good soil, sunny locations, and the invaluable guidance of expert tips, you can harvest your own fresh homegrown bell peppers this season. Whether you want to grow green, red, yellow, or orange peppers, following this guide will help you enjoy a successful and bountiful bell pepper harvest.

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