Bell Pepper

What you'll need:

Bell pepper seeds or seedlings (available at supermarkets, garden centers, or online)

A pot (at least 12 inches wide) or a small patch in your garden

Regular potting soil or garden soil (if it feels too hard, mix in some sand to loosen it up)

Some fertilizer (just ask for "vegetable fertilizer" at the garden center)

When to start:

Spring is the best time! If you live in a northern area, wait until April when it gets warmer to begin; if you're in the south, you can start earlier, around March. Remember one thing: bell peppers love warm weather and dislike cold.

Finding a good spot:

Bell peppers love sunshine! Find a place that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. If you're using pots, you can place them on a balcony or windowsill; if planting in your yard, choose a sunny corner.

If you have seeds:

1. Start by sowing them in small cups (yogurt cups work fine, just poke a few holes at the bottom)
2. Gently place the seeds on the soil and cover with just a bit of soil, very thinly
3. Water to make the soil moist (like a wrung-out sponge)
4. Keep in a warm place and maintain moisture
5. Seeds will sprout in about a week
6. When seedlings have 2-4 leaves, they're ready to move to larger pots or your garden

If you have seedlings:

1. Dig a small hole in the pot or ground, about the same size as the seedling's root ball
2. Gently place the seedling in, making sure the roots are completely covered with soil
3. Lightly press the soil around it, but don't press too hard
4. Water immediately

Planting tips:

• If planting in the ground, leave about 18 inches between each pepper plant
• If using pots, plant just one pepper in each large pot
• After planting, sprinkle a bit of fertilizer around the plant and gently mix it into the top soil

Watering:

• Keep the soil moist but not soggy (it should feel like a wrung-out sponge)
• You might need to water daily in hot weather, or every 2-3 days when it's cooler
• It's best to water in the morning so the leaves can dry by evening

Feeding time:

• When your peppers start to flower, you can feed them some fertilizer
• An easy approach: use liquid fertilizer every two weeks, diluted according to the bottle instructions
• Don't overfeed! Too much fertilizer will make the plant grow lots of leaves but few peppers

Sunlight and temperature:

• Peppers prefer warmth, ideally around 70-80°F (21-27°C) during the day
• If the weather suddenly turns cold (below 60°F/15°C), you can temporarily cover them with plastic bags or old bed sheets
• Make sure they get enough sunlight every day

Minor problem solving:

• See bugs? Rinse with clean water or gently remove them by hand
• Yellow leaves? You might be watering too much or too little, so adjust your watering schedule
• Plant growing too tall and falling over? Support it with a small stake

When to pick your peppers:

• You can start harvesting about two to three months after planting seedlings
• Green peppers are already edible, but if you want colored peppers (red, yellow, etc.), you'll need to wait 2-3 more weeks
• Peppers are ready when they look plump and shiny, and feel firm to the touch

How to pick:

• Use scissors or your fingers to gently cut or twist off the pepper, leaving a small stem on the fruit
• Be careful not to damage the plant as it will continue to produce more peppers
• Picking fruits early encourages the plant to grow more peppers

After harvesting:

• Harvested peppers can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks
• If you have too many peppers to eat, you can chop them up and freeze them
• At the end of the season, pick all the peppers since frost will kill the plants

Q: My peppers are flowering but not producing fruit, what should I do?

A: It might be too hot! Peppers will drop their flowers when temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C). Try providing some shade during midday or water more often to cool them down.

Q: Can I grow sweet bell peppers and hot peppers together?

A: Absolutely! They grow well together, and sweet peppers won't become hot just because they're neighbors with hot peppers.

Q: Why do bell peppers have different colors?    

A: All peppers start out green and change color as they mature. The longer you wait, the sweeter they become and the more nutrients they contain!

Q: My pepper plant looks fragile, does it need support?  

A: If you see the plant bending due to the weight of too many fruits, you can insert a small stake next to it for support and gently tie it with soft string.

Q: Can peppers be grown indoors?  

A: Yes, as long as you have a sunny windowsill. Indoor growing requires more careful watering as the soil dries out more slowly.