Having fresh fruits and veggies is one of the many benefits of gardening. One particularly interesting veggie to grow is the bell pepper. What’s neat about the bell pepper is the different flavors that can be grown by simply postponing the harvest date. From green to red to orange, the many flavors are all delicious in their own right. Here are some expert tips to help you start growing bell peppers indoors!
Providing Ideal Soil conditions
To start, bell peppers like to be grown in warm conditions. You’ll want the average temperature to be in the 70-75 degree fahrenheit range. While the plant can survive if it gets cooler, it likely won’t flower or produce anything edible.
In summer, the heat off the sun will generally be enough to keep the plant warm. You should also be sure to remove the plant from anywhere that gets drafty to is exposed to cool air.
For colder seasons, it might be smart to add some supplemental heating. A small grow light can help you hit your lighting needs while also helping improve the temperature around your plants.
When growing from seeds, it’s very important to keep the soil above 70°F or the seeds will not germinate. A good place to keep your seed trays is on top of the refrigerator as this is naturally a bit warmer. You can keep them in seed trays until the seedlings are a few inches tall, and then transplant them to their permanent pots or move them outside. Peppers transplant well and it is not too difficult to do so.
This is also a great way to get a start on the growing season in areas where it might take a while to reach proper outdoor temperatures. You can start from a seed or seedling indoors, and then move them outside when it warms up. You can even move them back indoors during the colder months. Of course, it’s always possible to just leave them inside permanently and still grow perfectly healthy plants.
Another commonly used technique with bell peppers is to plant them in pairs. Having two peppers very close together is said to both increase pepper yield, as well as provide additional protection from the sun and too intense light.
Bell Peppers Love the Sun
Generally speaking, bell peppers are warm-season crops and germinate best in temperatures of at least 70°F, keep them around this temperature for best results. You’ll also want to provide them with plenty of bright light.
Peppers generally like to have more light than other plants, aim to hit 12-14 hours per day! This is pretty difficult to hit, especially in the winter, so don’t be afraid to supplement natural sunlight with a grow light. Keep in mind that grow lights are typically less intense than normal sunlight, so you may need to add a few hours of extra lighting.
If your peppers start to look flimsy or bend using a simple wire guide is an easy solution. This generally is an issue when growing outdoors, but can also crop up from time to time for larger indoor ones as well.
Watering & Feeding
Watering should be done when the soil is about an inch dry on top. Keep the soil moist but not drenched. In most climates, this amounts to roughly 1-2″ of water per week. However, bell peppers are quite sensitive to the sun, too much of a good thing can be bad for them. If in a very warm climate watering everyday may be necessary. At the very least, misting the plant daily can help combat high temperatures without over-watering. It’s best to give your plants a once over every day or so, and if they’re looking a bit wilted see if a little extra water perks them up.
For feeding, use a half strength water-based fertilizer. Do this roughly once a month. Using an organic or homemade fertilizer is also another good option. You can also re-pot with fresh soil once a year to help recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Time
Don’t get discourage if your peppers don’t appear immediately. It’s not uncommon for peppers to not be ripe until late into the season. This is especially the case in very hot climates where the peppers will wait until cooler nights later in the season to really start growing. Peppers usually take 60-90 days until they’re ready to harvest, so patience is key.
Harvesting Your Bell Peppers
You can look to harvest your peppers as soon as they reach your desired size. Make sure you wait for the plant to grow a full size as they generally become sweeter and vitamin C rich as they age. In fact, the green and red peppers you see in the typical supermarket are the same type of vegetable just picked at different times. If you’re looking for a sweeter pepper, wait until they turn red to begin picking. Green can be a bit more bitter, but are perfectly edible for those looking for that flavor.
While harvesting, snap your peppers with a sharp knife so as to avoid repeatedly cutting and hurting the plant. Once harvested, you can refrigerate your peppers in plastic bags for up to 12 days after picking. With proper care, a single plant will produce vegetables for upwards of 5 years.
It is possible to have a plant continue to flower in the winter provided the right conditions. As noted above, this generally means giving the plant the necessary amount of sunlight and warmth.
Growing Bell Peppers Indoors
Bell peppers take a bit of time and patience, but it’s well worth the effort. Having delicious bell peppers ready to pick and eat is a delicious treat. Now that you’ve learned all the tips for growing bell peppers indoors go out there start your own garden!
FAQ
How Much Light Do Bell Peppers Need?
Bell peppers need a lot of light, shoot for 12-14 hours of bright but indirect light. While they can survive with less they may not flower.
How Long Do Bell Peppers Take To Grow?
Bell peppers have a long growing season of 60-90 days. If it’s taking a while for your peppers to grow don’t get discouraged as this is expected. Many gardeners report that they get the most peppers towards the end of a growing season when it starts to cool down.
How Often Should I Water Bell Peppers?
You should give them a watering whenever the top inch of the soil is dry to the touch. Look to saturate the soil on each watering. If you’re using a pot, look to see water begin to leak out of the drainage holes as that is usually an adequate amount.
