Growing peppers is easy, and doesn’t require much work. Whether you put them in pots or in your garden, pepper plant care is the same. Follow these easy tips for how to grow peppers, and you’ll have your biggest and best harvest ever!
When it comes to growing veggies, peppers are a must for me! I plant several varieties every year, both in my garden and containers.
Every time I share a photo of my harvests on social media, people always ask “How do you grow such big peppers?“.
Over the years I have learned lots of tricks for consistently producing an amazing bounty in my z4 garden. So below, I’m going to share my best tips with you.
This detailed pepper plant care guide will give you all the information you need to be successful. You’ll learn everything from planting through harvesting.
Table of Contents
Peppers Quick Care Overview
| Scientific name: | Capsicum |
| Classification: | Vegetable |
| Common names: | Peppers |
| Hardiness: | Zones 10+ |
| Temperature: | 60-85°F |
| Flowers: | White, blooms repeatedly |
| Light: | Full sun |
| Water: | Allow soil to dry between waterings, do not overwater |
| Humidity: | Average |
| Fertilizer: | High phosphorus fertilizer spring-summer |
| Soil: | Rich, fertile, well-draining |
| Common pests: | Aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites, hornworms |
Information About Pepper Plants
Pepper plants (capsicum) are wonderful, and so versatile! This popular veggie is a member of the nightshade (Solanacae) family, along with tomatoes, eggplants, tomatillos, and potatoes.
You might be surprised to learn that capsicum plants are perennials native to the tropical regions of North and South America, where some varieties can grow to be large shrubs.
Different Types Of Pepper Plants To Grow
There are hundreds of different kinds of peppers, so you can have fun growing new types every year. They come in wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors.
Some can mature to be several feet tall, while others stay much smaller, and more compact. The size, color, and shape of the fruits also vary greatly.
You can find peppers in just about any color, from white to yellow, orange, red, green, purple, to almost black. Some are even variegated!
The flavors vary almost as greatly as their colors. You’ll find they range anywhere from mild, to sweet, slightly spicy, or hot, all the way up to OMG-my-mouth-is-on-fire (that’s not a technical term, haha)!
Here are some of my favorite varieties to plant in my garden every year…
- Bell (sweet)
- Sweet banana (sweet)
- Purple bell (mild)
- Poblano/Ancho (mild)
- Padron chile (mild to hot as they mature)
- Chilli (medium)
- Cayenne (hot)
- Fish variegated (hot)
- Jalapeno (hot)
- Ghost (super hot)
- Habanero (super hot)
Hardiness Of Peppers
Though most of us grow peppers as annuals that we replace every year, they are actually tender perennial plants that can live for many years in the right climate.
So, if you garden in a warm enough area (zone 10b or above), you can grow them as perennials year round.
For the rest of us, they must be replanted every year. Or you could overwinter them indoors. That way, you can keep your favorite varieties year after year!
How Do Peppers Grow?
Capsicum plants must flower to produce fruit. Shortly after the flowers have been pollinated, tiny baby peppers will start growing out of them.
If the flowers die and fall off, that means they weren’t pollinated. But it’s easy to hand pollinate them by simply taking your finger and touching the inside of each flower, one after another.
Where To Grow Pepper Plants
One of the things I love the most about growing peppers is that they perform equally well in containers as they do in the ground. Heck, you could even bring them inside, and keep your favorite varieties for many years.
Pepper Plant Care Indoors
If you want to try growing peppers indoors, choose a warm room where they will get a lot of light. A south facing window is ideal, but they also do very well under grow lights.
They will get leggy indoors without the proper amount of sunlight. If that starts happening, add a grow light, and set it on a timer so it stays on for 12-14 hours a day.
You certainly could keep them indoors all year, but you’ll probably find it’s easier to move them outside for the summer.
For best results, wait to move them outdoors until it’s consistently above 55F, and be sure to slowly acclimate them to the sun or their leaves will get sunburn.
Growing Peppers Outdoors
Outdoors, plant them in a sunny spot in your garden that has fertile, fast draining soil. They won’t tolerate wet roots, so make sure the location has very good drainage.
If the soil in your garden has poor drainage, you can help to improve it by amending it with coarse sand, pumice or perlite.
All types of pepper plants also perform very well in containers, so they’re an excellent choice for growing on a sunny patio, deck, or balcony.
How To Grow Peppers
Before getting into the detailed pepper plant care instructions, it’s important to understand a few key things about planting them to be as successful as possible.
When To Plant Peppers
It’s safe to plant peppers outside once the soil has warmed up, nighttime temps are consistency above 50F, and all chance of frost is gone. That is usually early June for us here in z4b.
It’s not beneficial to try planting them early. Cool temperatures will stunt their growth, and they will not tolerate frost at all.
How To Plant Peppers
Whether you have your own seedlings, or starts from the garden center, it’s good to plant them 1-2″ deeper than they were growing in the pot.
They will form new roots along the stem that’s underground, making the plant much stronger. Remove a few sets of the bottom leaves before planting, if necessary.
Pepper plants don’t need a ton of space, which is great for those of us with small garden plots. But don’t overcrowd them. Space them 18-24″ apart, depending on the size of the mature plant.
Pepper Plant Care Instructions
If you follow these pepper plant care tips, you’re sure to get the largest and the best harvest you’ve ever had! These instructions work for all varieties.
Water
Whether you grow pepper plants in pots or the garden, they will not tolerate having wet feet for very long.
So it’s very important to keep the soil on the dry side. Allow it to dry between waterings, but never to the point where the plant starts drooping.
It’s also crucial to give them a consistent amount of water. Inconsistent watering can stunt their growth, slow down fruit production, and is a contributing factor for blossom end rot.
A drip irrigation system is simple to install in both potted plants or the garden, and makes a huge difference. Set it on a hose timer, and it will take care of watering for you.
If you struggle with giving them the right amount of water, then use a moisture meter to make is easy to get right.
Sunlight
Capsicum plants need full sun to grow and produce their best, and the more sunlight the better. Though they will tolerate partial shade, you’ll get a much smaller harvest.
Ideally, you should grow peppers where they will receive more than 8 hours of direct sunshine every day. But they will still perform well in a location that gets a minimum of 6 hours of full sun during the peak of the day.
If your yard is pretty shady, then choose a spot where they’ll be in the sun during the afternoon when the rays are the most intense.
Soil Requirements
The best soil for pepper plants is one that is rich in organic nutrients, and also fast draining. They don’t like soggy soil, and too much water can cause issues like mildew and rotting, or even stunt their growth.
Use a quick-draining mix for containers, or amend poor quality garden soil with compost or worm castings, and coarse sand to improve drainage.
Though they will tolerate acidic conditions, they perform best in alkaline soil. If the leaves are turning yellow, or your plants aren’t growing, it’s a sure sign that the soil is too acidic.
A soil probe or home test kit are quick ways to test the pH. If you find that your soil is acidic, then adding garden lime is an easy fix to neutralize it.
Fertilizer
Capsicum plants love being fed during their active growing season. Regular fertilizing will help them grow faster, and produce larger fruits. A rich, organic plant food is the best type to use.
Add slow release granules to the soil at planting time, and then again once or twice in the summer. You can use a granular vegetable fertilizer, or a tomato fertilizer.
It’s also good to feed them every few weeks using an organic liquid fertilizer. I recommend fish emulsion or compost tea (which you can buy as concentrate, or brew your own with tea bags).
Pest Control
As far as insects go, pepper plants are aphid magnets, which is usually more of a problem indoors than it is outside. Other common pests include mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites, and hornworms.
If you find a bug infestation, wash the leaves with organic insecticidal soap.
You could also make your own spray by mixing one tsp mild liquid soap with one liter of water. Neem oil also works great to get rid of bugs on pepper plants.
Disease Control
Though they are super easy to grow, peppers can have some issues. Diseases like powdery mildew and bacterial leaf spot can sometimes become a problem.
Blossom end rot is also very common, and happens when there is a calcium deficiency caused by inconsistent watering.
These disease and mildew issues can easily be prevented by proper plant spacing, and also consistent watering. An organic fungicide may help to control mildew and fungus problems.
Pruning Peppers
Pepper plants are generally very low maintenance, and don’t require much pruning. But they will grow larger fruits if you pinch off some of the flower buds once the plant starts producing.
Also, they will produce more when you regularly prune the suckers. This is the extra growth between the leaf and stem joints, or around the base of the plant.
You can also prune them to maintain their size and shape, and to keep the plants more compact and fuller, if desired.
Related Post: How To Can Peppers
Tips For Harvesting Peppers
One of the things that makes growing peppers so easy is that you can harvest them at any time. You don’t even need to wait for them to ripen. Although, the flavor will be a milder when you harvest immature ones.
The longer they are left to mature on the plant, the hotter/sweeter they will become. The amount of time it takes for them to ripen depends on the variety.
It’s easy to harvest peppers, simply cut them off the plant when they’re ready. Use a sharp pair of pruners to cut them, rather than pulling them off. Otherwise you could break the branch, or cause other damage to the plant.
Related Post: How To Preserve & Store Peppers Long Term
Propagating Pepper Plants
Pepper plants can be propagated from stem cuttings or from seeds. Take 3-4″ long stem cuttings during the summer.
Remove the bottom leaves, then dip the cut ends in rooting hormone, and stick them in soil. Keep the soil moist, and the air humid. After a few weeks, the cuttings will form new roots.
They can also be propagated from seeds, which is fairly simple to do. Learn exactly how to grow them from seeds here.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
The hardest thing about pepper plant care is when they start having issues, and you have no idea why. So below I will list some of the most common problems, and give you tips for how to fix them…
Pepper Plants Are Slow Or Not Growing
If the plant doesn’t seem to be getting any bigger, it’s probably either too cold or too wet.
Move them to a hot, full sun location. Also, some varieties don’t grow very large, so it may just have reached its mature size.
Flowers Falling Off
When the flowers die and fall off, that means they weren’t pollinated. If the bees aren’t helping, then you can pollinate the flowers yourself by gently rubbing the inside of each one with your finger.
Leaves Are Turning Yellow
This is usually caused by overwatering, but it could be acidic soil, or a nitrogen deficiency. Use a pH probe to monitor the acidity, or a test kit to check the nutrients.
Rot On The Bottom Of The Fruits
Blossom end rot is a very common problem. It happens when the plant can’t get enough calcium because of improper watering. It’s easily fixed by ensuring that you water consistently.
Related Post: How To Dry Cayenne Peppers In 4 Easy Ways
FAQs About Growing Peppers
In this section, I’m going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about caring for pepper plants. If you can’t find an answer to your question here, then ask it in the comments below.
Related Post: How To Make Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
How long does it take to grow a pepper?
Pepper plants need a fairly long season to produce mature fruit. Depending on the variety, it can take anywhere from 100-150 days (4-5 months) to grow them from seed to harvest.
What month do you plant peppers?
The exact month to plant peppers depends on where you live. If you’re in a warm climate, you can plant them at any time.
However, if you live somewhere cold like I do, then wait until the soil has warmed up, and all chance of frost is gone in the spring. For us here in z4b, that is late May or early June.
How much sun does a pepper plant need?
Capsicum plants need full sun. Ideally at least 8 hours of full sunshine outdoors, and 12-14 hours of direct light indoors (either from a sunny south facing window, or by using grow lights).
Do pepper plants grow back every year?
In the ideal climate, yes, pepper plants are perennials that will grow back every year. However, if it gets below freezing, then they will be killed, and won’t grow back the following year.
Do pepper plants need a lot of water?
No, pepper plants do not need a lot of water. In fact they won’t tolerate being overwatered for very long. They prefer their soil to dry out slightly between waterings. However, they do require consistent watering.
Growing peppers is easy when you know the secrets. And now that you know exactly how to do it, you’ll have your best harvest yet. Follow these care instructions, and soon people will be asking YOU how to grow bigger peppers!
If you want to learn all about growing your crops vertically, then you need my book, Vertical Vegetables. It has everything you need to know to be successful, plus almost two dozen detailed step-by-step projects that you can build in your own garden! Order your copy today!
More Vegetable Gardening Posts
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- How To Grow Blueberries In Pots Or The Garden
- How To Grow Garlic In Your Garden
- Tomatoes Not Turning Red? Try These 5 Tricks
- How To Grow Your Own Sprouts
Share your tips for growing peppers in the comments section below.
Dave says
Why is it my bell pepper plants take all summer and grow to about 3’ tall before bearing about 4-5 peppers, yet I see other folks plants at 18” tall loaded down with peppers? I even decreased the nitrogen last year, gave it tiger bloom at blossom time and I believe I gave it some Neptune’s harvest fish fertilizer. The initial soil (pro mix 50/50) was amended es with azomite (reapplied monthly), a little granular lime, and granular 10-10-10. And they get at least 8 hours sun. Other than looking like a Caribbean island, I just don’t see the abundance out of them. Is it a variety thing or am I doing something wrong. I don’t use compost because I don’t want the 5 gallon buckets to heavy. I try to make up for that with nutrients. It saves my back, lest I end up in bed for days at a time.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would definitely recommend using a fertilizer where the middle number is highest (so that means it’s high in phosphorous). When you said that your plants look like a Caribbean island, that makes me think that they have tons of lush green leaves, but are lacking in fruit. That tells me that they are getting too much nitrogen (which promotes lush green leaves), but not enough phosphorous to promote flowering. The more flowers pepper plants get, the more fruit they will produce. However, if they have tons of flowers, but not a lot of peppers, then that means they aren’t being pollinated. If that’s the case, you can pollinate them yourself by gently rubbing your finger in each of the flowers, one after another. And take steps to attract more bees to your veggie pots. Here’s more information about fertilizing veggies, which might help you out.
Amy L says
I wonder if you think my green pepper plants have a chance to mature. I planted them from seeds from the grocery store (baby bell peppers) and they started out fine and blossomed as well. The plants continue to blossom, but never set fruit. These plants are in large containers on my patio. They look healthy otherwise and was wondering if they will ever set fruit. Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
When a pepper plants flower but doesn’t set fruit, that means they’re not being pollinated. You can pollinate them yourself by simply gently rubbing your finger on the inside of each flower, and going from flower to flower. Do that every day, or a couple times per week, and you should start seeing baby peppers forming in a few weeks.
Next year, think about planting some annuals around your patio that will attract pollinators to do the work for you. Here’s a post that might help… How To Attract Bees To Your Vegetable Garden.
Moe says
My habanero plant (growing in a pot) was growing well and had lots of nice peppers. All of a sudden their leaves have started drooping and falling off. Leaves are green. I only water when the topsoil dries out.
Amy Andrychowicz says
When pepper plants droop and start dropping their leaves, that usually means they aren’t getting enough water. But it could also be a sign of overwatering. The only way to know for sure is to stick your finger at least one inch into the soil to check for moisture. If it’s dry, then you know you’ll need to water it more often.
Lex says
I too am in the Twin Cities. However, this year as been, well, challenging because of the weird weather we’ve been experiencing. I have a jump on many gardeners though, I winter my plants downstairs, I keep them happy with customized plant lighting a watering solution, with the occasional refertillizing.
However, I get medium sized fruits, about 3 ~ 5 inches long and sometimes that wide, too. I’ve never been too good with bell peppers. I would love to know your soil pH, as well as the mineral breakdown. I have a mixture of potting soil, compost, various minerals, (iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, sulpher, and a couple of trace minerals, too). For some reason my peppers crave nitrogen and I can never give them enough. I prefer to use organic minerals, fertillizers, etc. in this regard.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t know the exact mineral breakdown of the soil I use, but it’s a fast draining mix. They aren’t too picky about the exact soil breakdown, as long as it doesn’t hold water for too long. They are however picky about the pH. Peppers need alkaline soil in order to grow their best, so make sure yours isn’t acidic. Also, if your pepper plants have been in the same pots for too long, that may be the problem. They make have used up all the nutrients in the soil, and that’s why it’s hard to give them enough of what they crave. I would repot them into fresh soil in the spring. Then, use a granular fertilize a couple of times during the year, as well as a liquid one each time you water. See the “Fertilizing Pepper Plants” section above for organic fertilizers that I recommend.
lonnie says
I’m growing Carolina Reaper peppers and it seems like they’re awful small they have the tail and they’re ugly and they’re hot but they’re small what can I do to make them grow bigger for next year
Amy Andrychowicz says
Carolina Reaper peppers don’t grow to be very large, only about 1-3″. So, it’s just a smaller pepper. LOL, yes I agree, they are really are ugly looking peppers.