Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers, have thick flesh, a sweet taste, and are not spicy. Bell peppers come in a variety of colors, including green, red, orange, yellow, and brown. They are rich in vitamin C, which supports improved vision, and contain 2.5 times more vitamin C than citrus fruits.
Bell peppers are typically grown in regions with cold climates, and their taste depends on growing conditions, care, variety, and post-harvest preservation. While bell peppers are not difficult to grow, they require careful attention to produce juicy, abundant fruit.
In this article, we will share a simple guide on how to grow and care for bell peppers at home.
1 What You’ll Need
- Plant pots
- Seeds
- Potting soil
- Fertilizer
Pro Tip:
Seeds: You can purchase bell pepper seeds from a gardening store or collect seeds from a fresh bell pepper.
Soil: While bell peppers are not picky about soil type, it’s best to use well-aerated soil with plenty of humus and a pH of 5.5 – 7. You can also add organic fertilizers to stimulate the plant’s growth.
Plant Pots: Choose pots that are at least 25-30cm deep, spacious, and have sufficient drainage holes at the bottom. Avoid using dark-colored pots that absorb heat, as bell peppers do not tolerate high temperatures well.
Supplies needed for growing bell peppers
2 Planting Steps
Step 1 Prepare the Soil
Fill your pot with soil, mix it thoroughly, add a suitable amount of fertilizer, and water it lightly to moisten the soil.
Preparing the soil
Step 2 Prepare the Seeds
Soak the bell pepper seeds in warm water at about 50°C for 2-8 hours to speed up germination.
Pro Tip: The ideal ratio for the warm water soak is 7 parts cold water to 3 parts hot water.
Preparing the seeds
Step 3 Sowing
Once the seeds have germinated, spread them on the surface of the soil in your pot. You can also add a thin layer of bagasse, husks, or coconut coir if available. Use a spray bottle to mist the surface of the soil a few times to maintain moisture.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have bagasse, husks, or coconut coir, you can substitute it with a thin layer of soil.
Sowing the seeds
Step 4 Fertilizing
After 10-12 days of sowing, apply the first basal fertilizer. The second application should be 12-15 days after the first, and the third application 20 days after the second. After each harvest, remember to add fertilizer and loosen the soil to keep it airy.
Pro Tip: Bell peppers require ample nutrition to thrive, so choose fertilizers rich in organic matter, such as worm castings or compost.
Applying basal fertilizer after 10-12 days of sowing
Step 5 Potting
After about 25 days, when the plants are 10-15cm tall, select the healthiest ones and transplant them into individual pots to encourage faster growth. Water twice a day, once in the early morning and once in the evening, avoiding the midday heat.
Potting the seedlings
Step 6 Pruning
After 30 days, start pruning by removing any damaged, diseased, or insect-infested branches and leaves to promote a healthy, well-ventilated plant.
Pruning damaged or diseased branches and leaves
Step 7 Harvesting
You can harvest bell peppers after 60-90 days of care. Depending on your preference, you can pick them when they are green or wait until they turn red or yellow.
Pro Tip: When harvesting bell peppers, cut both the stem and the fruit to encourage new growth.
Harvesting bell peppers
3 Care Instructions
- Water properly and sufficiently: Water twice a day, in the early morning and cool evening during summer. Avoid watering at midday when it’s hottest. In winter, water in the cool evening. Don’t overwater.
- Ideal temperature: The ideal temperature range for germination and growth is 15-30°C.
- Prune old leaves: Remove old, withered leaves, leaving only the young, fresh ones to encourage branching and vigorous growth.
- Weed control: Keep the area around the plant free of weeds by weeding once or twice a week, as needed.
Care tips for bell pepper plants
4 Delicious Bell Pepper Recipes
With their sweet taste and cooling properties, bell peppers are perfect for making salads, stir-fries, and soups. Some delicious bell pepper dishes include bell pepper stir-fry, stuffed bell peppers, and bell pepper salad.
Tasty dishes made with bell peppers
That’s it! With these simple steps, you can successfully grow bell peppers at home. We wish you a bountiful harvest of delicious bell peppers!
How to store bell peppers easily to keep them fresh for up to 2 weeks
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