GROW CRUNCHY, SWEET

BELL PEPPERS IN YOUR OWN

BACKYARD
March 20, 2019 by Amber Shidler
There are few plants in the garden more satisfying to grow than bell
peppers, one of the many types of peppers to fall under the
scientific name Capsicum annuum.
Rich green leaves, a compact form, and brightly colored fruit make
them a contender for even the most formal gardens.

I did say fruit. So many of the plants we commonly refer to as

vegetables are actually fruit, including peppers, for the simple fact
that they are seed bearing.
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Peppers are believed to have originated in South America and

Mexico.

From omelets to tacos, to pasta dishes and salads, sweet bells

provide a tasty crunch to so many popular meals without the spice.
But nothing beats the crunch of a freshly picked fruit.

It may seem intimidating for the beginner gardener but, as long as

you know a few key pieces of information before getting started,
bell peppers are fairly easy to grow – as long as the weather plays
along, that is.
This article will walk you through it all, from starting seeds to
transplanting seedlings to plant care and maintenance, so that you
can grow and enjoy these beauties in your own garden.

What You’ll Learn

 Start Early
 What to Plant and Where to Buy
 Transplanting
 Growing Healthy Plants
 Managing Pests and Diseases
 Harvesting
 A Few Recipe Ideas
 Worth the Effort

Start Early
Bell peppers are a perennial in tropical areas. But in colder climates,
they are grown as annuals and they really have no tolerance for
cold weather.
They require a fairly long growing season, often up to 90 or even
100 days, so the shorter your summer, the sooner you need to start
seeds indoors.
It is possible to save seeds from organic store bought bell peppers.
Collect seeds from red peppers, since they are more mature then
green ones, and set them out to dry for a few days. Then sow them
or store them in a paper envelope and place them in a dry location
for safekeeping.

Definitely consider buying seeds as well, since one of the benefits to

growing your own bell peppers is choosing from a number of
otherwise unavailable varieties.
The rule of thumb is to start seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last
average frost date in spring. However, if you keep plants healthy
and thriving, you can sow them even earlier.
Start seeds using a seed starting mix and place them in a warm,
sunny spot. Covering flats or cell packs with plastic can help speed
germination rates.

Providing a consistent source of heat, like with a seedling heat mat,

will also help since soil needs to be around 80°F for seeds to
germinate. If soil is warm enough, germination should occur within
ten days.

Once seeds germinate and grow two to three true leaves, you’ll
want to pot them in larger containers filled with damp potting soil
to reduce settling. Add organic fertilizer according to label
recommendations as well, to encourage strong growth.

Water newly potted plants well and keep them consistently moist.
What to Plant and Where to Buy
There are many different types of sweet bell peppers available on
the market today, and they can be grown from seeds or started as
seedlings. Let’s take a look at a few favorites.

Canary Bell
Slow and steady wins the race, when it comes to the yellow Canary
bell. These take 100 days to reach maturity, but the long wait will be
worth it when you get to enjoy these prolific 3 1/2-by-4-inch
sunshine yellow fruits.

‘Canary’ Bell Seeds

Tobacco Mosaic Virus resistant seeds are available in 1/4- or 1-
ounce packages from True Leaf Market.
Big Red
Big Red takes about 75 days to harvest, turning from green to red
as it ripens. This sweet pepper has very thick flesh with a mixture of
3- and 4-lobed blocky fruits.

‘Big Red’ Seeds

A veggie patch favorite, seeds are available in a variety of package
sizes from True Leaf Market.
Coral Bell
Vibrant orange Coral bell peppers are a welcome addition to the
garden, growing vigorously and producing 4-lobed fruit that reach
about 4-by-3 1/2-inches at maturity.
 ‘Coral’ Bell Seeds
Seeds are available from True Leaf in 1/4- or 1-ounce packages.
Expect 78-88 days to harvest.
California Wonder
California Wonder 300 TMR is delicious when picked green, or can
be left on the plant to ripen to a sweeter red pepper.
 ‘California Wonder’ 300 TMR, available from True Leaf Market
This four-lobed fruit makes a delicious stuffed pepper, on the larger
side at around 4-by-4 ½-inches max. The “TMR” in the name stands
for Tobacco Mosaic Virus Resistant, and you can expect about 75
days to maturity.

Purple Beauty
Purple Beauty is a striking heirloom pepper with a deep purple
color, thick-walled flesh, and 4-by-3-inch fruit.
 ‘Purple Beauty’ Seeds
These will take about 70 days to reach maturity. Packages of 1000
seeds are available from True Leaf Market. Live plants are
also available via Amazon.
Chocolate Beauty
For something a little different, the Chocolate Beauty offers a
luscious, deep brown color with super sweet flesh. It grows quickly,
with about 67-70 days to maturity, and is Tobacco Mosaic Virus
resistant.
 ‘Chocolate Beauty’ Seeds
Seeds are available from True Leaf. And live plants are available
via Amazon.
Transplanting
Although you may be tempted to do it sooner, wait to transplant
peppers to the garden until a couple of weeks past the last frost
date. Make sure to harden them off first though, or your plants may
not make it at all.

Hardening off simply refers to the process of getting plants

acclimated to a new environment. Plants that have been grown
indoors for months will likely become severely stressed or even die
if placed directly in the garden, and we want to avoid this.
Instead, slowly introduce plants to outdoor weather. Over the
course of several days, set them outside for longer periods of time.
Start in the morning and bring them in later and later each day until
you are confident they have adapted.

Before transplanting, make sure the soil temperature is warm

enough, usually around 65°F. Transplanting can stress a plant and
cause blossom drop, so you’ll want to remove any flowers that form
before giving them a permanent home.
In the garden, leave at least 18 inches between plants, possibly
more, depending on the variety you’re growing.

Water newly planted bell peppers really well and add an inch or two
of organic mulch. Their roots are shallow and mulch will help to
maintain moisture and protect roots from moisture related stress.
Growing Healthy Plants
Bell peppers generally need warm soil and warm temperatures to
thrive.

To encourage faster growth in cooler areas, consider laying black

plastic over the soil. Just be careful not to let the soil get so hot that
beneficial soil bacteria are killed. Remember that the target
temperature is only 65°F, and don’t overdo it.

Full sun and loamy, rich, well draining soil with a pH near neutral
is ideal for planting.
For improved fruit production, keep plants evenly moist throughout
the season. Too wet or too dry, and you’ll likely notice a decline in
the plant’s overall health or fruit development.

It’s especially important to keep plants consistently watered when

they are in bloom and producing fruit. Between 1 and 1 1/2 inches
of water each week should be sufficient.

Unfortunately, even if you do everything else right, bell peppers

won’t produce much fruit if temperatures aren’t ideal, typically
between 70 and 90°F.
They will be sloth-like in growth if nighttime temperatures fall
below 55°F. And if temperatures are too hot, they will likely start to
drop their blossoms before ever having a chance to set fruit. This is
why they’re considered a bit more temperamental to grow than
some other veggie patch favorites like spinach or radishes.
Shallow roots and heavy fruits make bell peppers more likely to
topple over, so consider staking them once flowers begin to form.

While fertilizing is helpful, be cautious not to over fertilize,

especially with nitrogen. This is known to cause leafy green growth,
but it will actually stunt flower and fruit production.

Bell peppers are in the Solanaceae family, along with

tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes. This means they share many of
the same disease and pest issues, as well as nutritional needs. For
this reason, you’ll want to avoid rotating these crops with each
other in the garden.
Managing Pests and Diseases
Bell pepper plants are susceptible to overwatering or poor draining
soils. So be aware of root rot and phytophthora blight, a fungal
disease that causes permanent wilt.

Another issue linked to moisture stress is blossom end rot, which

shows up as a dark, sunken area on the fruit. It’s fairly common and
is a result of calcium deficiency.
However, just because plants are calcium deficient, this doesn’t
necessarily mean the soil is. Rather, the issue could just be that
calcium present in the soil is tied up for one reason or another.

For instance, if soil pH is too low, calcium uptake can be affected.

Also, inconsistent moisture levels can negatively impact calcium
availability.
And, since roots are shallow, it’s easier to damage them when
caring for and weeding your garden. Damaged roots aren’t going to
be as effective in taking up needed nutrients.

Also keep an eye out for aphids, spider mites, stink bugs, flea
beetles, and cutworms. Spray these critters with a strong stream of
water, horticultural oils, or simply hand pick and squash all who are
unwelcome.
The best way to mitigate all pest and disease issues is to maintain
healthy plants within an optimal environment. Check your garden
regularly and be quick to address any concerns. And do your best to
invite natural predators into your gardens, such as birds, praying
mantises, and ladybugs.

Harvesting
Sweet bells are unique, since choosing when to pick them is mostly
up to you.

If you love the flavor of a green pepper, pick a few when they’re
full-sized with thick flesh but not yet beginning to turn shades of
red, yellow, or orange (or purple! or brown!). The peppers will
sweeten the longer you leave them on the plant, with increased
vitamin C content as well.
Make a clean cut with a knife or sharp scissors when harvesting,
being careful not to topple or otherwise disturb the plant. You don’t
want to knock off any fruits that are still developing, or cause any
damage.

Wipe any excess dirt away with a clean, dry cloth and store in the
produce crisper bin of the refrigerator for up to one week. Wait to
wash until you’re ready to use them, since damp produce with
become moldy and rot quickly in the refrigerator.

A Few Recipe Ideas

In addition to being delicious in a salad, or sliced into strips and
served with a big bowl of homemade hummus, homegrown bells
add texture and flavor to a variety of tasty dishes.
Try this recipe for Spiralized Sweet Potato Noodles with Roasted
Red Peppers and Sun Dried Tomatoes from our sister site Foodal,
or this homemade Harissa Sauce from our friends at Wanderspice.
Fajitas are a family favorite, and this Vegetable Fajita Sheet Pan
Dinner from The Domestic Dietitian comes together in minutes.
And you’re sure to love this Bean-Free Low FODMAP Chili from
Erika’s Gluten-Free Kitchen.
For breakfast, serve up a cast iron pan-full of this irresistible South
Asian Spiced Shakshuka with Bell Pepper and Spinach from Feast in
Thyme.
And don’t forget, in addition to sharing with the neighbors, a big
harvest gives you a chance to show off your home preservation
chops. Roasted, they can be stored in oil. Or try parboiling, peeling,
chopping, and freezing in individual packages for a quick add-in to
toss into weekend omelets and egg scrambles.
Peppers can also be chopped and dehydrated for use in soups, or
ground into a flavorful powder that you can add to your spice
cabinet.

Worth the Effort

There’s quite a bit of information provided here, and it may seem
just a bit overwhelming to take on bell peppers as a home
gardener. So, I want to wrap up with a few key points:

 Start seeds early or buy good looking seedlings, and

make sure to harden them off before transplanting.
 Wait to transplant into the garden until two or more
weeks past the last frost date, since soil needs to be
warm for plants to really take off.
 Mulch and keep water moisture consistent, since roots
are shallow and susceptible to water-related stress.
 Don’t fret about what you can’t control – like
temperatures that are too hot or too cold.
Keep these basics in mind and you’ll be enjoying some tasty sweet
bell peppers soon enough!

Feeling confident enough to grow bell peppers this year? Let us

know what varieties you try and how they come along in your part
of the world. And don’t forget to check out our full archive of
vegetable growing advice here.