Planting peppers is more than just putting seeds into the soil. To achieve a rich harvest, many factors must be considered: choosing quality seeds, preparing seedlings, selecting the right site, and planting at the right time. This is a heat-loving crop that requires regular watering and fertile soil. Therefore, proper preparation is essential, as noted by the editorial team of Baltimore Chronicle.
Choosing the Right Pepper Variety
Before planting, you should decide which type of pepper to grow. There are sweet (bell) peppers and hot peppers, each with different growing requirements.
The most popular sweet pepper varieties in Ukraine:
- Atlant
- California Wonder
- Hercules
- Orange Wonder
- Winnipeg
Different varieties are suitable for different regions, depending on the climate. For example, southern regions are best for heat-loving varieties, while northern areas should opt for early-maturing types.
Tips for Choosing a Variety:
- Consider the length of the growing season.
- Check for disease resistance.
- Choose high-yielding varieties appropriate for your region.
When to Plant Peppers in Open Ground
Peppers are warm-weather plants and should not be planted in cold soil. The best time for transplanting outdoors is when the average daily temperature is above 15°C (59°F).
This usually occurs from mid-May to early June. At transplanting time, seedlings should have 5–8 leaves and be 20–25 cm (8–10 inches) tall.
Key benchmarks:
- Soil temperature at 10 cm (4 in) depth should be at least 13–15°C (55–59°F)
- Plant after the risk of night frosts has passed
How to Prepare Soil for Planting
Peppers grow best in light, fertile, well-drained soils with a neutral or slightly acidic pH (6.0–6.8).
What to do:
- Dig the site in autumn, adding humus or compost
- In spring, apply mineral fertilizers: superphosphate, potassium sulfate
- Avoid using fresh manure — it promotes leaf growth but reduces fruiting
Ideal Crop Predecessors for Peppers:
- Cucumbers
- Cabbage
- Legumes
- Carrots
Avoid planting after:
- Tomatoes
- Eggplants
- Potatoes
This reduces the risk of disease and prevents soil depletion.
Sowing and Growing Pepper Seedlings
Seedlings are grown from seeds indoors or in a greenhouse. Seeds are usually sown 60–70 days before transplanting outdoors.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Soak seeds in a warm solution of potassium permanganate for 20–30 minutes.
- Rinse with water and place on a damp cloth until sprouting.
- Sow seeds in prepared soil at a depth of 0.5–1 cm.
- Maintain a temperature of 23–25°C (73–77°F) and adequate humidity until sprouting.
- Once two true leaves appear, perform thinning or transplanting (pricking out).
Seedlings need 12–14 hours of light, so additional lighting is recommended.
Pepper Transplanting Technique for Open Soil
After hardening the seedlings, they can be transplanted to a permanent site.
Main Planting Rules:
- Space between plants: 30–40 cm (12–16 in)
- Row spacing: 50–60 cm (20–24 in)
- Planting hole depth should match the seedling pot depth
- Water the hole before transplanting
After transplanting, mulching with sawdust or straw helps retain moisture.
Pepper Care After Transplanting
Proper care is essential to ensure a good pepper harvest.
Key Care Steps:
- Watering: every 3–4 days, 1–1.5 liters (0.26–0.4 gal) per plant, preferably in the morning
- Feeding: first feeding 10 days after transplanting, then every 2–3 weeks
- Soil loosening: once a week after watering
- Pest control: aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
Pepper Diseases and Pests
Peppers are susceptible to several diseases, especially in high humidity conditions.
| Disease Name | Symptoms | Control Method |
|---|---|---|
| Late blight | Dark spots on leaves | Spray with fungicides |
| Gray mold | Wet spots on fruits | Remove infected plants |
| Blossom-end rot | Darkening of fruit tips | Add calcium to soil |
| Damping-off (seedlings) | Stem darkens and rots | Reduce watering, ventilate more |
| Spider mite | Webbing on undersides of leaves | Garlic spray or insecticides |
Common Pepper Growing Mistakes
- Planting in soil that is too cold
- Overfeeding with nitrogen — too much foliage, not enough fruits
- Failing to prune or thin tall varieties
- Underwatering during the fruiting period
- Planting too densely, which encourages fungal diseases
How to Harvest and Store Peppers
Fruits should be cut with scissors or a pruner — do not pull them off. Harvest when the peppers reach technical or biological maturity, depending on the variety.
Storage Conditions:
- Temperature: 8–12°C (46–54°F)
- Humidity: 85–90%
- Well-ventilated space
- Free of bruising or damage
Peppers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, and in a root cellar for up to 1 month.
To get a generous pepper harvest, it is crucial to follow all agrotechnical steps: choosing the right variety, preparing high-quality seedlings, enriching the soil, and caring for the plants throughout the season. Proper planting is half the success when it comes to bountiful fruiting.
Earlier we wrote about how to properly plant melon in open soil.