Vegetable
How to grow peppers
Slow to start, then steady all summer.
Overview
Sweet and chili peppers are compact, upright plants that do best in warmth and shelter. They take their time early on, then crop steadily once the weather settles. Their neat size makes them one of the better vegetables for large containers.
Common problems and what to do
Flowers dropping
Common in extreme heat or cold snaps. Shade during heatwaves and keep watering even; plants usually recover.
Sunscald on fruit
Pale, papery patches on exposed fruit. Keep enough leaf cover and avoid heavy pruning.
Slow, stunted growth
Almost always cold soil or a cold night. Wait for warmth rather than feeding harder.
Harvesting
Pick green when firm and full-sized, or leave on the plant to ripen to red, yellow or orange for a sweeter flavor. Cut rather than pull.
Beginner tips
- Pinch out the first flower on a young plant so it builds a frame before fruiting.
- Support heavily laden plants with a short cane.
- Chili peppers get hotter with sun and a slightly drier finish.
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