Growing peppers as the weather warms up

FALLBROOK – Peppers (Capsicum frutescens) are in the same group as the potato and tomato family (Solanaceae) which is also called Nightshade. The pepper is another favorite vegetable that is a native of South America. It has been a part of the human diet in the Americas for thousands of years.

Peppers are considered a warm season vegetable. There are many varieties of peppers ranging from sweet to hot. One of the oldest and popular garden varieties is the sweet, thick-walled bell pepper “California Wonder.”

Peppers take 70 to 90 days to mature. In the colder climates, peppers should be started from seeds two months before planting in the garden.

A bushy annual, the plant grows from one- to four-feet tall and likes full sun, but will tolerate part shade too. Regular water is necessary, along with a long, warm growing season to produce the most fruit. If the growing season is cool or short, try techniques that will increase the warmth around the plants such as clear plastic mulch.

Starting peppers from seed

Peppers require temperatures of 78 to 80 degrees and can take three weeks to germinate. Before setting plants in the garden they need to be “hardened off.” This is done by setting the plants outdoors in a protected area when daytime temperatures are in the 60′s and bringing them inside at night. Gradually increase exposure each day for a week or more. Avoid direct sun and too much wind.

When nighttime temperatures reach 60 degrees, and the danger of frost has passed, plant seedlings in full sun (8 to 10 hours/day), spacing 18- to 24-inches apart.

Transplants should be planted at the same depth as grown in their container- too deep can suffocate the roots. Don’t plant peppers where tomatoes, potatoes or eggplant has been grown. They all belong in the same Solanaceous family and are susceptible to the same soil borne diseases.

If night temperatures drop to 55 degrees or below, peppers will grow very slowly, foliage will turn yellow and the flowers (if any) will drop off.

Caring for pepper plants

Peppers prefer a well-drained, rich loamy soil. Use a starter fertilizer such as Dr. Earth® Starter Fertilizer when transplanting and provide one inch of water per week throughout the growing season. One may choose to mix in Kellogg® Amend. Uniform moisture is essential. Overhead watering is not recommended, especially when the plants are in bloom as it will wash away the pollen and eliminate fruiting. Be careful not to apply too much fertilizer, as adding too much nitrogen will give you a large leafy plant and no fruit.

Once a crop of peppers is set, use an organic fertilizer with a low nitrogen ratio.

There are many kinds of peppers. They range from the classic bell peppers that can be green, red, yellow, orange or buff to extremely hot!

There are peppers for salads, peppers for stuffing, peppers for spices, peppers for pickling … on and on and on.

The hotness factor

Hotness scales related to peppers reveal the amount of capsaicin, which is the source of that hotness, and truly can be scientifically measured. Bell peppers are rated at 0 SHU (SHU=measure of hotness), green chilies are 1500 SHU, jalapeños 3000-6000SHU and habaneros 300000 SHU. How could one even chew one tidbit of something that hot! Great care must be taken when trying out a new, hot chile pepper.

Courtesy of Grangetto’s Farm & Garden Supply, 530 E. Alvarado Street, Fallbrook.