Pepper Care

For some reason or other, peppers and chilies tend to be one of the plants that many home gardeners try growing early in their careers. When they find that it is not quite as easy as they thought though, often people will give up on this plant in favor of other, easier to grow plants. While it is true that peppers can be particularly tricky to grow, if you know the basics of pepper care, then you will have a much better chance at growing some great peppers in your garden.

• Choosing your plants. Unless you are growing from seeds, utilize seedlings which have already begun to grow. Continue promoting their growth indoors, until the weather is right to begin planting the peppers outside.
• When to plant. One of the trickiest things about growing peppers is figuring out when the best time to plant them is. The easiest way to figure out this little fact is to remember that peppers need heat and warmth to survive. This means that the best time to plant your peppers outdoors is when the average temperature has reached a minimum of 70( Fahrenheit.
• Where to plant. Select an area of your garden that will receive a moderate amount of daylight. Also, remember that peppers are a fragile type of plant, so keep in mind that you may want to choose an area that is protected from the wind as well.
• Planting for excellent peppers. When starting your pepper plants, begin them inside and only transfer them outdoors when the weather reaches the proper temperature. Keep in mind that peppers love to be planted in a well turned bed, so make sure that you have properly tilled the soil down to the level of one foot, and mix in a generous amount of compost. After doing this, create a little hole in the mixed up soil to place your seedlings in, and then recover the seedlings. Unlike with other kinds of plants though, when mulching your peppers use shredded plastic over the regular mulch. This will help promote a healthy plant, and protect the plants as they grow. The best way to water your peppers is through a drip system, but if you don't have one then simply use a moderate amount of water, directly on the mulch.