
Pepper
- Botanical Name
- Capsicum annuum
- Hardiness
- Annual
- Height
- 1 to 3 feet
- Width
- 1 to 3 feet
- Flowers
- Early to late summer: white
- Fruit
- Bell types; banana types; chili types; sweet to very hot; variety of colors, flavors and sizes
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Moist, well drained, organic
- Planting & Care
- Pepper seeds best germinate in warm soil temperatures of 80 F to 95 F. Pepper seeds will not germinate in temperatures below 55 F.
- Start plants indoors 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting outside. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep
- Harden off transplants before planting
- Plant only when all danger of frost has passed and the air and soil have warmed
- Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart in rows spaced 24 to 36 inches apart
- Use floating row covers to protect plants from temperature dips. Extreme heat and cold can cause pepper plants to drop their blossoms.
- Providing even moisture is critical to fruit set and development
- Mulch soil around plants to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture and temperature
- Tall varieties or those with heavy fruit may need staking
- Problems
- Aphids, borers, cucumber mosaic virus, blossom end rot
- Varieties
- Big Early Hybrid - thick walled, 8 inches long, sweet, ripens to red
- Caribbean Red - very hot, habanero type, red flesh, use carefully
- Filus Blue - beautiful ornamental with violet tinged leaves, round purple fruit, great in container grouping
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