Enough of Peter Piper who picked a peck of pickled peppers. It’s your turn to grow the biggest and tastiest sweet peppers in town!
Want to know my secret? Because there’s a trick. A secret ingredient you surely must add for pepper growing success.
For years, I grew puny peppers. I stopped growing them entirely until I learned how to grow humongous and tasty peppers.
Delicious bell peppers are one of the most attractive vegetables to grow. Delicate white flowers appear before the plant bears its colorful vegetable.
And peppers take you from breakfast (omelets) to lunch (veggie tray) right onto dinner (fajitas!) Not to mention healthy snacking in-between!
Keep reading to learn my tips!
The basics of growing the biggest and tastiest sweet peppers….
First off, buy young plants to grow the biggest and tastiest sweet peppers. If you didn’t grow your plants from seed, then seek out short, stock plants in individual pots. All I could find was a 6-pack of stocky plants this year at the local garden center.
Avoid plants that are leggy or pale. Do not buy plants that are obviously too large for the pot.
Sun. Sun and more sun. Bell peppers thrive in the heat of the summer sun. So plant in your sunniest spot out of the wind.
Humus-rich soil is a big plus since bell peppers prefer well-drained soil. During the growing season, it’s a good idea to sprinkle compost manure alongside the plants during the growing season.
Space peppers 18 to 24 inches apart; rows 2 feet apart.
And I know you’re been wondering this for a long time….drum roll please. Are red peppers different from green peppers?
No. All green peppers will color to red or yellow as they become more mature.
Flowers but no fruit? What’s going on?
Peppers are sensitive to high temperatures, low humidity, and drying winds. Under these conditions, plants of many varieties do not set fruit well and flowers drop off.
Well-developed plants set in the garden often flower and set ample fruit before these extreme conditions arrive.
You know you’ve met with success when your bell pepper plant grows into a thick bush that often needs staking to support the heavy set of vegetables.
Supplies needed
- Bell pepper plants
- Trowel (like this one)
- Compost manure (like this)
- Epsom salts (shown here)
- Lime (like this)
- Dr. Earth tomato, vegetable & herb fertilizer (shown here)
- Fish fertilizer (like this one)
- Stakes (like these)
Step-by-step planting instructions + my secret ingredient!
1.) Dig a hole about three times the size of the seedlings/starter plants root ball. Mix one cup of compost manure thoroughly with the soil from the hole.
2.) Sprinkle in garden lime manually by hand….my secret ingredient to grow the biggest and tastiest sweet peppers!
Garden lime, also known as ground limestone, is useful for either growing crops that prefer neutral to alkaline soil or for correcting overly acidic soil. Limestone is a mineral, composed mostly of calcium carbonate.
Shoot for ground limestone because it’s gentler to plant roots and won’t burn them.
Bell peppers prefer slightly acidic soil of 5.5 to 6.8. If your garden has a pH lower than 6, lime might solve all your problems. If you have no clue what your soil pH is, it’s a good idea to find out! You’ll need a pH tester!
I apply lime the old-fashioned way, sprinkling it on the top of the soil and manually tilling it in with a small shovel or cultivator.
Just make sure the lime gets deep enough when you till to reach the roots. Overturn that soil. Roughly 12 inches deep works well. Lime laying on top of the soil won’t benefit your plants much.
3.) Till in Dr. Earth fertilizer to grow the biggest and tastiest sweet peppers.
4.) Fill the hole slightly making sure you leave enough space for the plant’s root ball to sit at the same height it did in the pot.
5.) Carefully remove the seedling from its original container. If the roots are tangled, cut one-quarter off the bottom of the root ball.
6.) Place seedling/starter plant into the hole; gently firm the soil. Sprinkling 1 tsp Epsom salts around the base to promote growth.
7.) Stake the plant when necessary to support the clusters of mature fruit. Keep bell pepper plants well watered, especially during dry spells.
Why lime and how much lime should I add to grow the biggest and tastiest sweet peppers?
Lime raises the pH level of too acidic soil making it more alkaline and conductive to vegetable and flower production. Lime supports other nutrients too, such as nitrogen. So lime is going to not only increase your yield but the size of your colored peppers.
Adding lime to your garden soil also improves water penetration and with the raised pH, the plant nutrient uptake increases. Lime supports healthy soil bacteria and beneficial microbes.
If you have lots or organic matter already added to the soil, you will need more lime or dolomite in order to raise the pH level. This is especially true of clay soils.
The Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association advises that if the pH level is 5.5 to 6.0 then add five pounds of limestone for every 100 square feet.
Activate the lime by thoroughly watering your garden. I like soaker hoses and drip irrigation for this purpose.
Other garden veggies that will appreciate a little lime love are beans, cabbage, peas, spinach, lettuce and other leafy vegetables.
Fertilizing requirements to grow the biggest and tastiest peppers…
Fertilize the plants lightly, with a low-nitrogen fertilizer, as too much nitrogen can cause the plant to stop producing!
I like to use fish emulsion once the plant begins to bloom. Fish fertilizer is great for all indoor and outdoor plants for us organic gardeners and best of all; it won’t burn plants.
Apply the ratio of 2 Tbsp fish fertilizer per gallon of water every two weeks directly to the base of the plant so it reaches the roots.
Fish has been used as a natural and organic fertilizer for centuries. Fish emulsion provides a rich source of organic matter that breaks down and releases nutrients into the soil to enhance the strength and vigor of your plants.
Naturally occurring soil microbes thrive and work their best in soil rich in organic matter.
I also like to use Dr. Earth every 2 months during the growing season. But for your newly planted pepper plants (a little alliteration!) mix in 1 1/3 cups per 10 square feet of growing area.
Fast pepper facts…
For the best yield, pick the first set of bell peppers when they are green, then let the next set ripen to their mature color and size.
This tricks the plant into thinking it has produced too few peppers, so then it goes crazy to produce more.
Keep the yield strong by picking peppers as soon as they reach their mature color, rather than letting them age on the plant. Picking earlier also yields a milder-tasting pepper if that’s what you’re after.
The flip side is that the longer you leave the pepper on the stem, the more color it gets and the tastier it gets. And if you’re after a sweeter, more nutritious pepper, redder is better.
Colored peppers are high in Vitamins A and C; a good source of fiber and carotene.
Did you know?!?
Columbus discovered peppers growing in the West Indies, but mistakenly thought they were a relative of the prized peppercorn!!! Silly explorer.
The secrets of coffee grounds…
Both your peppers and your garden worms love coffee grounds. Delicious! Pepper like nitrogen and coffee grounds are full of it.
You can mix them in the soil or spread them on top. Providing enough nitrogen ensures solid leaf growth and it’s the leaves that protect the peppers from sun scald.
So I give my regular coffee grounds to my pepper plants and save the decaf ones for the worms. No one wants hyper worms! Or do we?
I’m heading to the nursery today to buy lettuce so will get some Lime as my peppers and spinach are in the same bed. I leave them to go reddish before picking as I like them firm.
I grow peppers. This is good info.
I am trying this…I love peppers! Thank you for the tips. 🙂
I’m definitely going to try this ty for the tips
My family loves peppers I’ll try this soon thanks
Thank you for the great tips you can never have enough of them in your gardening aresenal.
So informative…thank y’all so much❣️
Hammock looks great …and nice prize
very good
very good info for production
Lots of great info here!
thanks for the tips, maybe i will have better luck with tomatoes!!
Will definitely be giving this a try!
Thank you for the tips.
Awesome. Thanks for the info
Great tips – thanks so much! I’m always hesitant to grow my own produce because I figure if anybody can screw it up, I can :/ Now I’m ready to go plant some peppers!
ps. I really love this blog!
I grow peppers every year in my small backyard garden. Love ’em!
Thank you. Going to try to grow peppers next year. Garden is all flowers this year.
i love this idea of having great food to grow
great idea
Thanks so much for the great tips. I’ve never had any luck growing peppers but I think I’m going to try again next year.
My step dad has a garden every summer.. I need him to plant green peppers they are my favorite!
Thank you for the tips on the acidity of the soil. I didn’t know that.
I think I’m going to do my first vegetable garden this year. Thanks for the tips!
Thank you for your helpful tips
Great info. Do you have a problem with wasps eating your peppers before they really have a chance to grow?
Epsom salt????? Never would have thought that. What does it do???
We are growing sweet peppers this summer in our garden
I so love garden sweet peppers they are the best thanks for the tips.
Great photos on your site.
i never used to be big into peppers but have been incorporating them in recipes so will have to try growing them.
I like both! I only cook with green ones, and with the red orange or yellow ones I cook them or eat them raw in salads or veggies platters.
if it’s free,it’s for me
Love to grow peppers, then make stuffed peppers.
The article was interesting, informative, educational. I learned tips and suggestions on how to grow tasty peppers.
Something ate all but one leaf on my nicest Bell pepper plant. I looked but did not find anything. It could be snails and slugs. They are my ongoing nemesis. I can’t seem to control them no matter what I do and I’ve done a lot.
The article is a little confusing on nitrogen. In one sentence it says, “too much nitrogen can cause the plant to stop producing” and later, “Peppers like nitrogen and coffee grounds are full of it.”
I also used Dr. Earth’s in my soil this year. My pepper plants aren’t looking too great yet but it has been a wet June.
great information, Thanks
I love cooking with peppers
Great info on growing peppers! Thanks!
Thanks for the tips!
I’m not a huge fan of peppers but you did offer a lot of tips overall I can use in my garden
Thank you
I love the green peppers! The coffee grounds tip is the best.
love us some sweet peppers
Thank you for your tips – I love peppers
We have started our own plants from seed this year. Sometimes that’s a hit or miss depending on if fending off the slugs is successful. I love peppers. You can never have too many.
Funny thing. I grew up despising peppers. In my mind, I thought all peppers were hot and spicy and when I got older, my stomach couldn’t handle them. But then a couple of summers ago, I was at a friend’s house and he was grilling brats and serving them with sliced sautéed green, red and yellow peppers. I tried it and absolutely fell in love. Now I am a huge fan.
Good information for when I have space for a food garden.
interesting that peppers seem to be made for southern climate but not so much out west
win please
Good info
Thank you for all the great tips! And Thanks for the chance to win the hammock! So exciting. 🙂
Did not know that about the Lime, good to know.
Good tips to help grow!
Thanks for the advice. I love peppers and have never had much luck growing them
Great healthy information. This is so good for you!
Thank you for the great tips. Definitely going to use them. We always grow peppers, but it seems to be hit or miss. Trying to grow Thai peppers this year, we shall see.
I feel like I need a greenhouse to have successful peppers in the Seattle area. I’ve never been successful! Going to implement some of your tips next year when I try again!
Thanks for the great tips .
Is there a trick to make them sweet?
I really need and want this hammock. Thanks for this chance to do so.
Love all sweet peppers
I love red and green
I love love love sweeet peppers!!! I love them even more when I am able to grow them. I think, thanks to your post on them, that I know what I have done wrong the times they didn’t grow now. Thank you!
Great information. Thanks.
Thank you
I’ve never tried peppers before. I just assumed I didn’t like them. I am going to give them a chance now.
I love sweet peppers!! Thanks for the instructions!
thanks for these great tips
Thanks for a great article and good advice!
Maybe these tips will give me better success. Thanks!
Now I need to stop throwing away my used coffee!
Thanks for the tips! I know I seem to learn from everyone and the info about lime is very helpful.
Thanks for the fascinating article! Lime is now on my bell pepper list for future plantings. And, I like your plant selection & planting guidance as well. Have a great summer; and, may your harvesting prove to be both plentiful and taste delicious!
We have a huge garden with peppers,tomatoes,spices,fruits and more
Love your blog and all the great tips
Wow! Such a very informative blog post! I learned so much about soil pH! The soil where we live (SW Alabama) is terrible…weeds will hardly grow. I’ll take what I’ve learned from you and apply it! 😊💕☀️
Although I don’t raise peppers, this is a very informative article/post!
We love peppers and I found if we group 3 plants together in a mound they yield more. Thanks for sharing your tips with us.
I love big peppers. My favorite is to roast them for sandwiches.
Thank you for the tips!
Learned a lot today – just hope I can remember it 🙂
I like green peppers the best. Sometimes, gardening can be so intimidating with all of the additives and tricks to learn. I am looking forward to incorporating coffee grounds.
Ugh, well I guess I know why I’ve never gotten past the little bitty flowers now! THANK YOU for FABULOUS detailed, even-I-can-follow instructions. Soooo needed and sooooo awesome of you!!💜
Thank you for the tips!! We have tried to grow them a few times in Michigan and only ended up with green and they got holes in them really fast. I’m going to try this next year!
I am just now starting my own salsa and pepper garden. Thanks for the tips!
I learn something from your knowledgeable articles every time I read them!! I did not know that al green peppers will color to red or yellow as they become more mature. I used to think that putting lime on the soil would be harmful. Until I read your articles! I don’t know how you know all of this?! I am just glad that you did and you’re sharing it!! I have already pinned this. I didn’t realize how much I use peppers 🌶 🫑 especially the green ones. I put them on my pizza 🍕 my omelettes, my sauce, my beef, Italian sausage sandwiches! Maybe even more! I just can’t remember them all right now. Thank you so much for sharing!
There is nothing better than homegrown vegetables. I love the smell of green peppers in the garden. Thanks for posting!
can’t wait to try
I grew some new varieties this year so I am excited!!
Thank you for these tips! I will have to try them to grow my next peppers.
I’m so impressed with your gardening knowledge, Laura! I think it’s time I bought a soil pH tester…
Been trying to successfully grow peppers for a while. Hopefully with these tips I will be able to.
Thanks for these wonderful tips and great information to know.
I found coffee grounds are useful in the ground around most plants.
love stuffed pepper soup
I don’t like peppers at all but these are some great tips!
They are a regular part of my diet
I have never been particularly fond of peppers, but do use them both because the family likes them and they certainly do brighten up any dish they are in. Being good for you is just a plus!
Thank you for all the tips and info
I love ALL peppers! Especially red bell peppers!
Great ideas, nice to have
Love to grow peppers including the mexi-bells (mildly hot peppers)
Thanks for all the tips. Can’t wait to try. Like both peppers but to my red has the best flavor.
I love sweet peppers Thanks for the great tips and info.
My peppers and tomatoes are doing great we just need a good rain.
Great information. All I need is a green thumb.
I love growing and eating peppers. Thanks for the tips.
I love any kind of pepper and what could be better than growing and eating your own peppers! There really are many kinds of peppers.
Thanks for an interesting article. I have never tried to grow peppers before but will give it a try.
Love to win
would love to curl up with a good book in this on a nice summer day
Great Info! Thanks!
still not living at the new house so no garden
I’m not big on peppers but I have lots of sage!
Love the article. I love sweet peppers!
We love peppers! I did not know the secret of coffee grounds…thanks for the tip.
Hopefully this will work for me. I have never had good luck with peppers. Thanks!
Im the yardsey type, and your products have my eye They are exciting, from the metal art, to the lazy hammock !
I love peppers. I wish I had more energy and know how to do my own garden.
We plant a veggie garden every year. Sweet peppers is on the list each year and are doing well so far this year! Very tasty and using in many recipes!
We just started planting this year and peppers are in our garden! This article has been very helpful and I love the secret weapon!
Great tips…I am not the best gardener.
Peppers no longer agree with my stomach. But if I were to grow them again, it’s nice to learn how to get them a larger size.
We grow red and banana peppers. I love the bird bath.
Always great info!
Thanks for all the pepper growing tips! Great suggestions!
Super Informative, learned a lot!!
I like both green and colored peppers, but I like colored peppers best. My husband likes the green ones best.
I had just put some peppers in the ground and your info helps me so much!!
Love all your tips and advice , we just started our garden thus year about a month ago
My adult son is growing a garden for the first time, and I will send this info for him to have the best bell peppers in town! Thanks!
Very informative!
Lots of good information. Thanks!
I will definitely be trying out these tips! I know this is going to work!
I love peppers. Maybe I will try to plant some.
wow! lime who knew…you did!
Good information.