How to Grow Bell Peppers in a Pot

Today we'll show you how to grow bell peppers in a pot! Growing bell peppers is fairly easy, so even if this is your first gardening project, it should yield no problems whatsoever! Growing bell peppers is also fun (especially in pots!), as once the plant starts producing the crunchy vegetable it looks absolutely beautiful!

Climate:

Bell pepper plants prefer warm regions. In the tropics, they are short lived perennials, while in cold temperature regions they are annuals. In short, their growing season is during the spring and summer, usually once spring frost has completely passed.

Time to Harvest:

Bell pepper plants should be ready to harvest within 60-90 days after being transplanted.

Seeds or Plant?

If you are new to gardening, we definitely recommend growing your bell pepper plant from an already existing seedling that you can purchase at your local nursery. If you're already a seasoned gardener, you can go ahead and grow your bell pepper plant from seed, although it is a little more difficult! Be sure to plant pepper seeds once the weather warms up in good quality soil.

Choosing a Pot:

When choosing a pot to plant your bell peppers in, make sure it is at least 10-12 inches deep and wide, and that the pot has proper drainage. You can grow 2-3 smaller variety plants in one pot, but if you're growing big bell peppers, stick to just one plant per pot.

Propagation:

When choosing seeds, try to purchase good quality ones that are organic. If you're going to grow your bell pepper plant form seed, it might as well be the best seeds you can get!

• Fill small pots or seeding trays with seed starting mix.
• Plant 2 seeds in each space about 2-3 cm deep.
• Start seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date. In subtropical and tropical climates, you can start seeds at any time except during harsh, too warm summers.
• Depending on weather conditions and seed quality, they will germinate within 1-3 weeks.
• Soil temperature should be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination to occur. If necessary, use a heat pad and place it under the tray.
• Once germinated, thin out the weakest plants and leave only one in each space.
• Once seedling have 2 true leaves, they are ready to be transplanted into pots.

Transplanting:

1. Allow bell pepper plant to produce 2 true leaves before transplanting.
2. Transplant into a large pot, at least 10-12 inches deep and wide.
3. Fill the pot about 80% with a potting mix that is rich in organic matter.
4. Place your bell pepper plant in the middle and cover pot with the rest of the soil, just until the base of the plant.
5. You can also add manure and/or compost to speed up growth.

Caring For Your Bell Pepper Plant

Sun: Bell pepper plants love the sun and warmth, so make sure you place it in a sunny spot where it will receive at least 6 hours of full sun.

Temperature: Bell peppers can tolerate temperatures up to 95 F and as low as 50 F. The ideal growing temperature is between 70-90 F.

Watering: Water your bell pepper plant regularly, and make sure the soil is always moist. Also don't water the foliage, but rather just the base of the plant, as pepper foliage can suffer from fungal infections if watered.

Fertilizing: Bell pepper plants, like tomatoes, are heavy feeders, so if you want a healthy plant, fertilize every 15 days. Feed your bell pepper plant with tomato fertilizer and feed it with compost or manure tea once a month.

Pinching and Pruning: Pruning is not necessary, but do pinch growing tips on a regular basis, to make your plant bushier.

Deadheading: It is very important to dehead the flowers if your plant is flowering too early. This will ensure a healthy and fast growing plant. You're looking to grow the bell pepper and not its flowers after all.

Support: As your bell pepper plant grows, it may need support! Plant some stakes into the soil and wrap the main stem around it with some string.

Harvesting: Your bell pepper plant should be ready to harvest within 60-90 days of transplanting. You can pick it off green, or you can wait until it turns yellow, orange, and/or red!

Bell Pepper Varieties:

So which bell pepper variety should you grow? There are many different sweet pepper varieties, but we recommend varieties that quickly ripen to their full color.

Green peppers that turn red: Lady Bell, Gypsy, Bell Boy, and Lipstick
Green peppers that turn orange: Milena and Orange Sun
Green peppers that turn yellow: Golden California Wonder

Learn more about how to grow peppers in this YouTube video courtesy of MIGardener!

Have a tip or trick you'd like to share or have any questions about growing peppers? Leave a comment below and we'll quickly get back to you!

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