How to Grow a Pepper Plants #vegetable_gardening

Step 1: Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last spring frost date.

Step 2: The temperature must be at least 70 degrees F for seed germination, so keep them in a warm area for the best and fastest results.

Step 3: Start pepper seeds three to a pot, and thin out the weakest seedling. Let the remaining two pepper plants spend their entire lives together as one plant. The leaves of two plants help protect peppers against sunscald, and the yield is often twice as good as two segregated plants.

Step 4: Begin to harden off plants about 10 days before transplanting.

Step 5: A week before transplanting, introduce fertilizer or aged compost in your garden soil.

Step 6: After the danger of frost has passed, transplant seedlings outdoors, 18 to 24 inches apart (but keep paired plants close to touching.)

Step 7: Water one to two inches per week, but remember peppers are extremely heat sensitive. If you live in a warm or desert climate, watering everyday may be necessary.

Step 8: If necessary, support plants with cages or stakes to prevent bending. Try commercially available cone-shaped wire tomato cages. They may not be ideal for tomatoes, but they are just the thing for peppers.

Step 9: Harvest as soon as peppers reach desired size.

Step 10: The longer bell peppers stay on the plant, the more sweet they become and the greater their Vitamin C content.

Step 11: Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut peppers clean off the plant for the least damage.