If you have a large garden, make the most of your planting space and look into other types of peppers that can be grown alongside green peppers. You can also save and reuse seeds from the previous year’s harvest if you’ve grown green peppers in the past.
Never allow your seeds’ soil to dry out completely. [5] X Research source Young plants that grow slowly and produce droopy, shriveled fruit or foliage may be receiving too much or too little water.
After seeding them inside, you should gradually begin to expose your green pepper plants to outdoor conditions. Leaving the window open to allow direct sunlight and air flow is a good way to start. [9] X Research source Green peppers should get at least 5-6 hours of sunlight per day. If you don’t have a window with lots of light, consider an artificial grow light.
Most people should plan on starting their seedlings indoors around late January or early February and transplanting them after around 10 weeks. [11] X Research source Keep row covers on your green pepper plants at night after they’ve been transplanted outside to help them retain heat.
Green peppers do best if they’re grown in places with temperatures around 70 degrees or hotter. [13] X Research source Don’t plant harvesting vegetables like green peppers near leafy plants that may be eaten by rabbits and other foraging animals.
Green peppers should be planted approximately 18-24 in (46-60 cm) apart to have room to grow without overtaking one another.
Some gardeners recommend placing a few matchsticks heads-down in the soil around a pepper plant to give them the little bit of sulfur they require. [16] X Research source
It’s okay to leave row covers on heat-loving plants like green peppers in milder climates. Always wait until early spring to plant peppers. Chill weather can kill them or severely hinder their growth.
Make sure plot you pick out is well-drained so that water doesn’t pool around the plants and turn the soil soggy.
Organic materials like mulch also help the soil retain moisture, which is useful for making sure green pepper plants get enough water in hot weather. Since calcium deficiency can cause the bottom end to rot on peppers, you can increase the amount of calcium in your soil by grinding eggshells and mixing it in with your soil (alternatively, use lime). If you use a fertilizer, make sure it has lower nitrogen content and it is not ammonia-based. Excess nitrogen and ammonium can be a cause of calcium deficiency.
Secure the plant’s stalks to the stakes using pantyhose or rubber bands rather than ordinary plastic ties. The added flexibility will ensure that the tie doesn’t constrict the plant’s growth or cause stress or breakage to the stalk. [20] X Research source
Most varieties of green bell peppers will be ready to harvest between 60-90 days after they’re transplanted outdoors. [21] X Research source Green peppers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
