Grow Vibrant Sweet Peppers with These Expert Tips

By Blake Jackson

Sweet peppers, known for their vibrant colors ranging from red, orange, and yellow to purple, white, and even chocolate-black are like “the Easter eggs of the vegetable garden,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

Belonging to the nightshade family along with potatoes and tomatoes, sweet peppers are easy to grow when started from transplants. Since they are sensitive to cold, Trinklein recommends waiting until the risk of frost is gone and the soil has warmed before planting outdoors.

“Sweet peppers need full sun, eight hours or more, and fertile, well-drained garden loam,” said Trinklein. “Most varieties should be planted 18 to 20 inches apart within a row, and each row should be at least 24 inches apart.”

Because they are heavy feeders, it’s best to start with a soil test to assess nutrient needs. Once the plants begin producing fruit, they benefit from additional feeding. “I would advise feeding with a fertilizer high in nitrogen once or twice during the growing season after the plants have set fruit,” Trinklein added.

The color transformation of sweet peppers as they ripen is determined by genetics. “There are no fully mature green peppers in nature,” Trinklein noted. “I would guess that 90% of the varieties on the market ripen to red.”

These plants continue blooming through the growing season as long as temperatures remain warm. Some fruits may even reach maturity just before the season’s first frost.

While pests don’t generally cause serious problems for sweet peppers possibly due to their pungent taste Trinklein points out that they’re ideal for container gardening because of their compact size.

“When contemplating container gardening for food, sweet pepper and tomato should be high on everyone’s list,” Trinklein said. “Because of limited space, gardeners should choose high-dollar-value vegetables that also are high in nutrition.”

Often underrated for their health benefits, sweet peppers pack a nutritional punch. Just 100 grams deliver nearly the full daily requirement of vitamin C. “Sweet peppers are a better source of vitamin C than oranges,” said Trinklein. “It’s just not many of us can drink sweet pepper juice like we can orange juice.”

Red peppers are especially rich in lycopene and vitamins A and E. For gardeners aiming to try new varieties, Trinklein recommends “King Arthur” for productivity and “Big Bertha” or “Revolution” for large fruit.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave