Pepper Fast Facts
Cool or warm weather: Warm
Size: Large
Sun: 8 hours
Days til maturity: 60-90 days
Water: Consistent
Original or Leaf GreenStalk: Original
GreenStalk level: Place below smaller plants
Plant support needed? Yes
Whether it's that sweet crunch you crave or bringing some heat to your garden salsa, peppers are an easy, colorful, and rewarding crop to grow! That makes it one of our favorite warm-weather veggies to grow vertically and we’ll show you how to have a successful harvest.
Planting & Growing
Because peppers have a large root system, they are best grown in the GreenStalk Original Vertical Planter. When planting, keep in mind most pepper varieties have a 60-90 day growing season from seed to first harvest. So if you live in a zone with a short growing season, you may want to begin with starter plants to extend your harvest time. However, you could certainly direct sow seeds right into your GreenStalk!
Pepper seeds need a soil temperature of at least 70°F (21°C). Just mist the pocket to keep the soil moist until the plants have germinated and at least one set of true leaves has developed. Then you can switch to watering from the top water reservoir. If starting indoors, it's helpful to harden off seedlings before planting. Young plants can be transplanted when your area is well past the risk of frost. Regardless of pepper variety, we recommend one plant per pocket.
Six to eight hours of direct sunlight is best but watch for heat stress or sun scald on your fruits if the temperature is above 90°F (32°C). Provide some afternoon shade if needed.
Peppers love water…
…but they don’t love soggy roots. And they’ll let you know it! We typically water every other day to let the pepper plants dry out a bit between waterings. With the GreenStalk Vertical Planter, just fill the top water reservoir whenever your plants need a drink and the GreenStalk’s patented watering system will deliver fresh water to each tier at the same time. Growing in a GreenStalk makes it just that easy!
Give some support
There’s nothing like that feeling when your healthy plants start growing and producing all of that bountiful, colorful fruit! The stems of most pepper plants are generally strong and woody but with all of those peppers, they might need the extra help. We love using our GreenStalk Plant Supports for growing larger vegetables.
Pests & Diseases
Peppers tend to be an easier plant to grow, since there aren’t many pests or diseases to watch out for. Nevertheless, a good gardener keeps an eye on things and stays diligent. Check frequently for spider mites and aphids. Either can be washed away with a direct (but gentle) stream of water from a hose. We like to follow up with an insecticidal soap spray. Diseases may include mosaic virus and leaf spot, but these are typically not a problem until later in the season as the plant ages.
Enjoy the Harvest
Once the fruit reaches its mature size, it may still be green but that doesn’t mean you can’t go ahead and harvest! (About 4-5 inches for bell peppers, 2-3½ inches for jalapeños, 3-6 inches for poblanos, and 1-2½ inches for those cute but spicy little habaneros.) If you’d like to see them come into their full, beautiful color, you’ll have to wait a little longer. Bell peppers may grow a little sweeter the longer you wait to harvest, but jalapeños will grow spicier. Just remember, as with many other vegetables, the more often you harvest, the more your plant will produce! Use a clean, sharp knife or scissors to harvest your peppers leaving a little stem on the pepper.
Any variety can be stored in the refrigerator for around ten days, or you can chop them up and freeze them. Just be careful with those hot ones and wear gloves when handling them!
Did you know?
Speaking of hot peppers, did you know they won’t make other peppers around them hot? So don’t worry about planting a bell pepper next to a jalapeño. They will each keep their individual flavors! It’s worth noting that peppers are able to self-pollinate but if your garden is buzzing with pollinating helpers, there is a possibility of cross-pollination. Keep that in mind when saving seeds for next year.
We hope you’ll see for yourself how fun and easy it is to grow your own peppers. For more information about growing in your specific climate, check out your local extension office. We’re here to help you grow — just email us at support@greenstalkgarden.com.
Happy gardening!
