![]() For peak flavor and nutrition, use within a week. Moisture is a pepper’s enemy and hastens spoiling. Storage: Store unwashed (or washed and dried) peppers in the refrigerator in a loosely closed plastic bag. Fruits store longer for fresh use if you don’t remove the stem, which can create an open wound that’s ripe for spoiling. Pulling peppers by hand can cause entire branches to break off. Use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut peppers with a short stub of stem attached. Place the tray in a warm location or use a warming mat to keep them between 70 to 90 degrees F. Fill a seed tray with seed starting soil or well-draining potting soil, placing one to three seeds in each container. Others are ready in the green stage, but will turn red if left on plants. The seeds need the warmth of your house to germinate. Some peppers turn red, yellow, or other colors at maturity. Harvesting: Check image on plant tag (or at the top of this page) to learn what your pepper looks like when mature. Humid weather (especially in gardens with heavy soil that doesn’t drain well) can invite fungal diseases like leafspot. Few pests bother peppers, but keep an eye out for aphids, slugs, pill bugs, and leafminers. ![]() If a surprise late spring frost is in the forecast, protect newly planted seedlings with a frost blanket.Ĭommon issues: Plants drop flowers when daytime temps soar above 90º F. A light frost will damage plants (28º F to 32º F), and temps below 55º F slow growth and cause leaves to look yellowish. Mulch soil to reduce water evaporation.įrost-fighting plan: Pepper is a hot-weather crop. Water requirements: Keep soil consistently moist throughout the growing season. Amend soil with 3 to 5 inches of compost or other organic matter prior to planting. Soil requirements: Peppers need well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. (See information above for specific recommendations.) A spot of sunshine in the garden Large, sweet, yellow fruits taste sweet and crunchy and are full of vitamins. Planting: Space 12 to 48 inches apart, depending on type.
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