Red, green, yellow and purple are all popular colors of bell peppers. This universal vegetable is native to North America and is not only used for cooking, but also decoration. Bell peppers are packed with vitamins including vitamin A and C, and do not lose their potency when cooked.
Although bell peppers take much longer to grow from seeds than other vegetables, they will yield several peppers on one plant with proper care and fertilizer. Generally, bell peppers, when planted from seeds will be ready to harvest in 10-12 weeks.
How to Grow the Best Tasting Bell Peppers
1. Prepare the ground before planting bell pepper seeds by turning the soil and adding organic matter such as peat moss. Bell pepper plants can be grown in rows or as single plants. Each plant may produce 4 or more peppers if taken care of throughout the growing season.
2. Bell peppers can be planted from seed, but due to the long growing season, it is probably best to buy plants when they are 4 to 6 inches tall. However, if you choose to plant from seeds yourself, plant seeds about ½ inch in the ground and 3 inches apart in rows or seed starter containers.
3. When plants reach 4 – 6 inches tall, and all possibility of frost has passed, transplant to your garden on a cloudy day or in the evening to prevent wilting. Create small wells, fill with water and allow to soak into the ground before planting bell pepper plants. The wells help retain moisture when watered.
4. Water bell pepper plants often so they do not wilt. Once pepper plants wilt they lose their yield and quality.
5. Bell peppers will be ready to pick when they are shiny and firm, about 8 – 10 weeks after transplanting. The more often you harvest, the more peppers that will grow. If peppers remain on the plant, likely they will turn yellow, red or purple and this will not affect the taste too much.
Other helpful tips for growing delicious bell peppers
Pepper plants grow best in warmer seasons and do require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, so plant in full sun if possible.
Bell peppers are prone to some diseases especially in milder climates. Ensure you inspect leaves for spots, which are caused by bacteria and fungi. Leaf spots can be remedied with a treatment of sulfur, neem oil or other types of fungicides. Read all labels for safe application.
Peppers may also attract a number of insects that will affect plant growth. Flea beetles, leaf miners and aphids can all infect a plant’s growth. There are a number of insecticides on the market including organic such as sulfur and Bt-based products. Read all labels before using on your bell pepper plants.
Once harvested, bell peppers should be stored in a refrigerator, and are good up to 3 days, cooked or cut and freeze for later use.
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Pic by joe beasley.
Just another idea for storage…I dehydrate a lot of my bell peppers. Just chop them up fine and make sure they spend enough time in the dehydrator to make them crispy. They make great flavoring in eggs, casseroles, stews and any other ways you can think of to use them They store very well and for a long time. My sisters beg me for them at Christmas time for their presents.
How long do you put them in the dehydrator and what temp?
I slice them into veggie tray style slices lengthwise and layer them in the dehydrator. Set at 135 degree in the dehydrator and go to bed, lol. Mine are ready in the morning! Store in glass mason jars or good quality ziplock style bags and in the cupboard out of direct light. Lasts almost forever lol! Crush up into sprinkling size pieces too for adding to fresh salads as well as the ways mentioned in the article. You can freeze them after dehydrating as well. Great for veggies that may just be getting past the use date – just dehydrate instead of tossing! I do it for any veggies that are just not quite fresh enough for eating as is, that way you don’t toss out good, usuable, dehydratable goods and they rehydrate easily!
I love the idea of dehydrating them! Thank you, Cindy for that!!!
I am interested to know about what temperature and how long to dehydrate them too.
I dehydrated about 5 kilo’s of Capcicum (bell Pepper) @ 55 degree c for 8 hours
and then put in large jars and cover with olive oil. Will keep for years and use them in stews, casseroles and many other meals.Happy
preserving 🙂