Crop Guide: Growing Pepper - Haifa Group (2024)

FAQs

What is the best intercrop for peppers? ›

Tomatoes: Peppers and tomatoes are both members of the nightshade family, and they complement each other well. Basil: Basil is a fragrant herb that can repel pests such as aphids, flies, and spider mites. It also attracts pollinators such as bees, which can help improve the yield of pepper plants.

The three key nutrients you need for your pepper plants are nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Nitrogen is the most important element as it supports the regulation of photosynthesis, which then encourages foliage production and leafy growth.

Peppers & Epsom Salt

By adding one or two tablespoons to the area before planting for seeds, starter plants and full-grown plants, and then adding it twice a week based on the height of the plant (see above), you can give your pepper plants a much-needed magnesium boost.

Expect 5-10 large bell peppers per well-grown plant, and 20-50 hot peppers per plant. Storage: Peppers don't stay fresh and crunchy for more than a few days, even in the refrigerator, so use them while they are in season. Small chiles can be dried if laid on cookie sheets in an airy place.

Basil and nasturtium prevent aphids and whiteflies, onions and garlic help against fungal diseases such as gray mold. You should not plant aubergines, peas, fennel, beet, potatoes and celery next to peppers and chili peppers.

If you prefer to make your own mixture, go with 1/3 good garden soil (don't go with clay soil as it compacts badly), 1/3 composted cow manure or similar growing medium, and 1/3 sand.

Coffee grounds can contribute to a healthier soil environment for your pepper plants. Here's how: Enhanced Drainage: Coffee grounds have a slightly coarse texture, which can help improve soil drainage. This is particularly beneficial for pepper plants, which prefer well-draining soil to prevent root rot.

Before planting, fill the holes with water and let it soak in. Into each planting hole, put two or three wooden matchsticks (for sulfur) and 1 teaspoon of low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer (too much nitrogen will reduce fruit set).

Prevent Fungal Disease

Give this natural remedy a try. MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.

Aside from the anecdotal evidence about human benefits, Epsom salt does seem to help plants. Generations of gardeners have said it helps their plants grow bushier, produce more flowers and have better color. It's also said to help seeds germinate and repel slugs and other garden pests.

What triggers pepper plants to flower? ›

💡 Triggers for Flowering

Light, temperature, and watering all play a crucial role. Pepper plants are sun worshippers, needing at least six hours of full light a day to produce healthy flowers. They also prefer warm temperatures and just the right amount of water. Not too much, not too little.

When plants are about 12 inches tall, cut or pinch the stem of smaller pepper varieties like jalapeno, shish*to, and Thai back to the second or third set of leaves. This is called topping or tip pruning. The plants respond by sending out branches along the stem, resulting in a fuller, stronger plant.

Quick Guide to Growing Peppers

They grow well in raised beds, containers, and in-ground gardens. Plant them 18 to 24 inches apart in a sunny, well-drained spot. Pepper plants need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Mix compost or other organic matter into the soil when planting.

The reality is that because the two have similar growth requirements, they can in fact be grown quite successfully together. Diseases common to both tomato and pepper include Verticillium wilt and bacterial spot.

Finally, varieties that produce large peppers appreciate the extra support under the weight of their bounty. To stake pepper plants, simply drive a 2- to 3-foot wooden, bamboo, or other sturdy-material garden stake at least 6 inches deep into the soil right beside each plant.

In my own experience I have had peppers appear to cross at 6, 15, and 25 feet with barrier plantings in between. The pollinating agents in most of these examples are honeybees, bumblebees and halictid bees such as sweat bees.