4 min read · Aug 8, 2022
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Growing pepper in a land where there is no good soil can be frustrating, that’s why a solution has been brought up: growing pepper in a bucket filled with rich soil that can be bought. This method has come a long way in helping farmers. Although bell peppers are classified as fruits they are majorly used as a vegetable. Bell peppers are gotten like all fruits and vegetables and can be planted in buckets and then transplanted into the proper soil. Bell pepper in 5-gallon buckets is a feasible way of planting the fruit.
It is advisable to plant only one bell pepper in a 5-gallon bucket, but if you have a bigger bucket you can plant as much as two or three. You shouldn’t grow more than one bell pepper in a 5-gallon bucket because of the bucket’s diameter. The rate at which the plant should be watered is quite different from when it is planted in the ground because containers tend to lose water due to evaporation and overwatering can lead to root rot which will eventually hamper the growth of the pepper.
1. The first thing to do is get your seed: Go to any farm store and get a seed of bell pepper, they are quite common so it shouldn’t be difficult to see.
2. Sow your seed inside the bucket and place it outside: it is advisable to keep the seed moist and warm so that it would be able to germinate well.
3. If you must fertilize the pepper begin with a light fertilizer feeding because it wouldn’t be able to handle a strong fertilizer, it will be strong enough after 2–3 weeks out in the sun.
4. Make sure to water your bell pepper constantly but make sure you don’t overwater it to prevent root rot and do not underwater it. Keep the root soaked and let the water go away from the root.
5. Make sure to add nutrients as they grow. Once the bell pepper starts producing fruits, they are going to need less nitrogen, potassium, and many more.
6. They can be harvested once they reach a mature size, they are often picked while they are still green and they can be left alone to ripen up.
Since they are grown in a small diameter bucket there would always be one or two problems you might encounter.
· Compared to the plant sowed on the ground there would be a lower yield
· The need to water it frequently
· You might not be able to estimate the size of pepper the plant will produce
· Too much compression of soil is bad: whenever you want to start planting any pepper plant, ensure that you do not compress your soil into the bucket you want to use too much. Too little will also affect the root of the plant, it would collapse the first time you water it. Whenever you are adding your soil, you’ll know it’s okay when you feel some resistance.
· If your bell pepper in a 5-gallon bucket is not giving you the result you like, which I should add is almost impossible, then you can transplant it into a bigger bucket or you could transplant it into the ground.
· Get rid of the weed on a frequent basis: It is common knowledge that weeds inhabit the pepper plant’s ability to grow and it is paramount to make sure your plant is not competing with unwanted plants.
· Pest can hinder your pepper from growing: As birds are a predator on corns so are spider mites, grasshopper slugs and many other more are also predators on bell pepper and any other pepper and when they attack the plant, it can either cause slowing down the growth rate or make it die altogether. Pest control would go a long way in helping your plant reach a mature age and then produce fruits.
· Transplanting can bring about a shock to the plant: After transplanting seedlings into a larger pot, like the 5-gallon, the plant will grow slower than before for a few days. It’s a normal occurrence, when a plant is transplanted it needs some time to adjust to its environment. At this time do not add fertilizer to the plant, let it grow by itself without disturbance.
· If your plant has been outside for weeks and it is not still growing this means your soil has been compressed together, walking on garden soil might cause this.
As we’ve seen some disadvantages in growing bell peppers in 5-gallon buckets there are tons of advantages to following suit:
· Reduced weeding: Since you are growing your pepper in a pot there won’t be much space for weeds to grow, mind you, they will grow but it wouldn’t be as much as when they are in a larger pot or in the ground.
· It is easier to transport the plant from one spot to another.
Growing your bell pepper in a 5-gallon bucket is a good choice that comes with a lot of advantages and we’ve given you tips on how to ensure that your pepper grows to its mature age.
