Guide to Pepper Plant Spacing: How Far Apart to Grow Peppers (2024)

Successfully growing peppers means a little extra care with one important aspect often overlooked; proper plant spacing. It's said all peppers can be planted 18 inches apart; however, if your goal is a bountiful harvest, "one space fits all" is not the best approach. Pepper plants range from short and wide to tall and bushy. Correct pepper plant spacing accommodates a mature plant for overall health and productivity of the variety grown.

Here's how to space your pepper plants for healthy growth and a good crop.

Why Pepper Plant Spacing Matters

Good spacing is the defense against problems in the pepper patch. Peppers aren't difficult to grow, but they are vulnerable to a number of insect pests and diseases. Once disease sets in or pests take up residence, you'll be treating your crop consistently to contain the damage. Along with sunlight, watering and fertilizing, adequate spacing is essential for getting pepper plants off to a good start.

Each plant needs it's own space. Even short, wide peppers like habanero thrive better when they don't get tangled up with their neighbor. Fungal infections, pepper weevils, and hornworms, quickly move from plant to plant infecting an entire crop. Separation allows for early detection and keeps plants from competing for nutrients.

Adequate spacing provides good air circulation and is particularly important for varieties with dense foliage. Pepper plants love heat, but high humidity and constant moisture on leaves lead to fungal and bacterial infections.

Plants that grow 3 feet or taller at maturity with heavy fruit set may need support to keep fruits off the ground. Soil contact quickly leads to disease and rot and invites pesky invaders to feast.

How Far Apart to Space Pepper Plants

Mature height, width, and growing conditions all impact pepper plant spacing. Length of your growing season, fertilizing, watering, sunlight, and disease resistance affect every plant. Even those with sturdy stems can fall over or crack and break in windy, conditions. One sturdy stake is usually sufficient or plants can be caged. A single stake won't require any more space and can actually allow you to plant a bit closer. Cages take up more room so leave enough between caged plants to access them.

Width or spread is the more critical factor since you want to keep the foliage of each mature plant separated for adequate air circulation and easy access. Also remember that longer growing seasons usually mean larger plants that require more space.

Variety and growing conditions are predominant factors, but different spacing techniques also apply for peppers grown in the garden, raised beds, and containers.

Spacing Pepper Plants in the Garden

Seed packets and plant tags usually include, height, spread, and recommended spacing. Use this information as a guideline bearing in mind the specific growing conditions in your garden. Pepper plants are often set out in rows in the garden although they can be staggered to save space between rows.

Spacing Pepper Plants in a Raised Bed

Peppers grown in rows in a raised bed should be spaced just as if planted in the ground. It's more efficient, though, to plant in a grid or diamond pattern which saves limited growing space while still allowing each plant the room it requires. By staggering plants in a pattern, you can reduce the distance between rows and save space in the raised bed.

Spacing Pepper Plants in Containers

Peppers adapt well to growing in pots. A deep 2-gallon container is sufficient for a single plant, and you can raise two pepper plants in a 5-gallon pot depending on variety. Soil quality along with watering and fertilizing frequency are key factors for growing in containers. Fruits may be smaller but tend to mature more quickly than garden-grown plants.

Best Spacing For Different Types of Pepper Plants

• Sweet bell, jalapeno, anaheim and cayenne peppers should be staked and spaced 2 feet apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart. Allow 18 inches for each pepper in a raised be and one pepper per container.
• Banana and bullhorn peppers, like Carmen, can be planted 18 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart. They may or may not require staking. Allow 14 inches for each pepper in a raised bed and one or two peppers per 5-gallon container.
• Chile peppers with smaller fruits, including serrano, habanero and caribbean should be planted 30 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Allow 18 inches for each pepper in a raised bed and one to two peppers per 5-gallon container.