Bell pepper
How to sow peppers successfully under cover?
To grow peppers successfully under cover, it's essential to choose the right time to sow them. This is usually done in spring, around March-April, in individual cups filled with sowing compost. Pepper seeds need heat to germinate, so it's advisable to place them in a warm, bright place, such as a greenhouse or conservatory, at a temperature of around 25°C.
It's important to maintain a certain amount of humidity in the cups, without drowning the seeds. To do this, water regularly using water at room temperature. Once the plants have reached a sufficient size and any risk of frost has passed, you can transplant them into the ground or into larger pots.
Be sure to harden off the plants well before putting them in their final position by gradually taking them outside a few days before transplanting. By following these tips, you should get beautiful, healthy and tasty peppers without the need for chemical fertilisers.
How do I plant peppers?
To plant peppers, choose a spot in full sun with well-drained soil. The soil should be rich in organic matter, so don't hesitate to add compost or well-decomposed manure before planting. Peppers can be sown directly in the ground after the last frosts, usually in May, or transplanted if sown indoors. If you opt for transplanting, wait until the plants have at least 4 leaves before transplanting.
Create holes about 40 cm apart and place the pepper plants, taking care not to bury them too deeply. Water regularly without flooding the soil, and mulch around the plants to conserve moisture. Peppers need a constant temperature of around 20-25°C to grow well, so remember to protect them if necessary if the temperature drops.
By following these simple tips, you'll be able to enjoy beautiful harvests of healthy, tasty peppers in your garden, without the need for chemical fertilisers.
How to harvest peppers
To harvest peppers from your garden, it's important to wait until they are ripe. The best time to harvest peppers is usually in autumn, when the fruit has reached full maturity. To know if a pepper is ready to pick, check if it has reached its characteristic colour (red, yellow, green, etc.) and if it is firm to the touch.
To harvest a pepper, use garden shears or secateurs to cut the stem just above the fruit. Avoid pulling on the pepper, as this could damage the plant. Once harvested, peppers keep well in the fridge for about a week. You can also freeze them for later use, but the texture may be altered.
Bell pepper
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Fruiting vegetables
- Botanical Family : Solanaceae
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
- Cultivation Difficulty : Challenging
- Adult Height : 60 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Recommended
- Sowing Depth : 0.5 cm
- Plant Spacing : 50 cm
- Row Spacing : 60 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : High
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing