Growing peppers in a pot is a great way to harvest home-grown vegetables, even if you don't have much space. With the right types of peppers, sunlight, fertilizer and water, you can harvest a whole bunch of peppers in no time. Learn how to grow peppers in pots on your balcony this summer in just a few steps.
Which types of pepper grow best in a plant pot?
In comparisonto tomatoesPepper is a relatively compact plant. Here are some varieties to consider for a potted balcony garden.
- Peppers:These sweet favorites aren't as easy to grow in pots as some of their smaller cousins, but it can be done. Look for red, orange, yellow, or purple varieties that ripen quickly and maintain a more compact shape as they grow.
- Bulgarian carrot peppers: Don't let the name fool you—these thin, orange peppers aren't as sweet as their namesakes. Rather, they are insanely hot – almost three times as hot as your average jalapeño. They grow on bushy plants that bear dozens of fruits, making them a good choice for potted plants.
- Bolivian rainbow peppers:This pepper is often grown as an ornamental plant because of its beauty. The variety produces a rainbow of peppers in colors of yellow, orange, red and purple.
- Fushimi Sweet Peppers:These thin, sweet peppers have a crunchier texture than similar shishitos and are also delicious raw. They are also one of the easiest peppers to grow in pots and bear beautiful fruit all summer long.
- Jalapeno-Paprika:This popular hot pepper comes in many sub-varieties that are excellentGrow in potslet. When choosing a plant for your pot garden, look for varieties with a short growing time or shorter stature.
- Poblano-Paprika:These deep green and particularly large, beautiful and mild peppers are preferred for the preparation of Chili Relleno. Despite its size, this variety is known for growing well in large pots.
- Shishito-Paprika:These long green peppers are sweet, with a hint of heat. They are commonly used in East Asian cuisine and make a delicious snack when sautéed with oil and spices. They are one of the easiest peppers around and grow perfectly in pots.
Growing peppers in a pot – how do you do it on the balcony?
Sweet peppers need space and organicpotting soil
Take a large pot:This is necessary for their roots to spread. Therefore, choose a pot with a diameter of at least 30 cm. A young pepper plant may seem small at first in such a large container, but it will fill the container when it reaches its full size.
Buy a pot with holes in the bottom or drill some yourself to ensure adequate drainage. Use a plastic or metal pot rather than a quick-drying terracotta pot, especially because pepper plants need evenly moist soil.
Fill your container with organic potting soil:Use for your peppersa growing soilor potting soil. They drain much more thoroughly than garden soil, which is key to keeping peppers from becoming soggy. Look for natural, organic potting soil – it is specifically designed for containers and already contains nutrients. A good potting soil retains moisture and provides the plant's roots with air and important nutrients.
Important:Pepper plants are susceptible to blossom end rot, in which the ends of the vegetable turn black due to a lack of calcium. Combat this by adding calcium granules to the soil at planting and then as often as the brand of calcium you purchased requires.
Growing peppers in a pot – This culture loves sun and water
Place the plants in a sunny, warm spot outdoors:Most pepper varieties come from warmer climates, so it's no surprise that peppers peak during the summer months. They thrive best at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 15 to 20 degrees Celsius at night. Temperatures that are too hot or too low are not ideal for fruit production and can lead to plant disease and misshapen fruit. So make sure you plant peppers after the last frost date.
Sun-loving pepper plants need at least six hours of full sun per day, but more is better. You will get disappointing results in a shady backyard or covered patio, as will growing peppers indoors with a grow light. If necessary, find a sunny porch or driveway.
Water the plants – preferably daily:If you want to grow peppers in a pot, you should know that this plant needs evenly moist soil. Additionally, plants in pots generally need to be watered more frequently than plants in soil. Schedule daily watering, especially in mid-summer.
Check the soil before watering:You know a plant needs water when the top inch of soil is dry. If the soil is not dry, you should not water - you risk oneOverwatering peppers. It's best to water early in the morning, targeting the base of the plant, not the leaves.
Important:Feed the plants with a natural, organic plant fertilizer for fruits and vegetables. Follow the instructions on the product label (approximately every 7-14 days). Feeding is especially important when the plants are flowering.
Harvest when ripe:To know when your peppers are ready to harvest, check the plant's label to see what color the ripe pepper should be. Peppers can be harvested when they are green or left on the plant until they turn yellow, orange and then red.
Eat up!Preserve your peppers with a sweet pickling paste or enjoy them fresh with a summer,tasty dish.
