It is quite easy to grow bell peppers in your garden or in containers on your patio. Below you will find tips for how to grow green bell peppers from planting the seeds to harvesting the ripe peppers.
Green bell peppers are excellent when served in salads, used with shish kabobs, or served with fresh veggies and dip. Growing your own bell peppers is easy, and just a few plants can produce pound after pound of produce. If you are interested in growing green peppers this year, take a look below at these helpful tips for growing green peppers in your own garden!
How to Grow Green Bell Peppers
How to plant green bell pepper seeds:
You are welcome to start green bell pepper seeds indoors if the temperatures outside are still chilly. If planting indoors, you want to start your seeds 6-8 weeks before the final frost. Use a basic seed starting system and make sure your soil stays moist and warm. A sunny window is a perfect place for your green pepper seeds to flourish until it is warm enough to transplant. Plant the green pepper seeds 2-3 to a pot and simply thin out the weaker plants after a few weeks.
If you are limited on space, feel free to grow green peppers in containers. One to two plants per container (make sure the container is generous in size) typically works well. A tomato cage or stake may be ideal to help the plant grow upward and offer some support.
How to transplant/plant green bell pepper seedlings:
When you are ready to transplant your green bell pepper seedlings, or if you will be planting the seedlings instead of seeds, here are some tips you need to know. The temperature outdoors should be a steady 70 degrees or warmer.
Plant your seedlings about 24 inches apart so they have plenty of room to stretch but can still protect each other against the hot sun. Choose a full sun area with well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.
Some gardeners like to use match sticks when planting green peppers. Green peppers like the sulfur in them. Just drop a few sticks into the hole before adding your seedlings and watch them grow!
How to care for green bell pepper seedlings:
Your green bell pepper plants will need 2 inches of water per week. Always water the plants at the base so you don’t saturate the foliage. You can use a food safe liquid fertilizer after the plants have been established for 2 weeks.
Weeds can be an issue for green bell peppers, so use a thick layer of mulch to help keep the weeds at bay. Remove any weeds as soon as you notice them. Pests aren’t a huge issue with green peppers, but if you do see any (typically aphids or beetles) just pick them off as you see them or use a food safe pest repellent.
Sometimes, large bell pepper plants need a little support. Use a tomato cage or stakes to help plants stand up if the weight of the produce seems to be weighing them down.
How to harvest green bell peppers:
Feel free to allow the peppers to get as large as you wish. The longer you leave them on the plant, the sweeter they become. It also increases their nutritional value. To remove the peppers, use a sharp knife and cut them off leaving 1-2 inches of stem. Green bell peppers can be placed in an airtight container or bag and stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
If you love bell peppers, give these tips for planting green bell peppers a try. You will find that they are easy to grow and easy to enjoy.
Irvett Smith says
I was interested in growing the smaller yellow, red and orange peppers. Do I do anything different with them? Thank You.
Tiffany says
Green bell peppers turn yellow, red and orange the longer they are on the plant. Just leave them there and watch them change color. 🙂
Devraj says
Green bell pepper turns red the longer u leave it in the plant, do not pluck it when it is still green.
Leon says
Why are my peppers turning black
jim says
I have transplanted Bell peppers from pots into the garden and no matter how much I water them, they do not like there root system messed with, within a day of transplanting they start to wilt and just look terrible. after a couple weeks they spring back and produce a bounty crop
DJ says
Here is a trick I discovered. Water when you transplant. But only water every 2-3 days after that. They hate having their roots kept wet. Water, then wait a few days for them to look a little whilty and they will grow 10 times the peppers. Water every day and they just grow leaves but take forever to bloom and start peppers. Once they grow one pepper to about 2 inches, pick it or it will just concentrate on that one pepper. Pick the first one or two earlier and they go nuts
Lubna says
I have always wanted to grow my vegetables. Specially bell pepper, it’s a favorite in my family. Very useful info, pinning it for later.
Roseann Hampton says
I just put about 10 pepper plants in the ground that I had started from seed. Great tips here!
Jim says
I had two pepper plants last year, only got one small pepper between them. I didn’t pull them up, just cut off some branches. They survived the winter, and are both doing quite well this year. I didn’t know they would bloom again the second year.
Shirley Wood says
So glad you shared these growing tips with us. This post will be one of our Features at the new Merry Monday party. Pinned it. So glad you party with us!
Lacey says
How long from seeds will it be before I can expect my harvest? I’ve been growing them in pots. Anxiously waiting!?
Ashley says
A few months. At least here in miami fl.
Debbie Whitelock says
I like to leave my peppers to turn red before picking as prefer them a bit sweeter and make a nice red pepper and apricot relish but find they start rotting before they’re ready to harvest. Is there a reason for this?
Paul Mcgriff says
I grew some bell peppers commercially and they were huge. I have not been able to find plants that grew as well since. If anyone can tell me where I can get these kind of hybrid plants I would be greatfull. Thanks
Petro says
Hi do you plant them in full sun?
Alea Milham says
I do.
Victoria L Harriman says
can I use the seeds from a fresh pepper?
Jen says
Yes you can. I have been very successful getting them to sprout but they took Ages before I saw any magic above soil. They took approx 2-3 weeks to germinate
Keli says
I have small veggie garden growing with two bell pepper plants in a raised bed accompanied by tomatoes and cucumber evenly spread out. One bell pepper plant seems to be growing faster than the other. The other veggies seem to be happy. How can I encourage my bell pepper plant to grow?