Pepper - Hot Garden Guide

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Peppers-hot

Pepper - Hot Stat Summary

Plant Spacing: 12-18" (304-457 mm)
Row Spacing: 24-30" (609-762 mm)
Planting Depth: 1/2" (12 mm)
Plants Per Person: 2
Soil Temperature: 70-85°F (21-29°C)
Days to Emergence: 8-20
Recommended Soil PH:
Seed Indoors: 10 weeks before transplanting
Earliest Outdoor Planting: After Last Frost
Tick Can direct seed outdoors
Tick Can seed indoors

Planting Pepper - Hot

Sow seeds indoors in a sterile seedling mix at 1/2 inch deep in a divided nursery tray. Once the seedlings have a set of real leaves, re-pot into a 3 inch pot. Seedlings need plenty of light and a good liquid fertilizer solution applied.

Peppers do NOT grow in cool soil; transplant into your garden during the first half of June or when the soil is consistently warm. Soil should be rich and well supplied with nitrogen to help the plants grow well during their first 6 weeks in the garden. Set the plants 12 to 18 inches apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart.

Growing Pepper - Hot

Pepper plants need a steady supply of water for a strong yield. Use a ground mulch to keep soil warm, maintain even moisture and control weeds. When plants start to flower and set fruit, feed every two weeks with a liquid feed around each plant.

Harvesting and Storing Pepper - Hot

Hot peppers are usually harvested at the red-ripe stage; but "green chiles," the immature fruits, are also enjoyed by some. To dry chiles, individual fruits can be picked and strung in a "ristras" or entire plants can be pulled in the fall before frost and hung in an outbuilding or basement to dry. Be careful when handling hot varieties, because painful skin and eye irritation can occur. Plastic or rubber gloves may be helpful when picking or handling hot peppers.

Pepper - Hot Insect and Disease Information

Bacterial Leaf Spot can be minimized by using drip irrigation, mulch around plants and proper plant spacing to ensure adequate air flow. Staking plants can also help airflow.

Pepper - Hot Yield Information

You may want to grow more hot peppers if you are planning on making hot sauces or drying the peppers for later use.