Quick start ⚡ Quick start info for sowing peppers ⚡
🌱 Sowing & planting
- Sowing depth: 0.25 cm (very superficial, cover only lightly)
- Sowing medium: fine seed compost, preferably in 5 cm seed trays or small pots
- Sowing distance: a few seeds per pot/tray cell, prick out later
- Germination temperature: 20–28 °C (peppers like warmth, a heat mat is ideal)
- Germination time: 14–20 days, sometimes a little longer at lower temperatures
- Planting distance: 50 cm between rows, 35 cm between plants or in pots of at least 30 cm diameter
- Growth cycle: ± 175 days (long cultivation: starting early pays off)
- Planting out: prick out when there are 2–4 true leaves; plant out permanently when the plants are sturdy and the frost has passed.
📅 Growing times
Pre-sowing indoors / greenhouse / glasshouse:
- Sowing: indoors from late January to March
- Planting out: in the greenhouse/conservatory in May (after the worst of the cold)
- Harvest: from late July to early November, depending on variety and location
In our climate, pepper only thrives in the open ground in a very warm, sheltered spot, but it's usually better to grow them in a pot in a greenhouse or against a warm wall.
📘 Basic information
- Latin name: Capsicum
- Crop group: Fruit crop
- Plant family: Nightshade family
- Height: 45–60 cm
- Frost resistant: no – absolutely sensitive to frost
- Root system: 45–60 cm deep
- Fertilization: rich in phosphorus (e.g. bone meal), also a good basic fertilizer for fruit crops
- Preferred soil: pH 7.0–8.5 – airy, well-drained and nutrient-rich
🌞💧 Pitch & water
Location: ☀☀☀ lots of sun – as warm and sheltered as possible, preferably in a conservatory/greenhouse or against a south-facing wall.
Watering: 💧💧 moderate – water regularly, but avoid wet feet. Allow the top layer of potting soil to dry slightly between waterings.
🤝 Good & Bad Neighbors
- Good neighbors: tomato, marjoram, basil
- Bad neighbors: beans, cabbages
❗ Dangers & Concerns
Main problem: aphids. Check young shoots and flowers regularly.
- In case of minor damage: rinse with water or treat with a mild soap solution.
- Ensure adequate air circulation and avoid excessively wet conditions to avoid mould.
🧺 Harvesting & storing
- Pepper berries usually mature in color from green through orange/red to deep red (or another final color depending on the variety).
- Ripe when the fruit is firm, has an even color and comes easily from the plant.
- For spicy varieties: preferably work with gloves (seeds and membranes are the sharpest).
- Peppers can be used fresh, dried, preserved or frozen.
🍽️ Nutritional value
Per 10 g raw pepper:
- 4 kcal
- 0 g fat
- 1 g carbohydrates
- 0.2 g protein
- 0.1 g fiber
- 0.5 g sugar
- Vitamins: A, C and K
- Minerals & trace elements: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, potassium and manganese.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Peppers are super hip to grow
Growing peppers is incredibly trendy. They come in all colors, shapes, and especially fiery flavors. There are also several subcategories within peppers. Most peppers come from the Capsicum annuum family, which also includes the bell peppers we know. Capsicum annuum peppers are generally the easier to grow. Keep in mind that there are also other capsicums, such as Capsicum frutescens (which includes Tabasco peppers) and Capsicum chinense, which produces primarily hot peppers like the Carolina Reaper, Madame Jeannette, and the Habanero .
You can also choose to buy young pepper plants instead of sowing them yourself, which is useful if you want to start later in the season or want to see quick results.
When sowing peppers, it is important to pay attention to the correct timing, method and care for successful germination and growth of your plants.
