Grow Guide to Bell Peppers

Capsicum annuum

Plant Description

Bell peppers are glossy, blocky fruits that range in color from green to red, yellow, orange, and even purple when fully ripe. Despite being technically a fruit, they're used like vegetables in the kitchen. These heat-loving plants require patience but reward gardeners with crisp, sweet, and colorful yields throughout summer.

Bell peppers grow on bushy, upright plants and require warm soil, strong sun, and good fertility. They're ideal for gardens or large containers.

Quick Facts

  • Sunlight: Full Sun
  • Days to Sprout: 7–21 days
  • Days to Harvest: 70–90 days (harvest green or wait longer for color)
  • Plant Spacing: 18–24 inches
  • Seeds per Hole: 1–2; thin to strongest seedling
  • Plant Type: Tender Annual
  • Planting Depth: ¼ inch

Best Planting Locations

  • Garden Beds: Require full sun and warm, fertile soil. Avoid planting in the same spot as last year’s nightshades.
  • Raised Beds: Excellent for earlier soil warming and drainage, especially in cooler climates.
  • Containers: At least 3–5 gallons per plant. Use high-quality potting mix and fertilize regularly.

Getting Started

  1. Start Indoors: Begin seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost date. Use a heat mat and grow lights for strong seedlings.
  2. Transplanting: Harden off and transplant when nighttime temps stay above 55°F. Bury stems deeply to encourage strong roots.
  3. Soil Needs: Rich, well-draining soil with compost or organic fertilizer mixed in. pH between 6.0–6.8.

Companion / Enemy Plants

Good Companions: Basil, onions, carrots, spinach, and marigolds.

Avoid Planting Near: Fennel (inhibits growth) and other nightshades (to avoid disease buildup).

Attractants / Repellents

Attracts: Bees and pollinators when flowering begins.

Repels: Marigolds help deter aphids and nematodes when planted nearby.

When to Plant

  • Spring: Transplant after all danger of frost has passed and soil is consistently warm (65–85°F).
  • Summer: In warm zones, transplant second successions mid-summer for late harvests.

Maintenance

  • Watering: Keep soil evenly moist. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues.
  • Fertilizing: Apply compost at planting and side-dress every 4–6 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
  • Staking: Taller plants or heavy yields may need staking for support.

Harvest

  • Pick when fruits are full-sized and firm—green peppers are immature but still edible.
  • Leave longer on the vine to ripen fully to red, orange, or yellow for sweeter flavor and more nutrients.
  • Use shears or snip with scissors to avoid damaging the plant.

Uses

  • Fresh: Sliced in salads, stuffed, or chopped for salsa and dips.
  • Cooked: Excellent grilled, saut