How to grow peppers

How to sow pepper seed

Sow pepper seed indoors between February and March. The ideal temperature for germination is 18-21ºC so place seed trays or pots in a heated propagator or wait until late March and raise them on a sunny windowsill.

Grow seedlings on in temperatures that are at least 16ºC and transplant them into individual 7.5cm pots when the first true leaves appear. If you are going to be growing peppers outdoors, sow seed a bit later, between March and April, so the plants are ready to plant out after all risk of frost has passed.

How to plant peppers

Plant out into the greenhouse when night time temperatures exceed 10ºC – ensure the soil or compost is free-draining or plant individually into 30cm pots of peat-free, multi-purpose compost. If growing your peppers outside, wait until all risk of frost has passed. Harden off plants for a couple of weeks so they can adjust to outside temperaturesm before moving them to their final growing positions.

How to care for peppers

Ensure the soil or compost is kept evenly moist – not too dry or waterlogged. As soon as the first flowers appear, feed weekly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser such as tomato feed.

Pinch out the the tip of the main stem once your plants get to about 30cm tall. This will encourage the growth of more sideshoots and a bigger crop of peppers. Stake taller peppers with canes and string, or train them on supports.

Pests and diseases

Protect young plants from slugs and snails if growing peppers outdoors. Under cover, pests that may be a problem include red spider mite, aphids and whitefly. Raising the level of humidity by misting, sprinkling water on paths, or standing pots on water-filled trays of pebbles, can help deter red spider mite. Control large infestations of aphids by hand squashing, and leave greenhouse door and vents open to encourage natural predators like ladybirds and hoverflies. Large, indoor infestations of whitefly can be dealt with using a biological control, such as the parasitic wasp, Encarsia formosa.

Pepper plants may also suffer from diseases like blossom-end rot and grey mould. These are caused by erratic watering so make sure you water consistently.

Harvesting peppers

Peppers are ready to pick from late summer. Pick them when they’re green or leave them to ripen (most varieties ripen to red or yellow), to develop a sweeter flavour. Keep feeding plants with a high potash fertiliser to promote fresh flower growth (and therefore more peppers).

How to store peppers

How to store peppers

Although peppers are best eaten fresh, they will store for a few days in the fridge. If you have a glut of peppers, you can use them in chutneys or soups and sauces, which can then be frozen.

Preparing and cooking peppers

To prepare a sweet pepper, remove the seeds and stalk. Slice sweet peppers to eat raw in salads or add to cooked dishes such as stews, ratatouille and stir fries. If you have a glut of sweet or bell peppers, you can use them in chutneys, or add to soups and sauces which can then be frozen.

Pepper varieties to try

‘Gypsy’ – produces lots of sweet, cone-shaped fruits that turn red when mature. An early cropping variety that will fruit outdoors if temperatures are warm enough.

• Buy 'Gypsy' from Suttons

‘Mohawk’ – a compact plant, with a semi-trailing habit that is perfect for a container. It produces plenty of small, sweet green, bell-shaped fruits that ripen to orange.

• Buy 'Mohawk' from Suttons

'Redskin' - a is a compact sweet pepper, ideal for growing on a windowsill or in pots on the patio.

• Buy 'Redskin' from Marshalls

'Corno di Toro Rosso' – this is a reliable variety with long thin red fruits up to 25cm long. The peppers taste good raw or cooked.

• Buy 'Corno di Toro Rosso' from Mr Fothergill's

Frequently asked questions

What is the secret to growing peppers?

Peppers need a long growing season and a site with plenty of sunshine and warmth – ideally under cover in a protected growing environment. If growing from seed, sow early, between February and March, or buy ready-grown plants in spring. Only plant outdoors in a sunny and sheltered spot, in early summer, once all danger of frost has passed.

Are peppers poisonous to dogs?

While pepper fruits are not toxic – and indeed milder sweet or bell peppers are nutritious for dogs in moderation – hot or strongly flavoured peppers are likely to cause irritation of the mouth or stomach. The foliage and stems of pepper plants may be toxic if consumed.