I love growing my own peppers, both sweet and hot varieties. And did you know that yellow and red bell peppers have a higher Vitamin C content than green peppers? If you're adding pepper plants to your vegetable garden, here are a few tips that can help you maintain healthy plants and get the best yield.
Put your pepper plants in when night time temperatures are no longer below 50 to 55 degrees, as they don't do well in cold wet soil, and cannot tolerate frost. Raised planting beds work well for peppers, as the soil warms sooner and keeps the soil well drained. Pepper plants love the heat, and black plastic mulch is helpful at keeping the plants and soil warm. My personal favorite is aluminum foil covering the soil around each plant. It not only keeps the soil warm, but bounces the sun's rays back up onto the plant, increasing the yield.
Start with good fertile soil, and keep the plants moist throughout the growing season. Hot and dry winds and dry soil can prevent the plants from setting fruit. Pepper plants also appreciate a side dressed fertilizer after the first peppers are set.
If your garden plants are set upon by pests, the following sight provides help for dealing with it naturally:
Natural & Organic Pest Control Solutions for the Garden
