How to Grow Patio Peppers

Many vegetables do well in a patio garden, but none are quite as versatile as peppers. From small and spicy hot peppers to big and juicy bell peppers, you can grow a beautiful patio pepper garden in no time.

Instructions

1. Choose a container. Almost anything that will hold soil is suitable for growing patio peppers as long as it has a drainage hole. Large planters do well for permanent outdoor patio peppers while smaller, hanging or decorative planters are great if you plan to bring your plants indoors for the winter months.

2. Purchase pepper seeds or plants. Choose a compact variety of plant as these are best for container growing. If you start your plants from seeds, be sure to sow them early enough (depending on your geographical growing season) to plant them for harvest.

3. Fill your container with soil. Pepper plants require good drainage, so choose a mix that is not too high in clay or sand like a commercial potting or garden soil.

4. Dig a hole in the soil large enough to accommodate the root mass and gently place the plant in the hole. Take care not to disturb the roots and fill the hole with the remaining soil to secure the plant.

5. Place your patio pepper plant in an area best suited for the needed growing conditions. Generally, depending on your location, most pepper varieties do best in partial shade to full sun.

6. Water and feed your new plant. Patio peppers will need more water and food than their garden counterparts. Check the soil often to ensure it is not drying out. Use a good, commercial fertilizer such as Osmocote as often as once a week in the early stages of growth.

7. Harvest the fruit from your plant by snapping it off at the stem. Harvesting regularly will help your plant to continue to blossom and produce fruit. Bell peppers become sweeter and hot peppers hotter the longer they are left on the plant, so harvest according to your own taste.

Tips & Warnings

• Smaller containers require more frequent watering as the soil dries out faster.

• You can store your harvested peppers fresh or freeze them for future use by simply slicing them, removing the seeds and putting them in a freezer-safe container or bag.