How to Plant Bell Peppers

Growing families are looking for ways to save money. One of the easiest ways to save money on groceries is to grow your own vegetables. A starter bell pepper plant costs about two dollars and will yield enough peppers for a small family's summer meals. Bell peppers are an easy vegetable for any beginner or advanced gardener to grow.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bell pepper starter plant
• Garden or large container
• Garden cultivator
• Hand trowel
• Scissors
• Gardening gloves
• Plant food

1. 
    

   Gather the tools needed for planting the bell pepper plants in the garden.

2. 
    

   Prepare the garden soil for planting, add any compost or manure and let the garden sit for a day or two.

3. 
    

   Go to a gardening center and choose a healthy bell pepper starter plant. Stay away from wilted or sun dried plants; look for a full fresh looking starter.

4. 
    

   Use the hand spade to dig a hole slightly deeper than the pepper plant container. Place the potted vegetable in the hole to ensure proper depth.

5. Add plant food or any nutrient additives for the root system to the hole.

6. Back fill enough dirt to bring the plant up to ground level, and plant the vegetable. Many garden centers now leave plants in peat pots that bio-degrade when planted in the soil, so leave the plant starter in the pot. If the plant is in a plastic pot, remove it as carefully as possible, and spread the root slightly before placing it in the hole.

7. 
    

   Back fill all the way around the pepper plant, pressing down slightly to help secure it in the garden soil.

8. 
    

   Water the new pepper plants heavily to get them started, then monitor the moisture level daily.

Tips & Warnings

• One bell pepper plant will yield at least a dozen vegetables, and continue to bloom throughout the summer.
• Check the local farmer's market for the freshest and healthiest pepper starter plants.
• Always read precautions when using gardening chemicals or plant food.