How to Plant Peter Peppers
Peppers grow throughout the country in summertime gardens, with a range of growth habits and fruit production. Peter peppers are long-season plants and produce small, hot, red and yellow fruits. These 2- to 4-inch-long peppers bring interest to the garden with their suggestive shapes, and bring a hot kick to any kitchen dish. Plant Peter peppers early, in the right site and soil, for a harvest hot and spicy enough to make you blush. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Plant Peter pepper seeds in mid-spring after the last frost of the year. These plants fail in frost and do best with 60- to 65-degree F starts. Plant from seed in zones with four- to five-month summers, as these little plants require 90 to 100 days to reach maturity.
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Set the Peter pepper plot in a spot with full sunshine, even ground and good air circulation. Dig into the top 10 inches of soil to break it up, and add 4 inches of organic compost to produce a rich, crumbly foundation. Mix 5-10-10 or 8-16-16 granular fertilizer into the soil to encourage rooting and establishment. Peter pepper plants produce better pepper harvest when they start with full sun and rich nutrition.
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Plant Peter pepper seeds 1/4 inch deep at 18 to 24 inches in the row. These bushes grow to 2 feet in height and need adequate space for sun and air exposure. Leave 2 to 3 feet between rows for gardening.
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Water the peppers with 2 inches of water every week to keep them healthy and growing, and use 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch to keep soil moist and warm during the season.
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Feed the Peter pepper plants with 12-12-12 or high-nitrogen fertilizer once the fruit sets. This fertilizer encourages fruit production and ripening. Follow manufacturer recommendations in regard to quantity and safe application.
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Harvest Peter peppers when they reach mature color and size. use clippers to snip the stems 1 inch above the peppers to keep from damaging the fruit.
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Tips & Warnings
Using nitrogen fertilizer too early in the season produces lush vegetative growth but harms fruit set and production. Use organic fertilizer up to mid-season if you see your peppers failing.
