Whether mild or spicy - they are all he althy, rich in vitamins and low in calories - from peppers to hot peppers to chili. As they ripen, they change color from green to yellow, red, orange and even black. The hottest tips for anyone who wants to grow peppers themselves.
When and where should you grow peppers?
When growing peppers, the plants need a lot of sun, warmth, space and water. The ideal location is protected from the wind, on a south wall in the garden or on the balcony. Cultivation in the greenhouse from March and outdoors from mid-May. Harvest from July to October.
This is what you should know about peppers & Co
Even plant professionals not only get excited, but sometimes even flounder when it comes to the pepper genus (Capsicum). The pods are all related. The difference between paprika, hot peppers and chili can be seen in the spices made from them: chili peppers and hot peppers are spiced peppers. They serve as a basis for the production of all variations of chili powder, cayenne pepper and paprika powder. On the other hand, peppers are mainly used as a vegetable in the kitchen.
Pepper cultivation at the right time in the right location
Although peppers originally come from warm Central and South America, they can also be grown in our latitudes. Provided the location and time correspond to the requirements of the plants. This is how it's done.
The sunnier the location, the faster the fruits grow and ripen. Ideally on a south wall, protected from the wind, in the garden, on a balcony or terrace. Prepare the location for long-term residence. Fill the bed or planters with fine, crumbly soil and compost. This means the plants don't need any fertilizer at first.
The ideal time to grow peppers is in the greenhouse from March and outdoors from mid-May. Only when there is no longer any risk of ground frost can pricked young plants be exposed to fresh air. To do this, gradually put the peppers outside for a longer period of time during the day and get them used to temperature differences.
The right care makes the difference when growing peppers
During the growing season, peppers need lots of space, warmth, light, air and proper care. So that they thrive outdoors and the roots spread, do not plant them too densely, but at the required planting distance. Support each plant with a bamboo stick (€13.00 on Amazon) to give the growing pods support.
Peppers in a pot or bucket: The plants thrive best in a bucket on the balcony. Waterlogging must not accumulate in the planters. Plant a maximum of one or two peppers in a 10 liter pot.
During the summer months, pepper plants swallow a lot of water. Therefore, water sufficiently and correctly. Make sure that they neither dry out nor suffer from waterlogging. As heavy feeders, they should also be fertilized during the season with nutrients such as potash (wood ash), a little nitrogen (horn shavings) and nettle broth or supplied with a long-term fertilizer.
Depending on the weather and the type of pepper, you can harvest and enjoy the spicy green peppers from July to October and then the sweet, red, fully ripe peppers about 3 weeks later. Do not tear off the peppers, but cut them off with a sharp knife.
Tips & Tricks
It is called “the” pepper when talking about the plant and “the” pepper when talking about the fruit.