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To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
+23
manda99
Windmere
audrey.jeanne.roberts
GWN
llama momma
Turan
baileyhermit
Boz
Windsor.Parker
Goosegirl
quiltbea
jmsieglaff
sanderson
camprn
reservoir
meatburner
FamilyGardening
CapeCoddess
landarch
boffer
R&R 1011
walshevak
Kate888
27 posters
Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4 • 1, 2, 3, 4
To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
So, as I plan my garden this year, I'm trying to decide whether to try sweet peppers again this year or if I can find a better use for the space.
I have grown sweet peppers the last two years, but just have not gotten much out of it. Last year was too cool, I know, but I don't know what happened the previous year. It was nice and hot then. My jalapeno did great that year, bumper crop, and it produced some last year, but not the sweet ones. Did I just have bad luck or are they something that are harder to produce a good crop?
I have grown sweet peppers the last two years, but just have not gotten much out of it. Last year was too cool, I know, but I don't know what happened the previous year. It was nice and hot then. My jalapeno did great that year, bumper crop, and it produced some last year, but not the sweet ones. Did I just have bad luck or are they something that are harder to produce a good crop?
Kate888- Posts : 199
Join date : 2012-02-11
Age : 59
Location : Demotte, Indiana - zone 5b
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I don't get as many peppers per plant as I would like, but I plant them anyway for the variety. To save my precious bed space for as many other veggies as I can, I plant peppers and tomatoes in 5 gal buckets.
Kay
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
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walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4370
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 81
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
My green peppers (California Wonder) I got maybe 4 from 1 plant.
R&R 1011- Posts : 292
Join date : 2013-02-22
Age : 41
Location : London, OH -Zone 5B/ 6A
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I get 4-5 sweet peppers per plant. I thought that growing them in a summer greenhouse would improve production, but it hasn't.
In the same environment, hot peppers do so well that I end up giving most of them away.
In the same environment, hot peppers do so well that I end up giving most of them away.
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I think sweet peppers are more difficult to grow than hot peppers. My jalapeno, chili, habanero, and cayenne peppers are loaded year after year no matter the weather. Sweet peppers are small and thin-walled.
I talked to a few people at a local farmers market about this...and they said they could almost guess what I was doing wrong. "Did you buy bedding plants from a nursery?" I answered "yes". They both said "there's your problem...their genetics are crap...grow your own from seed and choose the right varieties." They grew thick-walled, blocky peppers for market; Socrates, Aristotle, King Arthur, etc.
So this year I will try my sweet peppers from seed...picked up some Fat 'N Sassy and Giant Marconi...so we'll see how it goes.
I also have heard that peppers like hot days and cool nights...just like temps in the desert...my peppers really take off in September...90 degree days with cooler nights.
I talked to a few people at a local farmers market about this...and they said they could almost guess what I was doing wrong. "Did you buy bedding plants from a nursery?" I answered "yes". They both said "there's your problem...their genetics are crap...grow your own from seed and choose the right varieties." They grew thick-walled, blocky peppers for market; Socrates, Aristotle, King Arthur, etc.
So this year I will try my sweet peppers from seed...picked up some Fat 'N Sassy and Giant Marconi...so we'll see how it goes.
I also have heard that peppers like hot days and cool nights...just like temps in the desert...my peppers really take off in September...90 degree days with cooler nights.
landarch- Posts : 1151
Join date : 2012-01-22
Location : kansas city
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I've had the same experience - hot peppers no matter what and only a few sweet peppers. But Camprn says I need to cut the plant way back in the beginning to get it to bush out. I know it'll be hard to do but I'll try it this year. Maybe that's the secret.
Did you folks cut your sweet ones way back at the beginning?
CC
Did you folks cut your sweet ones way back at the beginning?
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
we always have problems growing CA wonder sweet bell peppers as well....we would get a bunch of them on the plant but they were small...... yet sweet yellow banana peppers in a topsy turvy did great!....this year we are trying new seeds.....King of the North suggested from Seattle Seed Co......
happy gardening
rose
happy gardening
rose
FamilyGardening- Posts : 2422
Join date : 2011-05-10
Location : Western WA
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
CC, we cut our sweet peppers grown from seed back to 4 bottom leaves. It make a huge huge difference. The plants are way stronger, bushier and production increases dramatically. We have a nice long growing season here (about 180 days), which may make a difference.
meatburner- Posts : 361
Join date : 2012-10-24
Age : 74
Location : zone 6b, southwest missouri
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
Do over-wintered pepper plants produce better the following year?
I'm trying it for the first time this winter.
I'm trying it for the first time this winter.
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
The bottom 4 leaves!? Ouchie wa wa. But I'll do it.meatburner wrote:CC, we cut our sweet peppers grown from seed back to 4 bottom leaves. It make a huge huge difference. The plants are way stronger, bushier and production increases dramatically. We have a nice long growing season here (about 180 days), which may make a difference.
Thanks for the confirm,
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
Boffer, I have no idea. But do you have them in the house or in a green house? I'm thinking if I have to chop them back so severely I should probably start them now, but I only have the window.boffer wrote:Do over-wintered pepper plants produce better the following year?
I'm trying it for the first time this winter.
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
big peppers
I never had peppers bigger than an egg when I was growing under cover as per instruction of transplant producer. Then two years ago DH put one out accidentally in flower bed and we had 4 huge thick walled peppers. Thinking it was insect pollination ( flower bed) I put three out in different locations, again I got 4 great fruits per plants.
This year I am growing from seeds and I will top them. See how it goes.
This year I am growing from seeds and I will top them. See how it goes.
reservoir- Posts : 27
Join date : 2014-01-24
Age : 72
Location : leicester, uk
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
CC, I grew them in pots in the greenhouse last summer. I moved a couple indoors in an out of the way place (no lights), and a couple I left outside in a sheltered, slightly warmer location.
They're dormant. Actually, they look dead! I have no idea if they'll start growing when it warms up. I read about over-wintering them so that they come back heartier and more prolific, so I thought I'd try it.
They're dormant. Actually, they look dead! I have no idea if they'll start growing when it warms up. I read about over-wintering them so that they come back heartier and more prolific, so I thought I'd try it.
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I found that the peppers, tomatoes and particularly the aubergine responded quite favorably when I planted them into boxes I had moved onto the pavement of my driveway; they thrived in the higher temps there.
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
boffer wrote:Do over-wintered pepper plants produce better the following year?
I'm trying it for the first time this winter.
Me, too. I'm going to cut out a wedge-band of the MM at the perimeter and replace with new compost. Then recover with wood chips. Experiment. I cut the stems to 6-10 inches and there are little suckers growing at the former leaf nodes.
Question: How many nodes should I leave? I just saw on another Topic that 4 is a good number for bells? I wouldn't mind if the hot peppers really bushed.
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I'm not sure what you mean by nodes.sanderson wrote:boffer wrote:Do over-wintered pepper plants produce better the following year?
I'm trying it for the first time this winter.
Me, too. I'm going to cut out a wedge-band of the MM at the perimeter and replace with new compost. Then recover with wood chips. Experiment. I cut the stems to 6-10 inches and there are little suckers growing at the former leaf nodes.
Question: How many nodes should I leave? I just saw on another Topic that 4 is a good number for bells? I wouldn't mind if the hot peppers really bushed.
When I grow peppers the first year I pinch the terminal end and typically get 3 or 4 branches. They next season I cut this branches to about 8 inches from the soil level. This will give a bushier plant and more blooms.
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I almost bought some King of the North seeds, but figured Ill use up my CA wonder first.FamilyGardening wrote:we always have problems growing CA wonder sweet bell peppers as well....we would get a bunch of them on the plant but they were small...... yet sweet yellow banana peppers in a topsy turvy did great!....this year we are trying new seeds.....King of the North suggested from Seattle Seed Co......
happy gardening
rose
R&R 1011- Posts : 292
Join date : 2013-02-22
Age : 41
Location : London, OH -Zone 5B/ 6A
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I've struggled too with sweet pepper production. Last year I tried King of the North and the production was best I've had for large bells and I will do some again this year. I also planted a lot of Yummy Small Bells--the red, orange, and yellow ones you see sold in bags in the store. They really produce nicely, are crisp, sweet and crunchy and have few seeds. And are open pollinated as an extra bonus.
jmsieglaff- Posts : 252
Join date : 2012-04-15
Age : 43
Location : S. WI
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I'm intrigued by this--part of me thinks to give it a try, but I could see myself chickening out. When do you prune back--after planting out or as soon as they start growing 5th and 6th true leaves?meatburner wrote:CC, we cut our sweet peppers grown from seed back to 4 bottom leaves. It make a huge huge difference. The plants are way stronger, bushier and production increases dramatically. We have a nice long growing season here (about 180 days), which may make a difference.
jmsieglaff- Posts : 252
Join date : 2012-04-15
Age : 43
Location : S. WI
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
Camprn.....Do you mean to tell us you get a 2nd year of production from your peppers? What's your secret? What variety? I never tried a 2nd yr.
quiltbea- Posts : 4707
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 82
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I am trying King of the North this year as well. If they do well, I want to pot them up and bring them inside to see if I can keep them alive through the winter and set them out for a second season. Supposed to be possible, but will my cats behave around them.....
GG
GG
Goosegirl- Posts : 3424
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 59
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
We prune this way before planting out into the garden. The plants have been potted up at least once and then pruned this way. It sounds drastic but works so well.jmsieglaff wrote:I'm intrigued by this--part of me thinks to give it a try, but I could see myself chickening out. When do you prune back--after planting out or as soon as they start growing 5th and 6th true leaves?meatburner wrote:CC, we cut our sweet peppers grown from seed back to 4 bottom leaves. It make a huge huge difference. The plants are way stronger, bushier and production increases dramatically. We have a nice long growing season here (about 180 days), which may make a difference.
meatburner- Posts : 361
Join date : 2012-10-24
Age : 74
Location : zone 6b, southwest missouri
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
Boffer, hopefully several of our 2 y/o, HOT pepper plants will produce again this year! They were heartier and more prolific last year than their 1st year. We have a couple of sweet pepper plants overwintering indoors now, and yes ours look dead too! ALL of them are in 5gal. buckets (self-watering type). The roots of your plants might like some compost tea or some plant food.boffer wrote:CC, I grew them in pots in the greenhouse last summer. I moved a couple indoors in an out of the way place (no lights), and a couple I left outside in a sheltered, slightly warmer location.
They're dormant. Actually, they look dead! I have no idea if they'll start growing when it warms up. I read about over-wintering them so that they come back heartier and more prolific, so I thought I'd try it.
Good luck.
Windsor.Parker- Posts : 376
Join date : 2011-12-12
Age : 77
Location : Chicago, South Shore, c. 100yds to Lake Michigan, Zone 6a
Re: To Grow or Not to Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I have a few that I pot up and bring inside for the winter. I cut them back to about 18 inches before digging them out of the garden then they go relatively dormant for the winter. I prune them back to 8-12 inches in February. I will set them out in the garden after Memorial day. I have a 4 year Serrano and a two year peperoncino this year.quiltbea wrote:Camprn.....Do you mean to tell us you get a 2nd year of production from your peppers? What's your secret? What variety? I never tried a 2nd yr.
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: To grow or Not Grow(Peppers), that is the question
I watched a video on pepper pruning last year.
There are many sites on you tube showing how to prune, the one I watched was
Prune peppers
The results were so good that all my peppers will be started early and pruned.
There are many sites on you tube showing how to prune, the one I watched was
Prune peppers
The results were so good that all my peppers will be started early and pruned.
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