Quote:
Originally posted by troutman@Aug 3 2004, 05:17 PM
I tried to grow some hot peppers this year in my south facing backyard. They were started inside and transplanted in late May. None of the plants are doing well. What is the secret of your success? Do you have a greenhouse? Is it possible to grow hot peppers outside in the Calgary climate? Our tomatoes do fine.
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We usually start ours in a small floorstanding greenhouse we have shortly after Christmas / New Years. I tend to plant them four per pot (four inch pots) in the beginning and transplant them shortly after they get their second or third set of leaves into individual pots (again around four inch). I keep them inside and well watered -- moist, but not swimming -- until about the May long weekend, giving them tomato fertilizer every second watering or so at 1/2 strength. By the time they go out they're about 8 inches tall and getting their first flowers.
Here's my one secret: When it's time to go outside we transplant them into large black plastic patio planter boxes we picked up at Golden Acre a few years back -- inexpensive and nice looking; about $6 each. The pots are square and about two feet on a side, and about the same height.
I've had some sucess with peppers directly in the garden (where the tomatos are doing great) but have since found out that growing them above ground in a black container allows the roots to get nice and warm during the day and stay a lot warmer at night which helps them to grow quite big and yield a lot of fruit. It's not unusual for us to have 30 or more peppers per plant of the smaller varieties.
Other than that, I stake them when they get over a foot tall to shield them against getting broken off in the wind, and continue the fertilizer routine all summer long.
Interesting to note as well: Pepper plants are actually perenials and can be brought in for the winter and produce fruit all year round with enough light. We bring a few in each fall and situate them under a small grow light on a timer.
My other advice if you're starting your own from seed is to make sure you have good quality new seeds. Older ones will often germinate, but produce less satisfactory results.