Bell Pepper plants require somewhat higher temperatures, grow more slowly and are smaller than most tomato plants. Bell Peppers, vegetable family, Bell Pepper seeds, Horticulture vegetables, Climatic Requirements, optimum Bell Pepper growth, planting Bell Peppers, nutrients, soil, disease problems They require fairly high temperatures for germination and growth but benefit from exposure to chilly temperatures early in there growth cycle.

HOME GARDENING WITH BELL PEPPERS

Bell Peppers are one of the most commonly used vegetable in the kitchen today. They come in a rainbow of colors including red, yellow and orange, varying in size and taste. Peppers add color and interest to the garden. Peppers are warm season crop usually grown alone side tomatoes as they are both acid loving plants.

Bell peppers are botanically fruits, but are generally considered in culinary contexts to be vegetables

PLANTING & GROWING BELL PEPPERS

After seedling have grown three sets of  true leaves lowering the temperature to about 55° for 4 weeks will make them more productive later. This can be accomplished with an outdoor cold frame made from glass or plastic. Bell Peppers also have a higher than normal light requirement for rapid growth. Bell Pepper plants should never be handled after smoking or handling tobacco. Bell Peppers are sensitive to exposure to tobacco mosaic virus.

A hearty Bell Pepper crop begins with large vigorous healthy seedlings 6 to 8 weeks old, grown in 4" or larger growing pots. Growing your own seedlings insure quality and varieties not commercially available. The seeds should be started about 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date in your zone,  Make sure the seed starting mix is a light sterile soil mix with a liberal portion of Perlite or Vermiculite to maintain moisture.

 Sow 2 seeds per 4"pot about ¼" deep in pre-moistened growing mix. During the day, keep the seedling  next to a sunny window after they have germinated. Move to top of the water heater or refrigerator at night if you do not have a greenhouse. Transplant young seedlings outdoors after the last chance of frost. If the weather is still cool, delay transplanting for a few days. Wait until the soil is 70 to 85 degrees before setting the seedlings out. Four weeks after seedlings have emerged clip off at the soil line the smallest of the 2 seedlings with scissors. Take care not to disturb the roots of any Bell Peppers. They are very sensitive to root damage.Water seedlings well one hour before transplanting.

Harvesting and Handling

Harvest the bell pepper at any point after they reach an edible size. Most bell pepper peppers are green when immature and can be harvested at that time. Mature bell peppers can be red, orange, yellow, green or purple depending on the variety.

Continue to harvest bell peppers by clipping them off the plant, but don't pull them off. Bell peppers will continue to grow until the first frost.