How to Grow Bell Peppers: Easy Tips for Bigger, Sweeter Peppers

Starting my journey with bell peppers taught me how deeply satisfying it is to watch sunshine-loving veggies grow from tiny seedlings into vibrant fruits that add life and color to the garden, especially when warm days arrive and these easy to grow plants burst into shades of green, red, and golden yellow, each one shining like a tiny dinner plate jewel; over the years, I’ve come to love how sweet peppers transform everyday cooking  perfect for stuffing, slicing, eating raw, or grilling to smoky perfection, and although their needs are simple, mainly warm weather and consistent care, the joy they bring to the plate and the way they shine in every dish make them a staple in my sweet pepper patch.

How to Grow Bell Peppers: Easy Tips for Bigger, Sweeter Peppers

About Bell Peppers

Growing peppers has always taught me the value of timing, especially because they need a long growing season of 60 to 90 days, and whether I start pepper seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, or rely on starter pepper plants from a garden nursery, the goal is always to give them warm conditions, pre-heated outdoor soil with black plastic covering, and enough time to mature into nutrient-rich green peppers or sweeter red peppers full of vitamin C, vitamin A, and essential minerals.

• Ideal for home gardeners and northern gardeners who need an early start to grow successfully.

• Enjoy them raw, in salads, or as a snack with dip or hummus.

• You can also stuff peppers with rice, seasoned bread crumbs, or meat and bake them for a warm, comforting dish.

• Understanding peppers categories  hot and sweet  helps tailor your approach, even though most growing advice and any solid growing guide applies to hot peppers as well.

Planting

When I plant peppers, I always choose full sun and soil that drains well, making sure the bed stays in moist soil, not wet soil, because this helps grow peppers stronger and healthier; over time I’ve learned that sandy soil or loamy soil that warms quickly works best, especially when enriched with organic matter or compost, and I never use heavy clay or areas recently planted with nightshade family crops like tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplants, as they can host disease that may expose peppers to problems.

• Needs at least 6 hours of direct sunshine every day.

• Choose well-draining soil  avoid compacted or heavy clay beds.

• Add organic matter or compost to improve structure.

• Keep moist soil, but never wet soil to prevent rot.

• Avoid planting peppers after nightshade family plants to reduce disease risk.

When to Plant Peppers

• Start peppers indoors in small pots.

• Sow seeds 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost date.

• Move plant pepper starts and transplants outdoors only after the threat of frost has fully passed.

• Wait an additional 2 to 3 weeks for stable warmth.

• Ensure the soil temperature is at least 65°F / 18°C before planting.

• 

How to Start Peppers Indoors

• Start indoors by sowing start pepper seeds 1/4-inch deep in potting mix, placing three to a pot for reliability.

• Use warmth for faster germination and maintain soil at 70°F / 21°C with a heated propagator or heat mat.

• Provide grow lights to create ideal conditions until seedlings appear in about 2 weeks, though some varieties may take longer  don’t give up.

• At around 5 weeks, thin out the weakest seedling, or let two pepper plants grow as one for stronger stems and fuller leaves while you protect peppers from stretching.

• If seedlings become leggy or grow too tall, replant them into a bigger pot, burying just below the lowest leaves, similar to tomatoes, to support them better.

• Keep seedlings warm with plenty of light, and when they have five to eight leaves, strong roots, and reach drainage holes, move up a pot size.

• Before they’re ready to plant outside, harden off seedlings for 10 days since peppers are sensitive to cool temperatures.

• For planting peppers outdoors, acclimatize plants to outdoor conditions in a sheltered spot, gradually increasing periods of exposure over 2 weeks.

• Always avoid frosts and wait until after the last expected frost date before transplanting outdoors.

How to Plant Peppers Outdoors

• When buying pepper starts, choose seedlings with straight stems, sturdy stems, 4 to 6 leaves, and absolutely no blooms or no fruit.

• Harden off pepper plants by gradually setting plants outdoors until after the frost-free date and when the average daily temperature reaches 65°F / 18°C.

• Prepare the bed for transplanting in the garden by mixing aged manure and compost into the soil, loosening it 8 to 10 inches deep, and using a rake to break up large clods.

• Check soil temperature, and consider warming the soil with black plastic or dark mulch before you plant.

• Transplant peppers in the evening or on a cloudy day to prevent drying and wilting.

• Dig transplant holes 3 to 4 inches deep, spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart with rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

• Fill the holes with water before planting; add wooden matchsticks for sulfur or mix in 1 teaspoon of low-nitrogen fertilizer or high-phosphorus fertilizer, since too much nitrogen can reduce fruit set.

• When pulling the transplant from the tray or pot, be gentle and keep the soil around the roots intact, placing it at the same depth as the original container.

• Fill the hole with soil, pack loosely, and create a slightly sunken area to hold water, then water the plants well.

• Boost growth with liquid fertilizer, manure tea, compost tea, or a mild starter fertilizer.

• Stake early to avoid disturbing the roots, using support plants, cages, stakes, cone-shaped wire tomato cages, or other garden supports to prevent bending.

Growing

• Water regularly, giving 1 to 2 inches of water per week, since shallow watering is ineffective compared to a good dousing that allows soil to dry out slightly between waterings.

• Maintain relative dryness with slow deep watering to help the root system grow strong, preventing pepper plants wilt, which can reduce yield and the quality of the fruit.

• Avoid inconsistent watering, as it often leads to blossom-end rot.

• Pinch out the growing points at the top once plants reach 8 inches tall to encourage plants to grow bushier and produce more fruits before producing flower buds.

• Prioritize feeding plants with tomato fertilizer, a liquid feed, or any formula high potassium to support healthy fruiting.

• In warm climate or desert climate, especially during the height of summer, water daily, particularly in desert regions or areas near 4,000 feet elevation.

• Remember that sweet bell peppers with a thick fleshy wall are heat-sensitive; blossoms drop when stressed plants face temperatures too hot, especially 85° to 90°F daytime.

• Avoid cold nights below 60°F, and ensure plants don’t experience inadequate water.

• Use shade cloth or row covers to limit heat stress, prevent sunscald from direct sun rays, and avoid papery, blister damage during hot weather.

• Apply mulch to maintain moisture and deter weeds, and weed carefully to avoid disturbing roots.

• Skip spraying pepper plants with Epsom salts, which is not beneficial for peppers grown in well-fed, balanced soil.

Types

Choosing pepper varieties becomes much easier once you understand how they ripen and reach full color, because fully mature peppers are always most nutritious and tastier than green peppers that haven’t yet turn red.

• Lady Bell – turns red when fully mature and ripens fairly quickly.

• Gypsy – sweet flavor and reliable production of fully mature peppers.

• Bell Boy – firm, blocky fruits that develop excellent color and taste.

• Lipstick – tapered shape with intense sweetness at full color.

• Milena – beautiful orange fruits that become tastier as they mature.

• Orange Sun – large orange peppers with outstanding sweetness.

• Golden California Wonder – classic yellow variety with great texture and nutrition.

Harvesting

• When plants producing fruit mature, pick promptly once peppers reach full size or their full color.

• Regular picking helps plants produce more flowers and ultimately more fruit.

• The longer bell peppers stay on the plant, the sweeter they become and the greater vitamin C content they develop.

• Always snip stems using sharp pruners, clean pruners, scissors, or a sharp knife to avoid damaging the plant.

How to Store Peppers

• After harvesting, keep bell peppers refrigerated in plastic bags for up to 10 days.

• For later use, keep them frozen by choosing to freeze peppers that you won’t use immediately.

• To use peppers dried, preheat oven to 140°F, then wash, core, and seed them before cutting into 1/2-inch strips.

• Steam the strips for 10 minutes, then place them on a baking sheet to dry in oven for 4 to 6 hours.

• Turn occasionally and switch tray positions to ensure even drying.

• Once they cool, store the peppers in bags, containers, or keep them in the refrigerator.

Pests/Diseases

Managing pepper health often comes down to watching the weather, because poor pollination and reduced fruit set happen when temperatures fall below 60°F (16°C) or rise above 90°F (32°C); even too much nitrogen in the soil pushes healthy foliage growth that can discourage fruit setting, while flower drop becomes common in high heat, very low humidity, or when the air very dry, so I’ve learned to douse the soil with water and occasionally mist plants to keep conditions balanced and prevent stress.

• Spider mites appear in hot dry weather, leaving fine webbing on the underside of leaves; a mist-spray at the first sign of attack creates hostile conditions.

• Aphids, one of the most common pests, gather on undersides and other parts of the plant  I often squish clusters when mild.

• For serious infestations, I take plants out to an open area, away from other peppers, turn plants upside down, brush aphids off, or blast aphids off with a hose.

• Keep track of issues using pest information, disease information, and a seasonal chart for quick reference.

I never ignore small signs  catching problems early saves the harvest.
Every season teaches a new lesson, and peppers always reward the grower who pays attention.

See more pest and disease information in the below chart:

Bell Pepper Pests and Diseases

Problem	Key Symptoms	Causes	Quick Fix / What I Do
Anthracnose	yellow, brown, purple, black spots; sunken dark spots; salmon-pink gelatinous mass; plants rot	fungus	destroy infected plants, use resistant varieties, good drainage, avoid overhead watering, add compost, apply mulch, crop rotation
Aphids	misshapen, yellow leaves, distorted flowers/fruit, sticky honeydew, sooty black mold, ants on plants	insect	Grow nasturtiums, basil, rosemary; knock aphids off with water spray; insecticidal soap; banana peel, orange peel; wipe leaves with liquid dish soap (1–2% every 2–3 days, 2 weeks); add native plants for predators
Bacterial Leaf Spot	water-soaked rust spots, black leaf spots, holes, leaves yellow/distort/wilt/die, stem cankers	bacteria	destroy infected parts, remove severely infected plants, clear plant debris, disinfect tools, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering
Blossom-End Rot	dark water-soaked spots at blossom end, become sunken, leathery, rotted	disorder, lack of calcium uptake	remove affected fruit, water deeply/evenly, keep soil pH 6.5, steady nutrient levels, avoid excessive nitrogen, good drainage, avoid damaging roots
Colorado Potato Beetles	yellow-orange eggs, clusters, larvae/adults chew holes	Beetles	remove eggs/larvae/beetles, use straw mulch, weed, row covers, destroy debris, crop rotation
Cucumber Mosaic Virus	stunting, mottled (green/yellow/white), ringed spots, warts on fruit	virus, spread by aphids	destroy infected plants, choose resistant varieties, certified virus-free seed, disinfect tools, weed-free garden, mulch
Flea Beetles	numerous tiny holes	Beetles	row covers, mulch heavily, plant native plants for beneficial predators
Leaf Miners	meandering blisters, tunneling larvae	Larvae	remove infested leaves, weed, till soil early, rotate plantings
Root-Knot Nematodes	roots knotted, galled roots, stunted, yellow, wilted plants	Nematodes	destroy plant matter, use resistant varieties, solarize soil, add aged manure, compost, disinfect tools, till in autumn, crop rotation
Spider Mites	fine webs, yellow-specked, brown-edged, bronze leaves, leaf drop	Hot, dry	rinse plants, mist daily, insecticidal soap
Tomato Hornworms	chewed leaves, rapid defoliation, black/green excrement, gouged fruit	Caterpillars	check undersides leaves, remove/dispose hornworms, keep those with white rice-like cocoons, relocate, till autumn/spring, plant dill, basil, marigolds, spray with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)

Did You Know?

• Bell peppers naturally contain zero capsaicin, so they produce no heat at all.

• Their signature sweetness increases as the fruit matures and finally turns red.

Growing bell peppers becomes remarkably rewarding once you understand how to support them through each stage  from choosing healthy seedlings and planting them in warm, well-drained soil to maintaining steady moisture, protecting them from extreme temperatures, managing pests with early intervention, and harvesting them at full color for the best sweetness. With careful attention to watering, soil health, companion planting, and timely picking, bell peppers respond with vigorous growth and abundant, flavorful fruits, proving that even a little consistency and observation can turn this heat-sensitive crop into one of the most dependable and enjoyable vegetables in any home garden.

FAQS

Do peppers need a lot of sun to grow?

Peppers thrive in a warm spot with full sun, needing around 8hrs sunlight per day or they become spindly and won’t produce mature fruit, so I always plant them in well-drained soil, ideally in a raised bed with fertile soil, deep soil, rich organic matter, and a soil pH 5.5–6.8, making sure to avoid soggy soil that slows growth.

Do pepper plants need water every day?

From my experience, peppers don’t need daily watering; instead, I water deeply just once or twice a week, adjusting based on weather conditions and soil type, which keeps moisture steady without overwhelming the roots.

What does Epsom salt do for pepper plants?

Gardeners often use Epsom salts because the magnesium sulfate can support plant growth in magnesium depleted soil, helping peppers absorb nutrients, strengthen plant cell walls, and sometimes lead to an increase in blossoms, more tomatoes, and more peppers, especially later in the season when plants are under stress.

Why are my pepper plants so big but no peppers?

When a pepper plant has flowers but no peppers, it’s often due to a lack of fertilization or extreme temperatures, especially when it’s too hot over 95°F or too cold under 50°F, causing pepper plants drop flowers before they can set fruit.

How long can a pepper plant go without water?

In my experience, peppers can manage just fine for about 4–5 days without watering, especially indoors, as long as the soil was well-moistened beforehand and the room isn’t excessively hot or dry.