Even if you don’t have a house with a large garden to grow your vegetables in, you can still hope to grow some varieties directly in pots on your balcony or terrace.
This is the case for peppers, which are very well suited to this type of cultivation, as long as they have a container of the right size, a rich substrate and a sunny, warm exposure.
Here are all the tips to succeed in growing peppers in pots.
Opt for the right bell pepper varieties
With their maximum height of 1 m, almost all varieties of peppers are suitable for cultivation in a pot Variete Poivron en pot. However, you should choose varieties with a compact habit and low height, such as :
- The mini bell pepper ‘Redskin’, which is 40 cm high and produces semi-long, red fruits;
- The ‘Apache’ bell pepper, a very early variety, 40 cm high, which produces very strong fruits;
- The ‘Calimero’ bell pepper with small heart-shaped fruits;
- The ‘Nikita’ bell pepper, 80 cm high and producing white and square fruits;
- The ‘Fiesta’, a 60 cm high variety with yellow peppers;
- The ‘Sweet Chocolate’ bell pepper, 60 cm high and producing dark purple fruits.
- Selecting the right pot
- When it is intended for a culture in pot, the sowing of the bell pepper is carried out in cups at the end of February, at a temperature ranging between 20 and 25°C.
The young plants are transplanted in pots 60 to 90 days after sowing. The seedlings measure then 15 cm in height, and are provided with 4 to 5 true leaves. They are then placed in large containers offering a depth of 60 cm (30 cm height is a minimum).
Whatever the material chosen, always opt for a pot with a pierced bottom to favor the drainage of the substrate.
Choosing the right substrate for potted peppers
Potted peppersPepper likes a cool soil, but it does not tolerate excess moisture. Therefore, the pot should be filled with a layer of clay balls at the bottom, and only then with a good vegetable potting soil.
The bell pepper is a greedy vegetable plant. Early in the season, add manure or a fertilizer with a high potassium and phosphorus content. When the bell pepper is in full vegetative growth, remember to add fertilizer every two weeks to its substrate.
Ensure regular watering of potted peppers
Potted peppers need to be watered regularly, especially in hot weather. You will probably have to provide them with water on a daily basis.
However, beware of excess humidity. Indeed, the two main enemies of peppers are mildew and powdery mildew. Be sure to empty the cup under the pot after each watering.
Good to know: Aphids can attack your potted bell pepper plants. To get rid of them easily, rinse the leaves of the plant.
Choosing the right exposure
Potted bell pepper plants can be installed outdoors from May onwards. It is then advisable to acclimatize the plants progressively in order to avoid the thermal shock that could dry them out and slow down their development. Place your potted peppers in the open air for a few hours a day before installing them on your balcony, terrace or patio.
Be sure to place the pots in a sunny and warm location. The space should also be protected from strong and cold winds.
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