Are bell peppers easy to grow?– Yes, Definitely Bell pepper is very easy to grow. A healthy Bell pepper seedling only needs healthy soil, water, and full sun. It is pretty easy right!
As a passionate gardener, you just need to be careful and patient with your bell pepper plants. These plants require regular feeding so healthy soil can give you a good start.
The soil must be rich in organic matter, light and pours,well-drained, and a little acidic. The ph of the soil should be below 6.8 to grow bell pepper. Although it can survive slightly alkaline soil the fruit quality will degrade. Therefore try to keep the Ph down. Green kitchen waste can easily do this for you.
Water only when the soil feels dry. And finally harvest regularly to encourage new flower development.
Check out my previous post: How long will zucchini plants produce?
Are Bell Peppers Hard to Grow?
No, not really. Bell pepper is pretty easy to grow unless you don’t know the basics about this plant. Sometimes growing Bell Pepper can be challenging especially due to lack of knowledge or just for the climatic conditions.
Just remember…
Too much water or Too much cold is not suitable for Bell pepper. In fact, Too much of anything is bad for your garden. Just make sure you know the requirements of the plant variety you choose to grow.
Plants like pepper have their specific requirements. If you don’t know them then it can be a difficult task for you to achieve.
Also Read: Can you eat Ornamental Peppers?-Myth Buster
Can Everyone grow Bell Pepper easily?
Most probably yes, Anyone who knows gardening can easily grow Bell pepper. It’s like growing any other pepper only the size of the fruit is large.
If you are a newbie in gardening then start with a nursery-grown seedling. They are healthy, more viable and yes you don’t have to spend time to develop them. Starting with seeds can be overwhelming for first-timers.
An experienced gardener must start growing seedlings indoors before the last frost. It can give you some extra time during the growing season. Although this is not compulsory you can buy seedlings from a trusted nursery or garden store.
Overall if you are new to all these things then it can be pretty tough. Keep in mind growing your own vegges is a time taking and dedicated job. It is not a one-day adventure, you have to be focused and patient for the results.
How to make it easier?
If you really want to grow Bell pepper easily then start with a seedling. You can develop your own seedling it can be profitable but time taking. It is not recommended for first-time gardeners.
If you have bell pepper seeds then start germinating them at least 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost. Obviously, you have to do this indoors especially if you live in cold northern zones.
The seeds will take 2 weeks to germinate in 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. It will take another 4 to 5 weeks for it to grow enough for transplant.
Make sure the outside temperature exceeds 60 degrees Fahrenheit before you move them out. Wait for couple more days to avoid any cold damage to the seedlings.
Meanwhile, shift the Bell pepper seedlings to a bigger container every 15 days. This will increase the viability of these pepper bell plants. It will also help you to sort the healthy and strong seedlings among all others.
Prepare your own soil mix for the final transplant. Mix 50% organic compost with 30 % garden soil, 10% Cocopeat or peat moss, 3% fine wood ash, 2% cinnamon or turmeric powder, and 5% mustard cake powder or groundnut cake powder. This is a simple yet very easy soil mix to prepare for your bell pepper plant. Most of the ingredients are available in your kitchen or your backyard.
A Bell pepper plant only needs food, sunlight, and water. If you manage to give everything then it’s pretty easy to grow a Bell pepper plant.
Special Tips
- Always Choose a disease-resistant fast-growing variety to grow. Check out my favorite Bell pepper varieties on Amazon.
- Place the plant in full sun to maintain light and temperature.
- Use old, well-aged dry compost in the soil mix. It will help you to avoid any fungal disease.
- Water the plant only when the soil looks dry. Don’t let the bell pepper plant droop during flowering and fruiting season.
- If possible spray the bell pepper plant with Epsom salt solution. It will increase flowering and improve plants’ growth rate.
The final tip:- Always try to keep it simple. There is no need to use fancy tools and harmful chemicals if you really know what your plant need. I know they are helpful but a small kitchen garden doesn’t require it. Therefore try to learn more about easily growing bell peppers plants.