Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips
Pepper plants are versatile and popular garden vegetables, that can be grown in any season in a variety of containers. Although it may take some trial and error to grow peppers successfully indoors, the guidelines below and tips will give you a head start in your pepper gardening journey
Gathering Supplies
- Container: Any type of container will do, as long as there is adequate drainage.
- Potting Soil: Choose a soil that is light-weight, drains well, and won’t compact.
- Fertilizer: Choose a fertilizer with a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous and potassium formulation.
- Location: Place in a sunny window, with 6 to 8 hours of sun per day.
Planting
- Fill the container with potting soil about 2/3 of the way up, then make a depression in the center for the pepper plants.
- Place the pepper seeds in the depression, making sure to cover lightly with soil.
- Water the container thoroughly, and then place it in a sunny window.
Caring for the Plants
- Water the pepper plants regularly to keep the soil moist, but not wet. Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
- Fertilize the plants every two weeks with a dilute fertilizer solution.
- To keep the plants happy, rotate the container every couple of days.
- Watch for signs of disease or pest infestations and take appropriate steps to treat them as soon as possible
Harvesting
- When the peppers reach their desired size, it is time to harvest. Use scissors or a knife to carefully cut the peppers from the plants.
- Harvest peppers when they are a rich color and plump in shape.
Final thoughts
Growing peppers indoors is possible with following a few simple guidelines and with patience and care. Each plant will have its own idiosyncrasies that will need to be addressed in order to ensure successful growth and production. But even with a little trial and error, you’ll be rewarded with a tasty, homegrown crop of peppers!
