Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips

Growing peppers indoors is a great way for urban gardeners to enjoy fresh peppers year-round. Peppers are one of the more challenging vegetables to grow indoors, but with some dedication and a few pertinent tips, you can be successful!

Chose the Right Variety of Pepper

When you’re deciding which pepper variety to grow indoors, look for smaller, compact varieties, as they tend to do better than huge, sprawling plants. The habanero, poblano, and jalapeno are all popular varieties for indoor pepper growing. The sweetest varieties also tend to have the highest yields.

Choose a Good Spot in the Home

Peppers need lots of sunlight, so choose a bright yet sheltered spot in your home. A patio or window sill near a southwestern-facing window is a great choice. To give your plants more light, consider investing in a grow light. Place your pepper plants at least 12 inches away from the window to protect them from drafts.

Pots & Soil

When planting peppers indoors, use a pot or container with drainage holes. Choose a pot that’s at least 10 inches deep, so the pepper roots have enough depth to reach down into the soil. Fill the pot halfway with good-quality potting mix. When planting, it’s important to loosen the soil at the bottom of the pot so that the roots can spread out and get lots of nutrients.

Watering & Fertilizing

Water your pepper plants regularly, but not too often. Once a week should be enough, but you should also monitor the soil’s moisture and adjust the watering schedule as needed. Fertilize once a month so your plants have enough nutrients to produce peppers. Fish emulsion liquid fertilizer is a great choice for indoor peppers.

Harvesting & Pruning

Harvest your peppers once they’ve turned the desired color (usually red or orange). For large peppers, cut the stem, leaving 1/3 of it attached to the plant. For smaller peppers, pull them from the stem with your fingers. Prune off any dead or dying branches or leaves to keep your pepper plants healthy.

Indoor pepper growing can be a rewarding experience, and with the right guidelines and tips, you can be successful! Best of luck in growing your peppers and en joying your own homegrown flavor.