Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips

Growing peppers indoors can be a great way to get fresh, flavorful peppers year-round. While the process takes a bit of starting up front, the rewards of having fresh, homegrown peppers are worth it. This article briefly outlines the guidelines and tips that should help amateur gardeners in their journey of learning how to grow peppers indoors.

How to Grow Peppers Indoors

Start your pepper-growing adventure by choosing the right variety of pepper. Bell Peppers, for example, will need warmer temperatures and longer days than hotter varieties. Determinate peppers will also do better indoors, as they have a more compact growing habit than indeterminate peppers that require more room to grow.

Once you’ve decided on a pepper variety, make sure you find a suitable spot in your home where you can set up a full grow light so your plants will get at least 12-16 hours of light per day.

Choose a grow container that’s at least 12 inches deep and wide enough to fit your pepper plants. Fill the grow container with a soil-less media like vermiculite, which is light for easy growth.

Fill the container up halfway with your soil-less media before planting peppers. Remember to carefully press soil around the base of the seedling, you can use an extra hand to hold the stem so it doesn’t break or bend.

Use a balanced fertilizer or compost tea every two weeks to keep your plant healthy. Consult with a horticulturist or garden center about the best type of fertilizer for your plants.

Keep your pepper plants well watered, but don’t overwater! Increase the humidity in the room you have them in by placing a small fan nearby blowing a little bit of air on the plants and misting them lightly every now and then.

Harvesting and Storing Peppers

Harvest peppers as soon as the peppers are firm and full-size. Use a pair of scissors or pruning shears to avoid pulling along with the stem or branch while harvesting. Rinse off peppers to remove any dirt and debris.

Once you’ve harvested your peppers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator where they’ll last up to two weeks.

Conclusion

Although peppers are typically grown outdoors in the summer, they can also be an easy and rewarding crop to grow indoors. It is important to select the right variety, use the appropriate grow containers, and provide the right amount of light and nutrients. Finally, when it comes time to harvest, handle peppers carefully and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

By following these guidelines and tips carefully, growing peppers indoors can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Plus, you’ll have a supply of homegrown peppers for meals and snacks year-round!