7 tips to grow your peppers in containers

There are numerous advantages to growing plants in containers, and this is all the more true for peppers. Here's why.

1. Protection

First, by placing your pots or containers out of windy locations, your peppers will benefit from an additional protection, which is not always the case with a vegetable garden.

2. Roots

Improve you pepper plant’s root system by adding mycorrhizae. When planting, spread mycorrhizae at the bottom of the hole. Be sure that that roots are in contact with the mycorrhizae. This will help your plant by developing its root system, reduce its watering needs and make it more resistant to stresses.

3. Watering

Your plants will need to be watered once a day as soon as temperatures reach at least 62 or 65 °F. They will also need a lot of direct light, that is, at least 5 hours of light per day. Having your containers close at hand on the patio makes it easier to water your plants and gives you the possibility to move them if they don't get enough light.

The higher the temperature, the more water your plants will need. To verify whether its watering time, just poke your finger a few centimeters deep into the soil. If it is dry, get your watering can! It is important to do that and not to rely solely on the moisture level on the surface.

4. Potting mix

Finally, fill your containers with an Organic Vegetable & Herb Mix. This will provide a greater aeration to your plants' roots. Soil taken from the vegetable garden can sometimes become compacted and damage the roots.

5. Maintenance

Peppers are heavy feeders, and that is why it is important to feed the soil throughout the growth cycle. If there are wilted leaves, cut them at the base. You should also remove the stems that won't produce any peppers. This way, your plant will be both stronger and healthier.

Pepper plants like the heat, so adding dark-coloured mulch at the base is a good idea. This will retain the heat accumulated during the day for the night, and also prevent the soil from dehydrating too fast.

6. Harvesting

Harvesting is done 5 to 6 months after seeding. It is important not to pick the fruits before they have reached maturity. This means you must wait until they have stopped getting bigger. If you're growing red peppers, pick them when they start turning to red.

Note that peppers continue to ripen and change colors after you've harvested them. Cut the stem using pruning scissors to allow for a better preservation.

7. Preservation

There are various options to preserve your peppers longer: you can dry them out in the sun or oven, freeze them, marinate them or can them.