Pepper Archives - GardensOfMine

How To Grow An Anaheim Pepper Plant

February 13, 2023November 3, 2022 by Samuel

anaheim peppers, chiles, chili peppers-1342986.jpg

Anaheim Pepper Plant – Pepper Varieties – How To Plant – How To Grow – Caring And Harvesting – Using The Anaheim Peppers – Propagating New Plants – Best Soil – Summary – FAQ

The anaheim pepper plant is a great option for beginners to start out with. Most of the pepper plant varieties are easy to grow for beginners since they require little attention and are quite sturdy and resilient too.

The anaheim pepper plant is a perennial variety that produces quite spicy chilis. They grow well in almost any environment and will also produce tasty and spicy chilis for you all summer long.

What Is An Anaheim Pepper Plant

The anaheim pepper plant is one of the more popular varieties out there. It has a lovely spiciness to it that we really appreciate. The flavor can be all from slightly to really spicy, depending on when you decide on harvesting the peppers.

The plant grows as a perennial and can live for up to three years and produce peppers. It doesn’t grow that tall, standing in at about 1 – 2 feet tall at most. So it’s a great plant to keep indoors actually since it does not require that much space.

Pepper Varieties

There are many pepper varieties out there to choose from. If you want one that is easy to grow and will also come back the next year just as strong, then the anaheim pepper plant is the way to go.

Other than that, you can choose habaneros of serrano pepper for example. They have a similar level of spiciness to them. Just as easy to grow and care for too. Requiring a healthy soil and a good access to sunlight all day long.

How To Plant An Anaheim Pepper Plant

Planting the anaheim pepper seed is the first step of course. We do this in small growing containers that are meant for seedlings. Place the seed at the top of the soil and lightly cover it. Water the soil and leave it in a sunny and warm place to start germinating. This will take about 2 weeks or so.

After 1 month should start seeing some progress above the soil. After about 2 – 3 months you should be able to transplant the seedling into a larger pot or container where it will stay for the rest of its life. Caring for the seedlings before that will come down to keeping them in a sunny spot and not getting the soil dry out too much.

How To Grow Anaheim Peppers

Growing anaheim peppers are really simple. Once you have cultivated your seedlings the growth will go quite fast. Get yourself a larger pot or container where you will grow your anaheim plant for the rest of its life.

Fill the pot with some healthy soil and make a well in the middle. Place the seedling in there and then tap down with some soil around it. Make sure it’s really stable before watering the soil through completely. It really helps to have some holes in the bottom of the pot to lead excess water away.

Make sure the soil never dries out too much and rotate the plant every week or so. That will help make the sunlight exposure more equal for the entire plant. It also helps prevent skinny or unstable growth.

Caring And Harvesting From The Plant

Harvesting the anaheim peppers is the best part really. They can be harvested when they are green. The flavor will be slightly sweeter and not as spicy at this point though.

But if you want the full experience of the anaheim peppers then you should wait until they are bright red. At this point they will be pretty spicy and a real flavour bomb. Make sure you have a plan for using them when you harvest as the flavor sort of goes away the longer they stay out.

What Can You Use The Anaheim Peppers For

There are a number of things you can use the anaheim peppers for. One of our favorites is to make chili oil. Chopping up the peppers and then pouring warm oil on top will make a really flavourful condiment. Make sure you leave to infuse overnight before using to really extract all the flavors.

But thinly sliced in a stir fry is also a great way of getting some use of the peppers. You can use either green or red here.

Propagating New Pepper Plants

When you have new pepper plants it’s really important to make sure the soil is well draining and rich in nutrients. A loamy soil will help lead excess water away. If you fertilize the soil about every month or so you will definitely notice an improvement in the health of the new pepper plants.

Best Soil For Anaheim Pepper Plants

The best possible soil for anaheim pepper plants will be a well draining one. We like to introduce some sand in a loamy soil mixture. This helps create the ideal conditions for the plant to grow in.

The reason we want a well draining one is that too much water stuck in the soil makes it hard for oxygen to reach the root system of the plant. If they don’t get any roots then they will begin to drown and the rest of the plant won’t get anymore nutrients.

Summary

The anaheim pepper plant is just like most varieties in the family very easy for beginners to get started with. It all comes down to keeping the soil healthy and never left to dry out too much. But finding and reserving a very sunny spot for the plant will also be very important too. It improves the health of the plant a lot.

FAQ

How Long Does It Take Anaheim Peppers To Grow

It will take about 5 months from planting the seed until you can first harvest when it comes to the anaheim pepper plant. It’s nothing wrong if it takes slightly longer, it all comes down to the environment its growing in.

When Should I Plant Anaheim Peppers

The best time to start growing an anaheim pepper plant will be in the early months of the year. That way you have plenty of time to propagate healthy seedlings ready to go into bigger pots when the summer comes around. Then they are already ready to start producing flowers which turn into peppers.

Are Anaheim Peppers Easy To Grow

It can basically be said that any variety in the pepper plant family is easy to grow, so the anaheim is not different. Keeping the soil fertilized and well watered in combination with a lot of sunlight is the ley to success here.

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When Is The Best Time To Pick Habaneros

February 13, 2023November 2, 2022 by Samuel

chili, habanero, chili pepper-646857.jpg

What Are Habaneros – Varieties – Best Time To Pick – Caring For The Plant – When Is It Ripe – Keep Producing – Ripen After Harvest – Using Habaneros – Saving The Seeds – Summary – FAQ

Habaneros are one of the spicier varieties of peppers out there and a great option for beginners to start growing at home by themselves. But knowing when to actually harvest the peppers at their peak is incredibly important too.

Below we share our insight into the topic of growing but importantly harvesting the habaneros. To keep it short, picking them when they are really bright green will have a milder flavour, but for the full on flavour bomb wait until they are bright red instead.

What Are Habaneros

Habaneros are one of the most popular varieties of peppers. They are great for adding a lot of heat into your food. In terms of growing them yourself they are a great option since caring for them is relatively easy actually. It’s all really about watering the soil and every now and again rotating the plant if you keep it indoors.

Habaneros will be ripe when they are green but interestingly change in color from green until bright red. In between they will also have a slight yellow color to them as well. The longer you wait while picking the peppers the more spiciness they will have in them. So you can really decide the flavor profile you want in them.

Habanero Varieties

There are a number of different sub varieties of the habanero plant out there. They don’t really differ that much between each other. They start out with a bright green color that slowly turns into a red shade. The shape of the habanero stays the same as well, slightly chunky with some grooves and texture to it.

When Is The Best Time To Pick Habaneros

It can’t really be decided when the best time to pick habaneros is. It will all really depend on what type of flavor you want from it. If you don’t like spiciness that much then you should pick habaneros when they are green. This would be early on in the season and growth of them.

If you like them a bit spicier then you should wait until the end of the season when the habaneros have a bright red color to them instead. At this point they have developed enough flavor to be quite strong.

Caring For A Habanero Plant

Caring for a habanero plant is quite simple. It all really comes down to making sure you have the soil covered and get the plant enough sunlight each day. That will either make or break your habanero plant.

We strive for the soil to be between dry and damp for the roots to have the best possible growth and develop flavourful habaneros for us. In terms of sunlight it’s important for the plant to get quite a lot. That basically means achieving about 8 – 10 hours of sun each day if the plant is kept indoors. That will ensure it gets enough nutrients to continue growing and thriving.

Signs Of A Ripe Habanero Pepper

Since we have mentioned that there isn’t really a set time when the habaneros are ripe or not. Since habaneros can be picked all from being green until red there isn’t really something called ripe with habaneros. But when the peppers are red they are at their most flavourful.

Will A Habanero Plant Keep Producing

The habanero will produce peppers all throughout the summer but when the temperatures start to drop a little bit and the sun goes down earlier then you won’t see any new growth from the plant. The habanero variety is an annual plant, meaning that it only lives for a year.

So starting to grow the plant during the early months of the year will help ensure that we have our harvest by the early summer continuing until the end of the summer.

Will Habanero Keep Ripen After Harvesting

After you have harvested the habanero they won’t continue to ripen that much. When they are really bright red and you harvest them, they might be a little bit spicier a few days after. This happens because the peppers start drying out a bit and in turn concentrates the flavor even more.

What To Use Habanero Peppers For

There are a number of different things to use habaneros for. One of our favorite things to use habaneros is oil. You can make a really spicy chili oil with fully ripened and red habaneros. Chop them finely and then pour warm oil on top and let infuse overnight. This is a great condiment for dipping sauces for example.

Saving The Seeds Of Habanero

The seeds of the habanero are really spicy but with a slight bitterness to them. So in terms of eating them they aren’t really that nice. It’s better to save them and plant them for the next year.

Take and separate the seeds and lay them on some kitchen paper. Let them dry slowly outside for a week or so. After that you can keep them in a dry container and plant them in some healthy soil the next year.

Summary

The habanero plant has different stages for the peppers when you can pick them. The earlier you pick them the less spicy they will be. If you wait until they are bright red they will be a lot spicier instead. So the choice is really up to you when you think you would like to harvest.

FAQ

Will Habanero Ripen If Picked Green

The habaenor wont continue to ripen after being harvested unfortunately. If you pick them green they will stay green too. At this point the habaneros will be sweeter instead of spicy.

What Color Are Habaneros When They Are Ripe

The habanero are bright red when they are fully ripe. But it goes from green to yellow and then to red in terms of ripening.

Why Are My Habaneros Not Turning Orange

You habanero variety might not be turning orange if the plant does not have enough nutrients and access to sunlight. Find a sunnier spot and add some fertilziers to the soil.

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When Is The Best Time To Pick Banana Peppers

February 13, 2023November 1, 2022 by Samuel

banana pepper, spice, vegetable-5556358.jpg

Banana Peppers – Varieties – When To Pick – What To Look For – Caring For A Pepper Plant – Will They Keep Producing – How Long Do They Take To Grow – Summary – FAQ

Knowing when the best possible time to pick banana peppers is very important as picking unripe ones will just disappoint you with the flavor. Unripe peppers tend to have a slight bitterness to them which isn’t very pleasant to eat.

Below we share some of our insight into knowing when the best possible time might be to pick the banana peppers. They really are one of our all time favorite pepper varieties to grow at home.

What Are Banana Peppers

Banana peppers are a quite unique variety that has a long shape to them. They are very green when they are ripe and can come in a number of different flavor profiles. Our favorites are the ones which are slightly sweet too. These are great to grow at home and also tend to ripen faster than the spicier banana pepper varieties.

Like most pepper varieties out there they like a warm place with lots of sun. The soil should be very well draining and rich in nutrition. This will help the plant produce very flavorful peppers.

Varieties Of Banana Peppers

There are different varieties of banana peppers out there. There is basically a spectrum with one side being sweetere and the other spicy. The color can shift a bit between the varieties. But our favorites are the green and slightly sweet ones.

They do all look more or less slightly the same. They have a long shape and aren’t that large. More longish and skinny.

When To Pick Banana Peppers

Picking banana peppers should only be done when they are fully ripened, but that sort of goes without saying. Knowing when that time is the tricky part. We look at the color of the peppers. They should be really brightly colored or green and also have a slight snap to them. That indicates its fully ripened. If you want to go beyond that you should harvest on sunny and warm days when even more energy is running through the plant.

How Do You Know If It Has Ripened

Looking at the color of the peppers is what for us will indicate whether they are ready to be picked or not. They should have a slight snap to them when they are ready.

If the color is dull or nor that bright then there might still be some time for the peppers to grow. This really goes for all pepper varieties. A red variety is ready when it’s bright red, a yellow one is ready when it’s bright yellow.

Caring For A Banana Pepper Plant

It’s pretty easy to care for a banana pepper plant or any variety for that matter really. We need to manage the soil and the amount of sunlight the plant is receiving. That is more or less the task we need to take care of.

The soil should never be left to dry out too much. We like to keep it between a little dry and damp. That will help the roots grow efficiently and not be too stressed either. In terms of sunlight the plant will want to get about 8 – 10 hours each day if growing indoors, which is very possible with this variety.

Will Banana Peppers Keep Producing

The banana pepper plant can keep producing harvest throughout the whole summer. But it will start slowing down eventually since the variety is an annual, meaning it only lives for one year before wilting down again.

So from the beginning of summer until early autumn you will be able to harvest from the plant. Everything doesn’t come at once, which means we don’t have to waste any by not being able to use it in time.

How Long Do Banana Peppers Take To Grow

From planting the first seed until harvesting the first banana pepper it will take about 5 months if you have kept it in the most perfect even permit to grow in. But don’t worry if it takes a longer time than this to grow the plant. It all really depends on the place and time where it’s growing.

Summary

Knowing when the best time to harvest banana peppers is very important as we dont want to waste any flavor in the plant. We have found that when it’s brightly colored or green and has a snap to it, it’s ready to be harvested. Before that it might just be a bit too bitter in flavor.

FAQ

Are Banana Peppers Still Good When They Turn Red

Banana peppers are definitely still good when they are red. Some varieties are this color when they are ready. So it’s important to do your research on the variety before planting it.

What To Do With Banana Peppers After You Pick Them

Once you have picked the banana peppers it’s important to have a plant for utilizing them. We like to make either chili oil or add them in a stir fry.

Can You Eat Banana Peppers When They Are Green

Some varieties of banana peppers are actually ripe when they are green. These are mostly the sweeter varieties. We like these the most as they are also quite aromatic.

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How To Treat Pepper Plant Leaves Curling

February 13, 2023October 31, 2022 by Samuel

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What Is Curling – Causes – Treating A Pepper Plant – Caring for A Pepper Plant – Common Problems – Tips And Tricks – FAQ

When a pepper plant, or any plant has leaves which are sparring to curl up then you have some issues on your hands. The plant is being stressed and needs some help to get back on track again. There are a variety of different issues that cause the plant to act like this.

It could be all from too much sunlight to a soil where there isn’t enough water to support the growth of the plant. This issue causes stress to the plant since it can no longer support itself properly. Below we dive a little deeper on this issue and learn about the solutions to it as well.

What Do We Mean By Curling

When we say that the leaves are curling we mean that the outer parts of the leaves are beginning to dry up a little bit and curl up backwards into itself. Sort of like it’s unfolding backwards.

This often happens when the plant is being stressed and doesn’t have access to enough nutrients in the soil. It’s a pretty serious issue that needs to be remedied quite quickly. Thankfully most pepper plants are quite resilient and sturdy and can manage through tough times like this pretty well.

What Causes Leaves To Curl

There are a number of different things that can cause the leaves to begin to curl on the pepper plant. But to put it quite simply, it’s often about the plant not getting enough water causing the roots to be stressed. But it could also be that the plant has been exposed to too much sunlight. This can cause some pretty severe issues as the leaves dry out as well as curling up.

Other issues could be that the soil has been overwatered and is more like a sludge and mud texture. The key to growing and cultivating any plant is really balance. Without that there is a big chance you run into issues like this.

How To Treat Pepper Plant Leaves Curling

Since the pepper plant is relatively sturdy and can manage through hard times like being underwatered and overwatered or burnt by too much sunlight it’s not too hard to get the plant back on track again.

Begin by identifying the issue. Is the soil under watered and dry on the top and throughout. Then you should add water in small amounts until you have a damp texture on the top. If the plant has instead been overwatered you should find a warmer and sunnier spot to quickly dry out the soil. The impact won’t be noticed instantly and the leaves might stay curled up, but you will hopefully not see any more of them curling up again.

How To Care For A Pepper Plant

Just like any plant the secret to having a healthy growth path is balance. That means a good balance in the amount of sunlight it gets, the amount of water it gets and also the nutrients in the soil.

With the pepper plant we strive for it to have about 8 – 10 hours of sunlight when growing indoors. This will help create the ideal conditions for it. In terms of watering, we like to keep the soil slightly damp to dry at most times. This lets oxygen travel through the soil and reach the roots. If there is too much water and oxygen can’t get through then you might run into some issues such as root rot.

Common Problems With Pepper Plants

With pepper plants there are quite rarely any issues with disease or pests, or insects for that matter too. Instead we find that most of the issues gardens have stems from not watering the soil properly.

The pepper plant family can generally be said to like a soil which is between dry and damp in texture. This ensures the roots have enough nutrients to give to the rest of the plant, but they also receive enough oxygen to stay alive and not drown.

Tips And Tricks When Growing Peppers

Some of the things we have learned throughout the years of growing and cultivating pepper plants is that rotating the plant is very important as well as using fertilizers effectively.

Rotating the pot about once a week seems to give a more even growth pattern for the plant. It means the leaves get an equal amount of sunlight exposure and are able to perform photosynthesis. Using fertilizers every other month or so is also quite effective and boosts the health of the plant.

FAQ

How Do You Know If You Are Overwatering Pepper Plants

If you are scared you are overwatering your pepper plant you should look at the soil first and foremost. It should not be a puddle of water on it, that would indicate there is bad drainage. If the leaves curl or change color, that could also be a sign of overwatering.

When To Transplant Pepper Seedlings

The best time to transplant pepper seedlings is usually when they are about 7 – 8 inches tall. At this point they are ready to be in a larger pot and indulge in more space.

Brown Spots On Chili Leaves

If you are seeing brown spots on your chili plant then you might be overwatering the soil. Too much water causes root rot, a common sign of that is brown spots on the leaves.

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Growing A Shishito Pepper Seedling At Home

February 13, 2023October 30, 2022 by Samuel

Shishito Peppers – How To Plant From Seed – How To Grow And Care – How To Harvest – How To Harvest – What To Use It For – Pepper Containers – Summary – FAQ

As most people starting out with gardening they begin with easier plants such as basil or rosemary, or perhaps house plants like monstera. But after that most people might want something a little bit more challenging and also larger.

The pepper plant family is great for beginners to explore since most of the plants grow very well in almost any environment and will also be able to produce quite a lot of harvest.

What Is Shishito Peppers

The shishito pepper plant is a Japanese variety that has a nice spiciness to it without being overwhelming. It’s a great option for beginners since it doesn’t need too much effort to get a good amount of harvest. Just making sure the soil is rich in nutrients and the plant gets a lot of sun is more or less all the work needed.

Shishito peppers are bright red when they are ripe but wont have that shiny exterior as other varieties like the thai pepper. Instead the skin of the pepper will be slightly wrinkly, but the concentration of flavor will be great nonetheless.

How To Plant A Shishito Pepper Seed

Growing a shishito pepper plant starts with first planting a seed. We begin by preparing a small container with some good and healthy soil. Using a small dose of fertilizer is great here to really boost the growth quickly and get off to a good start.

Place the seed in the top of the soil and place some soil over it. We don’t need to dig the seed down too deep as it will just make the germination process take longer. Lightly water the surface of the soil and place these containers in a warm and sunny spot. It’s important to note that in each container there should really only be one seed to help avoid competition between the plants.

After about 2 months they should be ready to be transplanted into a new and larger container. At this point they might be about 6 – 8 inches tall.

How To Grow And Care For A Shishito Pepper Seedling

Once you have your seedlings of the shishito pepper they are ready to be transplanted into a new and larger container where they will remain for the rest of its lifespan.

Make a hole in the soil and place the plant in there. Take the soil and pat down around the seedling and make sure it’s stable. The last thing we want is the plant falling over and breaking the stem or something.

Keep the soil slightly damp all the time in order to help the roots grow quickly. You can fertilize the soil about every other month or so to help boost the nutritional value of it. This helps benefit the plant greatly and you might even get a few more peppers growing because of it.

Once the plant begins to develop peppers it’s important that it also gets a good amount of sunlight all the time, otherwise you might not have them ripen fully by the end of it. That would result in peppers which have a slight bitterness to them.

How To Harvest Shishito Peppers

Harvesting the shishito peppers is really simple. It’s our favorite part about growing this plant. They aren’t that large but pack quite the punch in terms of spiciness and flavor.

They will be fully ripened when the color is bright red and the skin is slightly dry and wrinkled. That’s when they have gotten all of their flavors developed and are ready to be harvested. They really are great to dry and use in stir frys or in chili oils.

What Can You Use The Plant For

There are a number of different applications you can use the shishito peppers for. Some of our favorite methods of extracting the most flavor of the peppers is by making chili oil. The peppers are normally a little bit dried up when they are ripe, meaning they are perfect for making chili oil.

Warm some oil and then pour over the chopped shishito peppers. Leave that to infuse overnight and you will have a really strong and flavourful oil to use in stir fries or perhaps as a dip for dumplings.

Growing Peppers In Containers

Growing peppers in containers is definitely possible, but eventually you will want to upgrade into larger pots. Having seedlings growing in containers is a great way of cultivating a large amount of them at the same time. But the growth will slow down if the plant does not have space to expand its root system.

Summary

The shishito pepper plant is perhaps not the most common variety out there but is despite that worth explosting. It packs quite the punch in terms of flavor and spiciness. It likes a place with lots of sunlight and warmth, but also a soil rich in nutrients.

FAQ

How Long Do Shishito Peppers Take To Grow

Starting to harvest the shishito pepper will take about 5 months or so. That timeline accounts for the plant having the best possible environment to grow in and also a soil which gets fertilized every now and again.

How Many Peppers Does A Shishito Plant Yield

You can expect about 30 peppers or so at least from one plant of shishito. But you might get more too if you treat the plant well. Might seem low but we struggle to get through that amount in a year since the peppers are quite spicy.

Can Shishito Peppers Be Grown Indoors

The shishito pepper plant can definitely be grown indoors since it’s a relatively small plant. We like to keep it in a window in a large pot where it can really indulge in the sunlight and prosper.

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Best Pepper Plant Spacing For Growth

February 13, 2023October 29, 2022 by Samuel

Plant Spacing – General Guidelines – Pepper Varieties – Companion Plants – Plant Spacing Benefits – Raised Bed – Best Soil – Summary – FAQ

Just like caring for the soil where the plant is growing, knowing the best spacing between plants is the next big step up. It’s only really relevant when you are growing on freeland. In pots or containers it doesn’t really matter since the roots of the plants will never interact with each other.

Below we will learn more about the best plant spacing for pepper plants. This can be incredibly important as the health of it can begin to deteriorate if there is too much competition around it. Which normally results in a worse harvest.

What Is Plant Spacing

Plant spacing is just like the name suggests, the ideal spacing between plants to give them their own spot to grow and flourish. If you grow them too close to each other then you run the risk of them starting to stress too much. There can only be one winner really so you will most likely lose out on quite a lot of harvest too.

General Guidelines For Pepper Plant Spacing

There are some general guidelines when it comes to growing and caring for a pepper plant. The spacing between the plants will depend on the variety that you have growing. Some are large and will require more space, while some are smaller and require less spacing.

With thai chilis for example, keeping about 2 feet apart from each other will be sufficient. The plant is not very large and keeping them this amount apart will make them able to grow on their own, without one stealing nutritions from the other. It should be noted as well that this spacing is the same if you are growing another plant besides it too. Even a basil plant should be kept 2 feet away.

Difference Between Pepper Varieties

There are some differences between varieties of peppers of course. Some will do better with plants closer by while some want them further away. It’s really worth it to do your own research before deciding how to plant them.

Bell Peppers

Since bell peppers are among the largest varieties of peppers available they will require more spacing between each plant. Thankfully they grow more or less like a tomato plant, meaning they grow tall instead of wide. So about 1 – 2 feet will be sufficient,

Jalapeno Peppers

A jalapeno pepper will grow smaller than a bell pepper plant for example. But it tends to grow wider so we would recommend spacing them about 2 feet apart at least to be able to have a good level of growth and health.

Best Companion Plants To Pepper Plants

There are a number of different companion plants out there for pepper plants. But let’s list the 5 best ones we have found for it. These will help benefit the health of the plant and won’t be too competitive either.

Basil

Basil is universally a great companion plant for basically all plants. It’s not a very competitive plant and won’t require too much attention to care for. The roots aren’t too invasive to the space of other plants. But the biggest benefit is that it helps keep insects away which might otherwise harm pepper plants.

Chives

Chives are a part of the onion family. It is also one of the best plants to grow if you don’t want to spend too much time caring for it. Its extermy hardy plant is also a perennial plant. Being in the onion family it can help keep insects away quite effectively too.

Garlic

Garlic is both easy to grow and care for. It has the potential just like chives to keep harmful insects and bacterias away because of the smell it has. Watering it is basically all that is required when it comes to caring for it.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes and peppers really go great together. Here the benefit is more that they won’t compete with each other too much and they also like the same environment to grow in too.

Oregano

The oregano plant is a perennial herb that will come back just as strong the next year too. But it has the added benefit of not just being strudyr and resilient, but also keeping harmful insects and bacteria away.

What Does Plant Spacing Help With

Plant spacing can help with a number of different things, but the most prominent one is about the competition between the plants. If there are too many plants competing for the same amount of nutrients then you will have some winners and some losers.

With proper plant spacing you will only have winners in your garden. You won’t risk losing out on potential harvests. On top of lowering the competition it also increases the amount of air traveling through the plants. More space means more ventilation abscially. This lowers the risk of there being humid places where mold and bacteria could be benign to grow.

Pepper Plant Spacing Raised Bed

In a raised bed the same principle applies when it comes sto spacing. For a bell pepper plant you want something closer to about 2 feet or so. But if you are growing something smaller like a thai pepper plant for example then it will be enough with about 1 feet. Since the size of the plants are different they require different amounts of space to be able to grow and flourish.

Best Soil For Pepper Plants

The ebay possible soil for pepper plants will be a slightly loamy soil where water can easily drain away. This makes it a lot easier for the roots to not experience root rot. If the soil is too compact the roots can easily grow larger and deeper, but oxygen will also have a tougher time getting to the roots.

Summary

In short, pepper plant spacing is all about creating the ideal environment for the plants to grow in. Spacing means that the plants aren’t competing with each other. It makes the plants able to grow in harmony with each other instead. But the spacing that the plant will require will be different depending on the variety of pepper you have growing.

FAQ

How Far Should Pepper Plants Be Apart

In general the ideal spacing between pepper plants should be about 1 – 2 feet or so. That will help them not compete too much.

Can You Plant 2 Pepper Plants Together

You can definitely plant 2 pepper plants together but would want some spacing between them. Planting 2 plants in the same container or pot might cause some issues such as competition.

How Far Apart Do You Plant Peppers In A Raised Bed

Just like on freeland the ideal distance between pepper plants is generally about 1 – 2 feet. This will give the plants enough space to grow on their own.

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How To Grow And Care For Banana Pepper Plants

February 13, 2023October 28, 2022 by Samuel

Banana Pepper Plants – Varieties – How To Plant – How To Grow – How To Harvest – Using Banana Peppers – Propagating Seedlings – Summary – FAQ

As most hobby gardeners begin with growing basil or perhaps rosemary at home, the next step to learn more about gardening could be pepper plants. They are easy to care for and quite often resilient against a lot of diseases and other issues.

Below we will talk about growing and caring for the banana pepper plant. Perhaps not the most common variety out there but definitely one worth exploring anyway. It has a great flavor and is easy to cultivate and care for too.

What Are Banana Pepper Plants

Banana pepper plants are one of the best varieties to start out with if you are a beginner. They don’t grow too quickly, meaning you need to start quite early in the year to have the plant able to produce chilis by the end of the summer.

The chilis on banana plants are quite large. They are long and quite thin with a distinct green color to them. Almost bright green and not the darker shade that jalapenos can have. They grow in preferably warm climates where the temperatures stay elevated for large parts of the year.

Types Of Banana Peppers

There are many different varieties of banana plants out there, some going more on the spicy side but there are also those that lean to the more sweeter end of the spectrum. This means that you will be able to find your favorite and the variety that fits you.

As a general rule of thumb, the spicer varieties take longer to grow and be ready for harvest. While the sweeter or less spicy ones grow more quickly. It will take about 6 months from start to finish to be able to harvest from the plant if you do everything right.

How To Plant A Banana Pepper Plant

Planting the seed is the first step of growing a banana pepper plant. Once you have found the variety that you like then you need to prepare small containers with soil. Make sure there are some small holes in the bottom of the containers that will help lead away any excess water. It will make it easier for the roots to grow if you have this.

Place the seeds on the soil and then lightly cover with more soil. Add some water and then leave the container in a very sunny and warm place in order to get the seeds to start germinating. This will normally take anywhere between 2 – 3 weeks or so.

After a month you should start seeing the first signs of progress. Try and keep the soil slightly damp all the time as well. That will greatly help the roots be able to pass on nutrition and not be stressed out by dry soil.

After about 3 months the plant is able to be transplanted into a larger container where it will live for the rest of its time. Here we want the container to also have some holes in the bottom.

How To Grow And Care For A Banana Pepper Plant

Growing and caring for a banana pepper plant is mostly about keeping the soil healthy and every now and again rotating the plant to give a good amount of sunlight exposure.

Keep the soil slightly damp all the time in order to have the roots growing at a steady pace. The thing that happens when they get overwatered is that oxygen can properly reach them, resulting in them beginning to drown instead.

If that happens then the leaves will often begin to change in color and might even start to curl up. To fix this you need to hold off on watering and also find a warmer and sunnier place where the water can more quickly evaporate.

How To Harvest Banana Peppers

Harvesting banana peppers is really not that hard. It’s the most exciting time of growing the plant as all the hard work of keeping an eye on it will now show some results.

Pick the banana peppers when they have a nice green color to them and almost a snap. That will mean they are really ripe and full of both flavor and nutrition. Try and have a plan for using them too when you havrest, Since the flavor will start to diminish the longer you wait with using them.

What To Use The Plant For

There are a number of different ways you could use banana peppers for. We like to use them in chili oils as the flavor you get for the effort put in is remarkable. Chop the chilis finely and then pour warm oil on top. Let this sit and infuse until the next day before using. Now you have your own spicy chili oil, or sweet chili oil if you have that variety.

Propagating Banana Pepper Seedlings

It’s easy to proparage and repot seedlings of the plant. Make sure they are about 7 – 8 inches tall or so before transplanting them into a new container. That way the plant is large enough to fit and fill the new space more efficiently.

Fill the new and larger container with healthy soil and make a small hole in the middle. Plant the seedling in there and fill with soil around it. Tap down gently to make sure the seedling is also stable enough. Water the top soil until it’s slightly damp and leave the plant in a sunny spot.

Summary

In short, growing a banana pepper plant is all about keeping the soil well watered and rich in nutrition. But also balancing that with finding a good and sunny spot where the plant can grow steady.

FAQ

Are Banana Peppers Easy To Grow

Banana peppers are definitely one of the easier plants to grow as a beginner. It’s quite rare that you run into issues with diseases or pests. The only real issue would be overwatering perhaps, but even then the banana pepper is quite sturdy and resilient.

How Long Does It Take For A Banana Pepper Plant To Produce

It will take about 5 months from start to finish before you are able to harvest any chilis from the plant. This takes into account the plant has been growing in the perfect environment as well.

How Big Does A Banana Pepper Plant Get

A banana pepper plant can get quite large actually. It’s perhaps one of the larger varieties you can still keep indoors. About 2 – 3 feet tall can be expected at least.

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How To Grow A Hawaiian Chili Pepper

February 13, 2023October 27, 2022 by Samuel

Hawaiian Chili Pepper – Other Varieties – How To Plant – How To Grow – Caring For Hawaiian Pepper – Propagating Seedlings – Are They Hot – How To Harvest – FAQ

Growing a pepper plant at home is not as hard as it might seem. It’s a good step up after growing herbs like basil or rosemary at home. The pepper plant family is easy to care for and will be bountiful in the amount of harvests you can get from it.

Below we will share some of the tips and tricks we have learned throughout years of growing and cultivating pepper plants. The hawaiian chili pepper is perhaps on the spicier side of the pepper varieties but well worth the effort needed to grow it.

What Is A Hawaiian Chili Pepper

The hawaiian chili pepper is as you might expect native from the island of Hawaii. It produces relatively small peppers that have a good level of spice to them. They are bright red when they are ready.

Just like the rest of the pepper family, it prefers a place where there is a lot of sunlight and also a pretty high temperature. In terms of humidity, it’s easier to grow in drier climates since the soil is more manageable then. In places where the soil is not that rich in nutrition we might need to add some too since that will greatly help the plant grow better.

Other Chili Varieties

There are a number of different chili varieties out there, all with their own unique look to them and flavor too. The Hawaiian chili sets itself apart however since it’s easy to grow and cared for on top of producing quite a lot of harvest for the time and energy that is invested in growing it.

But if you want some inspiration for other chilis to grow here are some of our other favorites.

Waialua Chili Pepper
Poblano Chili Pepper
Serrano Chili Pepper

How To Plant A Hawaiian Chili Pepper

Planting the seed of the chili pepper is the first step of having your own plant at home. Begin by preparing a small container with some healthy soil. Make sure there are some holes in the bottom to lead away excess water.

Place one seed in each container and then lightly place a thin layer of soil over it. Water the seed a little bit and then leave in a warm and sunny spot. This is the germination part where the seed will sprout. After about 2 weeks you might see the first signs above the soil. But it will usually take up to 2 months before it has grown large enough to be transplanted into a larger container.

How To Grow A Hawaiian Chili Pepper

Growing and caring for the hawaiian chili pepper will be mostly about looking after the soil and every now and again harvesting from the plant. Once you have grown your seedling large enough to be planted into another pot you will see progress a lot faster.

We transplant the plant when it reaches around 7 – 8 inches tall. Fertilize the soil a little bit before planting the seedling, this will help kickstart the growth and you will have a very healthy plant filled with chilis.

Make sure the soil is never left to dry out too much. We strive for the soil to be slightly damp all the time to avoid the roots being too stressed. But too watered and you might drown them instead, so a damp soil is what we have found to be the perfect middleground.

Once the chilis on the plant has grown large enough and has a bright red color to them they will be ready to be harvested. They can stay on the plant for a few weeks after being ready without any issues, just make sure you have a plan for them once you harvest.

Caring For The Plant

Caring for the plant is all really about watering the soil and also adding fertilizers to the soil every now and again. We want the soil to be slightly damp all the time for the ideal growing conditions. Adding fertilizers about every month or so will help boost the nutrition in the soil and make for a better plant structure. Dilute some of the fertilizer with water and add normally.

Propagating Chili Pepper Seedlings

The seedlings of the chili plant are really easy to propagate. It’s all about making sure they come into a healthy soil where there is adequate amounts of nutrition and excess water can be drained away. Make sure there are some small holes at the bottom of the container where this water can drain out. It’s very important really as the roots otherside risk starting to drown as oxygen is blocked out by the water.

Are Hawaiian Chili Peppers Hot

Hawaiian chili peppers are definitely on the spicier side of the spectrum when it comes to chili plants. The flavor is often described as numbing. If you are used to eating jalapenos or serranos then this is a step up from that really.

Depending on your ability to take spice you can change the amount of chili you add to the food quite easily. We like to thinly slice them and then add them to a stir fry for example.

Harvesting The Chili Peppers

There are a few things you need to look out for when it comes to harvesting the chilis. They need to be really bright red and have almost a snap to them when you feel them. This means that they are very ripe and full of flavor.

Make sure you have a plant for using them too since the best flavor will be found in very fresh chilis. They tend to dull out a little bit the more you wait.

FAQ

What Is A Substitute For Hawaiian Chili Pepper

If you don’t have hawaiian chilis than you could also use thai chilis. They have a similar level of spiciness to them. Serrano chilis are also a great option, slightly less spicy though.

Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water

Watering the hawaiian chili pepper is all about balance. We need the soil to be slightly damp for most of the time. This will help create the ideal condition for the plant to grow in.

Best Soil For Hawaiian Chili Peppers

The best soil for a Hawaiian chili pepper is a well draining soil. Water can be left on the surface and not drain away. This will just create a very hard environment for the roots to grow in and you may run into issues such as root rot.

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How To Grow A Thai Pepper Plant

February 13, 2023October 26, 2022 by Samuel

Thai Peppers – Are They Hot – Know This Before – How To Grow – Using Thai Peppers – Planting Seedlings – How Long Do They Live – FAQ

Growing a pepper plant at home might be the next step for a lot of hobby gardeners after starting out with basil and other herbs for example. The pepper plant is both easy to grow and care for and will yield a lot of harvests too.

Below we will take a closer look at some of the things you will need to care about when growing a thai pepper plant.

What Is Thai Pepper

There are a lot of different pepper plant varieties out there but none are really as yielding as the thai pepper. You can expect a lot of harvest from this relatively small plant.

This is perhaps one of the spiciest pepper plants you will be able to grow, not including the likes of ghost pepper or carolina reaper. If you are a fan of spice then this pepper will be great for you. It’s easy to care for and will be able to grow in a lot of different climates and environments. Just make sure it has plenty of sunlight and a healthy soil will often do the trick.

Are Thai Peppers Hot

Thai peppers are very spicy. They are probably among the strongest poppers you can grow at home. If you are accustomed to eating jalapenos or serrano then the thai pepper will blow those out of the water. This variety is in fact even stronger.

On the scoville meter it can have a number between 50,000 and 100,000. Making this one of the strongest pepper plants we have available. The thai pepper contains something called capsaicin which is what causes the almost numbing spiciness on the tongue.

Know This Before Planting

The thai pepper plant can grow in a lot of climates and thrive. To be honest, the entire pepper plant family is known to be able to provide harvests without too much effort.

Just make sure you have a space where the plant can get a lot of sun and the temperature remains quite stable throughout the whole year. That means you could grow this one indoors without any issues. But keeping it outside is also possible of course. The soil needs to be healthy too. It often helps to use some fertilizers before planting the thai pepper plant.

How To Grow Thai Peppers

Now for the fun part, growing the thai pepper. It all starts with planting the first seed. After you have bought your thai pepper seeds you can begin to prepare small containers where you will grow one seed in each. This will help remove any competition between the plants and also makes it easier transplanting the plants afterwards.

Make sure the containers have some small holes in the bottom to lead away excess water. Place the seeds on the containers and lightly tap them down. Place a thin layer of soil over and water a bit.

Place them in a sunny window and don’t let the soil dry out too much. After a few weeks you should be able to see some progress. It will take up to a few months until you might be able to transplant them into larger pots or containers. If the temperatures are high enough you could even move the plant outdoors, or keep it in a sunny window sill.

Until the plant is ready for harvest you need to make sure the soil is never left to dry out too much and using some fertilizers every month or so will greatly help the plant too.

What To Use Thai Peppers For

There are a number of different things you could use your Thai peppers for. One of our favorites would be to make chili oil. This is done by chopping the thai peppers and then pouring hot oil on them to extract the flavor. It’s quite effective at taking a small amount of chilis and getting something really flavourful.

But you could also use them thinly sliced in a stir fry to kick up the heat a bit. Mixed with some filling in dumplings they also make a great addition. Basically anywhere where you have a bit more spiciness they work great.

Planting Thai Pepper Seedlings

If you read the part about growing a thai pepper then you would have learned about taking the first step and planting the seeds. It will take a few months until you have your Thai pepper seedlings.

Once they have grown about 7 – 8 inches tall they are ready to be transplanted. Prepare a large pot with some healthy soil that has also been watered through. Make a small hole where the seedling will be placed. Once you place it in the hole push in the success soil so secure the seedling and keep it from falling over. Lightly water the surface around the plant and leave it in a sunny spot.

How Long Do Thai Peppers Live

Thai pepper plants are an annual plant so they will be around for a full year before wilting down again. We like to plant ours in the early months of the year to be able to have them ready for harvest around July and August.

Once the entire plant has been harvested and isn’t producing anymore we dig it up and place it in our compost to get some more use of the plant.

FAQ

How Long Do Thai Peppers Take To Grow

Thai pepper plants are quite fast at growing. It will take around 5 months before you are able to get the first harvest. Just keep the plant well watered and in a sunny spot and you will have no problems.

Are Thai Peppers Edible

Thai peppers are definitely edible, although if you aren’t a fan of spicy food then you might wonder how anyone could ever eat something like this.

Are Thai Pepper Plants Perennial

Thai pepper plants are not a perennial plant and will eventually start wilting down after they have grown all their chilis.

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