Growing peppers from seed can be challenging if you have never grown them before but whether you love them sweet or spicy, how to grow peppers from seed is the same for both hot peppers and bell peppers. And it’s pretty easy, once you know-how!
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How To Grow Peppers From Seed
Hot, chili, poblano, bell, pimento, stuffing and sweet are all names you might have heard of when it comes to peppers. There are lots of choices available by growing peppers from seed from different heat levels, colors, shapes, and sizes, there’s bound to be the perfect pepper for you to grow!
Pepper plants can also be highly ornamental and they grow well in containers making them ideal for patios, window boxes, and container gardens.
If you are wondering what varieties to try then here are some popular sweet peppers to try in your garden:
- Gypsy Queens (get them here)
- California Wonder (get them here)
- Sheperd’s Ramshorn (get them here)
- Mami Huber’s Stuffer (get them here)
- Italian Pepperoncini (get them here)
- Sweet Banana (get them here)
- Ausilio Thin Skin Italian (get them here)
And here are some popular and interesting hot or chili peppers to try and grow:
- Red Chickenheart (get them here)
- Poblano / Ancho (get them here)
- Rooster Spur (get them here)
- Early Jalapeno (get them here)
- Adaptive Early Thai (get them here)
- Georgia Flame (get them here)
When To Start Pepper Seeds
Peppers are a long-season, warm-weather crop and need a long time in the summer sun to mature and set fruit. Pepper seeds are best started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost date.
Peppers take a long time to germinate (anywhere from 14 days to a month!) so it is best to start them early indoors in a seed starting greenhouse kit. The clear plastic dome on a seed starting greenhouse kit keeps the moisture and heat in and allows light to come through as well helping those seeds germinate.
Learn more about starting seeds in The Ultimate Guide To Starting Seeds.
When handling hot pepper seeds, it’s best to wear gloves because the seeds also contain the capsaicin compound. Capsaicin is responsible for the heat and burning sensation. Don’t forget to wash your hands after handling the seeds!
Pepper seeds are small and inside the seed isn’t a lot of nutrients for the emerging seedling, just enough to get through 1/4 inch / 6 mm of soil and into the light where those baby seedling leaves will start making their own food to help the pepper plant grow.
Do Pepper Seeds Need Light To Germinate?
The short answer is yes! Hot peppers, in particular, germinate faster when they are warm, moist and have light. A seed starting heat mat
If you don’t have a heat mat or grow light available, then by the sunniest window will do.
Make sure to keep the plastic dome on the seed tray to keep in the moisture and warmth, if it is too cold or dry germination may not even happen!
Help! My Peppers Aren’t Germinating!
If your pepper seeds are taking a long time to germinate, it might be that the soil temperature is too cold for them. If your seed starting area is somewhere cool like a garage or a basement then this is a likely problem! Some peppers need the soil temperature to be between 75°F / 24°C to 85°F / 29°C to germinate and grow and a seed starting heat mat
Another germination tip is to spray or water the seed tray with room temperature water and place the tray somewhere warm with a plastic cover on it.
Where To Plant Peppers In The Garden
For the biggest fruit and most productive plants, peppers need sun and lots of it in northern states. Plant your peppers where they will get the most sun and won’t be obstructed by other plants growing nearby. Mild climates like the UK will need to grow peppers in a greenhouse or by a south-facing wall to get the heat up, temperatures lower than 60°F / 16°C will stop growth because it is too cold!
If you live in southern parts of the USA, peppers like tomatoes need some afternoon shade. You can plant them somewhere that will get some shade from nearby plants or use shade cloth to give them respite from the heat of the sun. Temperatures above 90°F / 32°C will stop the plant from setting more flowers and producing fruit.
No matter where you live, peppers need a well-draining soil that is warm and rich in organic matter.
How To Plant Peppers
Firstly, make sure you are planting peppers in an area that has not grown potatoes, eggplant (aubergine) or tomatoes in the last 2 years. These plants are all part of the same family (the nightshades) and can pass soil-borne diseases onto your young pepper plants.
A week after your last frost date prepare the soil for planting by digging in some well-rotted compost. If you live in a short season area, consider using plastic mulch
If you are planting into a container, use a good quality container potting soil
Plant out your peppers 2 weeks after your last frost date in spring to ensure all risk of frost has passed. Make sure you have hardened off seedlings before planting them into their growing space.
Plant peppers about 18 inches / 46 cm apart and plant them so they are about 1/2 inch / 12 mm deeper than they were in their seedling containers. Don’t plant peppers too deep like you would with tomatoes. Pepper stems have a tendency to rot.
If you plan on saving seeds to grow again next year, plant peppers at least 300 ft / 91 m apart to avoid cross-pollinating or use another method of isolation such as cages or hand pollination.
Caring For Peppers
Peppers need to be watered deeply at least once a week to give them 1 – 2 inches / 4 – 5 cm of water. Peppers need watering more often in containers or hot and dry areas.
They also need feeding to maintain growth and fruit production once the fruit has set on the pepper plant. A natural liquid fertilizer such as comfrey tea or compost tea is ideal. Container-grown peppers will need a feed every week. Peppers growing in the garden might need feeding every other week.
Some pepper varieties need staking with pepper supports
Common Pests and Diseases
Peppers are sometimes affected by the following pests in the garden:
- Aphids
- Colorado Potato Beetle
- Flea Beetle
- Root-Knot Nematodes
- Tomato Hornworms
Some diseases that peppers can get are spread by pests. Aphids can give your pepper plants the Mosaic virus for example. Early treatment of aphids can be beneficial to your plant’s health!
Some diseases which might find their way to your pepper plants are:
- Anthracnose
- Bacterial Spot
- Blossom-End Rot
- Mosaic Virus
Check your plants regularly for signs of these pests and diseases. The earlier you spot them, the earlier you can treat them and the more likely you are to save your harvest!
Harvesting Peppers
All peppers will go through a color change as they grow. Harvest peppers when they reach the desired color or size. For sweet peppers, harvest could be in 60 to 90 days from transplanting into the garden. Hot peppers can be up to 150 days!
Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the pepper off the plant.
If you are harvesting hot peppers, wear gloves. Remember to wash your hands and avoid touching your face or other sensitive areas! That capsaicin can be pesky and cause discomfort for many individuals.
Regular harvesting will help to keep the plants producing flowers and fruit throughout the growing season.
How To Save Pepper Seeds
Peppers are pollinated by insects like bees and are easily cross-pollinated. There are some varieties that do not cross-pollinate such as Manzano or rocoto but these varieties are not readily available.
Protect unopened flower buds using blossom bags
Pepper seeds are ready to harvest once the peppers stop changing color and the fruits start to soften. This is usually 2 weeks past the edible stage. If it looks like a frost is due, pull up the whole plant, roots and all and hang in a cool, dry location. The fruits will mature and you can still collect viable seed.
Scoop seeds out of the fruit (remember gloves for hot peppers!) and allow them to dry thoroughly.
Learn more about seed saving tools.
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