Originally native to tropical America, peppers are now very popular and are widely grown under glass in the uk.
They are even grown commercially in parts of southern England. Peppers come in many different colours, shapes
and sizes, some sweet and some can be very hot in flavour. Peppers are relatively pest and disease free, and their cultivation
requirements are few.
Pepper plants grow best in warm, well-drained soils of moderate fertility and good tilth. The plants are not particularly
sensitive to soil acidity, but best results are obtained in the 6.0 to 6.8 pH range. Plants can be grown outside, but best
results are achieved under glass. I grow my peppers in pots, as my glass house is not very big it gives me the option of
moving them around other plants as space developes.
Peppers can be sown ideally when night time temperatures in the glass house do no fall below 15°C. Sow into seed trays
1.3cm deep and spaced 2.5cms apart, cover with compost and water.
When the seedlings have grown three leaves, prick them out and plant them into 7.5cms pots, at this stage the seedlings can
tolerate temperatures down to 10 °C. As the plants grow do not allow then to become root bound, before this happens transplant
into their final pot (atleast 17.5cms diameter). When the plants are young shelter them from the mid-day sun and do not be
over enthusiastic with the watering. Also do not let the compost completely dry out, this particularly applies around flowering
time.
When the plants start to fruit support the stems with a small cane and loosely tie with some twine. When removing the peppers
from the plant use a knife, as the stems can easily become damaged.
