How to Grow Sweet Peppers

Sweet peppers get their name for being sweeter than hot peppers, but many varieties still have a pleasant little kick or tanginess that makes them irresistible! Bell peppers, which can be found in green, red, yellow, and orange, are among the most popular types of sweet peppers and can be used in a variety of dishes. In many cases, red, orange, and yellow bell peppers are green peppers that have been allowed to ripen longer, and also tend to be a little sweeter than their green counterparts.

Here's some of our other favorite sweet favorite peppers to try:

• Banana peppers get the name from their shape and have a mild tanginess that makes them ideal for pickling.
• Snacking peppers, which come in both hot and sweet varieties, are popular for their size, which makes them perfect for packing in lunches.
• Sweet cherry peppers are tiny and delicious, but be aware that cherry peppers come in hot varieties as well.
• Italian peppers come in many delicious varieties, but one sweet Italian pepper that is a “must try” is Carmen.

Sweet peppers are easy to grow in most regions of the country and add color to your garden. You'll need a place that gets 6 to 8 hours of sun each day. Young plants can be planted outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature is at least 65 °F. Check your local weather, and use your USDA hardiness zone as a guide to finding the best time to plant.

Like most garden plants, sweet peppers prefer loamy soil that's rich in organic material and has a neutral pH. If you grow sweet peppers in containers (and they're a good veggie for that), your potting mix should contain ample amounts of organic material. Miracle-Gro Organic™ Outdoor Potting Mix is great for your container peppers. For your in-ground beds, work 3 inches of Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil into the top 6 inches of soil before planting. The same product is also perfect for filling your raised bed gardens.

The easiest way to grow peppers is to plant with young, starter plants, like those available from Bonnie Plants, so you're already well on your way to harvest. If you'd prefer to grow peppers from seed, start them inside 8-10 weeks before the last frost date in your area:

1. Plant 3 pepper seeds in a small pot filled with Miracle-Gro Organic™ Indoor Potting Mix.
2. Keep the soil moist but not soaked.
3. When seedlings appear, remove the two weakest seedlings, leaving the strongest to keep growing.

Sweet peppers planted in in-ground and raised beds should be spaced 18-24 inches apart. If you’re growing sweet peppers in containers, select a pot that’s at least 12 inches wide. Adding a stake or cage after planting will help support the branches which can break due to the weight of the fruit as it develops. Don’t forget to water your sweet pepper plants thoroughly after planting.

Sweet pepper plants are pretty easy to care for. Like most plants, they require regular watering and feeding to keep them healthy and doing their best.

Water sweet pepper plants. Like other peppers, sweet peppers are thirsty plants, so give them at least two inches of water every week. In warmer climates and during a long period of hot weather, you may have to water daily. Never let pepper plants dry out. Be sure to water at the base, not the leaves so roots get a drink and to help prevent disease.

Feed sweet pepper plants. To help sweet pepper plants thrive, they need a continuous supply of nutrients to grow healthy and strong, and produce more fruit! About a month after planting, feed pepper plants with a continuous-release plant food, such as Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food.

You can let your peppers ripen on the vine, or pick them green and let them ripen indoors. Peppers get sweeter—and their Vitamin C content increases—the longer they're left on the plant. There's something deeply satisfying about strolling to your garden, picking a pepper or two, and adding them to the meal you're making. Either way works, though, so enjoy them the way you want to.

For more pepper fun, check out how to grow hot peppers if you prefer things on the spicy side. Whatever kind of peppers you enjoy eating, start growing and enjoy!