Complete Guide to Growing Peppers (Vegetable Plants)

Care on Arrival

Plants may have yellow leaves or show wilting after up to 3 days without light or water. Over 98% survive with proper care:

1. Remove from shipping box immediately, avoiding stem/leaf damage.
2. If soil is dry, water gently but thoroughly from above or soak pot in saucer for an hour until soil is moist but not soggy.
3. Place in bright indirect light indoors, or outdoors in shade sheltered from wind. Avoid full sun initially—tender leaves can scorch. Gradually increase sun exposure over several days.
4. We time shipping near your frost-free date. If weather is still raw, transplant to larger pots, moving outside on mild days and inside when frost threatens. Harden off gradually. Plant out when days and nights are reliably mild (night temps above 50°F).

Planting Out

When weather is warm and settled, choose full sun with rich, fertile, well-drained soil. Rotate crops—avoid planting peppers where tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, or potatoes grew in the past 3 years. Dig generous holes, amend with compost/aged manure and a handful of low-nitrogen organic fertilizer. Plant in cool morning or late afternoon if hot/sunny.

Remove plants from pots by inverting and tapping—don't pull by stems. Loosen root balls, tease apart matted roots. Set peppers so root ball tops are level with or slightly below surrounding soil. Backfill, firm soil, water thoroughly. Keep soil moist but not soggy, provide shade for first few days. Remove shade once plants perk up (usually within a week).

Continuing Care

Water deeply and regularly if rain is scarce (weekly, more in hot/dry weather). Once fruits start ripening, water only if plants wilt—withholding water improves flavor. No additional fertilizer needed, but compost/aged manure mulch helps. Foliar feed with kelp/fish products; avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that promote foliage over fruit. Stake pepper plants to support heavy yields.