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Crop Guide

How to grow pepper

Fruit · Drought-tolerant · Frost-sensitive

Primary source · UMN Extension ↗
Pepper
Moisture range
35–55%
Days to maturity
70–90
Light
Full sun
Growing Degree Units
2400 · base 60°F
When to plant pepper where you garden
Indoor-start, transplant and harvest dates, counted from your own frost dates.
See planting calendar →
or the link above opens zone 6b to browse.
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Growing notes

Peppers benefit from black plastic mulch that warms the soil, decreases weed competition and keeps soil moisture. Consistent soil moisture levels produce the best quality fruit.

Harvest signs

when they have reached mature size

▶Planting reference— Depth, spacing, pH, light
Depth
one-fourth inch deep
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Spacing
18 inches apart · Rows: 30 to 36 inches apart
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pH range
6.5–7
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Light
Full sun (6+ hr direct)
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▶Pests & diseases— cutworms, aphids, tomato hornworms, bacterial spot, +2 more
Common pests · 3
Cutworms: chew stems at the soil line, leaving the severed tops uneaten ↗
Aphids: leaf curling, discoloration, and sticky leaves ↗
Tomato hornworms: chew holes in the fruit ↗
Common diseases · 3
Bacterial spot: spots on leaves and fruit ↗
Viruses: twisted leaves and bumps on fruit ↗
Bacterial spot: small, yellow-green lesions with a water-soaked border on leaves that may coalesce, giving a blighted appearance, eventually turning brown and dry up, leaving holes in the leaves ↗

Companions & antagonists

Plant near:BasilCarrot
Keep apart from:Fennel

Common questions

How much water does pepper need?

Pepper is fairly drought-tolerant once established and can dry out further between waterings. A soil-moisture range of about 35–55% is plenty — overwatering does more harm than a little dryness.

Can I grow pepper in a raised bed or container?

Yes — pepper does well in raised beds and is happy in a decent-sized container too, as long as drainage is good.

Does pepper come back every year?

No — pepper is an annual. It completes its life in one season, so you replant it each year.