FEATURESTORY
by Donna Grown
Companion Planting Sweet Peppers with
Sweet Basil is a Great Combination
Planting Sweet Peppers and Basil
You may be wondering whether you should
you plant seeds or just go ahead and buy the pep-
per plants? Unless you are skilled and have a green-
house, it makes sense to buy pepper and basil as
plants at least at first. Numerous varieties of both
peppers and basil at your local nursery, so don’t hes-
itate to try more than one.
Since the general requirements for sweet pep-
pers and basil are similar, plant them together. Do
not; however, plant sweet peppers within 20 feet of
hot peppers or your sweet peppers are likely to be
more hot than sweet. Avoid planting peppers where
you planted eggplant, tomatoes, or potatoes the year
before because all come from the same plant family.
Both peppers and basil need a full sun location.
Transplants should have strong stout stems and
dark green leaves. Do not get plants that are bloom-
ing because they will not produce well. Peppers take
44
at least two months to set out plants so if you live in
a northern region, be sure to choose early maturing
varieties.
I prefer planting my peppers in beds and plant
them eighteen inches apart. I then plant a basil plant
between each of the pepper plants. If you live in a
windy area consider planting them near okra which
can serve as a windbreak for the delicate and often
heavy laden sweet pepper plants. You may also want
to stake your pepper plants. Sprinkle kelp powder
in the planting hole and water well. Place cardboard
collars around each stem to deter cutworms and
push them at least an inch into the ground. (2 inch
segments of toilet paper tubes are excellent for this
purpose).
Plant pepper plants to the depth the plant was
growing in the pot and tamp the plant into the
ground firmly. Water well and water daily for the
next week until the transplanted roots are estab-
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
June 2018