degradable pots such as peat pots. Plant them indoors
about 2 months before the last frost date and sow
three seeds into each pot.
Keep the soil temperature at 75 degrees F. If the
temperature in the growing area fluctuates more than
5 degrees, try placing the peppers on a heating pad
to help maintain a consistent soil temperature. Keep
the seedlings in moist, but not wet soil. To improve
results, prior to germination, cover the tray containing
peat pots with plastic to help maintain moisture. Re-
move the cover when the peppers begin to germinate
in 3-4 weeks. For the best results, place the seedlings
under grow lights to reduce the chance of the young
peppers becoming leggy while they search for light.
Once the seedlings are 2-3 inches tall, thin the plants
by cutting the unwanted plants at soil level in each
pot leaving only the strongest individual plant in each
pot.
The seedlings will be ready to plant outdoors
when they are 4-6 inches tall. Harden the plants off
for 7 to 10 days before transplanting them to their
permanent outside home. To begin hardening off the
plants, move them outside and leave them in a shady
area for 3-4 hours in the evening and bring them back
inside at night. Protect these plants from the wind to
prevent them from drying out and causing breakage.
Increase the daylight by 1-2 hours every day for 2-3
days, and then move them to a sunny location in the
May 2019
morning while moving them back to the shady loca-
tion in the afternoon. After 7-10 days they will be
ready to plant in the garden.
Plant the hot peppers around the edges of garden
beds to help protect other vegetables from pests (in-
cluding the four legged kind one bite of a hot pepper
sends them running). However, do not plant them
within 20 feet of sweet peppers. The peppers can
easily cross pollinate and your sweet peppers can be-
come nearly as hot as your hot peppers.
Growing Hot Peppers at a Glance
◆ ◆ Germination time is 14-28 days
◆ ◆ Plant them in the garden after all danger of frost
has passed
◆ ◆ Plant the seeds in pots 1/2 inch deep and plant
them in the garden at same depth they are
planted in the pot
◆ ◆ Plants should planted 1 ½ to 2 feet apart
◆ ◆ Pepper juices will burn your hands so wear gloves
when handling them GG
Donna Brown is the author of the gardening book Simply
Vegetable Gardening which is available on her website:
Cygnetbrow.com. She can be contacted at
[email protected].
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
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