Jan 17, 2025
Red bell peppers are no less than a superfood, and are loved for their mildly sweet taste and crunch. But, they are slightly more expensive than green peppers which stops people from buying them. So, here are a few easy steps to grow your own red bell peppers.
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If you already have bell peppers at home, you do not need to buy seeds from any store. Simply cut a bell pepper into half, and carefully take out all the seeds that look healthy and do not have any black spots.
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Now, to germinate the seeds before transferring to a bigger pot, add these seeds to a container with rich soil, cover with another thin layer of the soil, and water it lightly. Keep a cap or plastic wrap over the container to maintain humidity.
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Red bell peppers are a towering plant and need as much support and good foundation as possible. So, make sure that the final pot is atleast 14 inches deep, and can support the weight of the plant later on.
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To prepare the perfect soil for bell peppers to grow and mature, use some potting soil, add organic compost, some perlite, and some coco peat for extra nutrients. Also, try to mulch around the soil if you are starting the plant in winters.
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When kept for germination, and at the right temperature, the seeds will germinate in about 15-20 days. When you see 3-4 leaves shooting out of each seed, it means the healthy plants have started growing, and you can now transfer them onto a bigger pot.
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The bell pepper plant will need atleast 6 hours of sunlight everyday, and thus it is best to grow it on a terrace spot that receives both direct and indirect sunlight. If not possible, you can also keep the plant on the balcony.
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It is important to give the growing plant some kind of support so it can push out the bell peppers without breaking or overly bending. Use small wooden sticks or trellises to support the stems during this stage.
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As the bell pepper plant is vegetable-heavy, organic compost and fertilisers can help give the roots extra nutrients. Go for liquid fertilisers or one that has a balanced NPK of 10-10-10.
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Before the veggies start to come forth, you will see some white flowers also growing out of the plant. Pinching off the first few flowers will help strengthen the plant.
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The first bell peppers will be green and will be ready for harvest anywhere between 100-120 days. Pinch off a few of these and leave the rest to ripen and turn red. The ripening will take another 3 weeks and you will have red bell peppers ready to eat.
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