Bell pepper plants are a versatile and tasty addition to any garden. They grow well in cool, warm, or hot climates (depending on the variety), provide loads of vitamin C and A, can be pickled for winter storage, and make great additions to salads. Follow this guide to learn how these peppers can add flavor and nutrition to your diet!
How to Plant Bell Peppers
Plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows spaced 3 feet apart. Keep in mind that it can take 3- 6 weeks for the seedlings to emerge, so prepare your garden accordingly. Once they have emerged, you'll need to water the seed bed thoroughly every few days and provide adequate weed control.
By the third week of growth, you will want to thin out your peppers. This keeps them from competing with each other for water and nutrients. Remove all but every 3-4 plants in order to give them plenty of space to grow healthy and strong.
If you are using drip irrigation, make sure it is on a timer so that you don't water them while you are sleeping. Water is a necessary resource for bell peppers, so the more you can automate it, the better!
Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and whiteflies which tend to gather on pepper leaves early in their growth cycle. Treat these insects if they appear or perhaps consider planting "companion plants" nearby that will attract beneficial insects to your garden. Also, keep in mind that you should master crop rotation if you want these plants to grow healthily and successfully for many years!
How to Grow Bell Peppers
As your plants mature (after about 3 months), fertilize them with a liquid fertilizer once a month or use compost tea - this will help to keep the plants healthy and productive. If you prefer not to use chemical fertilizers, you can use an organic option such as corn meal or fish emulsion . Continue to provide water as needed until harvest time!
Since bell peppers do not produce their own nitrogen, you should fertilize them with a liquid fertilizer or use compost tea to ensure that they continue to grow and produce fruit. It is recommended that you choose a fertilizer for peppers if you are using chemical options.
How To Grow Bell Peppers In Containers
If you want to grow bell peppers in containers, then you are going to need to use a container with at least 10 gallons of soil or potting mix. Your container should also be deep enough so that the plant can sit in the soil without its leaves being exposed to sunlight. You will also need to provide a trellis or other way for the plant to climb as it grows.
Container grown bell peppers will typically take longer than open ground grown plants to reach maturity. Containers are an excellent option, however, if you wish to grow vegetables in limited space or if you live in an apartment and do not have access to a garden. Containers can be placed on a patio, balcony, or even on the ground if you do not have access to a roof.
How to Harvest Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are ready to harvest when they reach a variety of colors, including orange, red, and yellow. Harvesting them is simple: make an incision at the top of the pepper and pull it off gently.
To achieve an even supply of bell peppers, harvest the green ones when they reach about 4 inches in width. Cut off a one-inch piece from the tops of those and allow them to continue growing indoors until you have enough for harvesting. Continue this process until it is time to select your favorite color of pepper, when they will be large enough to harvest.
What do Bell Peppers Taste Like
Bell peppers have a flavor reminiscent of tomatoes, and can be used in almost any dish that would call for tomatoes. They are also used to make salsas or fruit salads. Bell peppers are a great addition to omelets and sandwiches. If you want to add some pizzazz, try adding them to your favorite salad dressing recipe.
How to Store Bell Peppers
Bell peppers can store for about a month in the refrigerator and you can speed up that process by placing them into plastic bags with an apple or banana. The fruit releases ethylene gas which helps keep bell peppers fresh longer. They also store well when frozen but should be used within 6 months or so.
How to Freeze Bell Peppers
To freeze bell peppers, wash the pepper thoroughly then cut it into small chunks or strips. Place them on a baking sheet and put them in your freezer for two hours. After they are frozen solid, transfer the bell pepper pieces to a plastic bag and place them back in the freezer. They can be frozen for up to a year.
What are Bell Peppers Used For
One of the main uses for bell peppers is to provide a layer of flavor in any dish that would call for tomatoes. They are also used to make salsas or fruit salads. Bell peppers are a great addition to omelets and sandwiches. If you want to add some pizzazz, try adding them to your favorite salad dressing recipe.
They also work great for stuffing meat in for stuffed peppers. Bell peppers make a great addition to any pizza or calzone. We really like to dice them up and add them to our eggs.
What are the Health Benefits of Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are so versatile. They can be served raw in a salad, as a side dish, or added to any number of dishes for that delicious flavor they bring. Bell peppers are healthy, rich in manganese and potassium which is great for cardiovascular health and supports normal blood pressure levels. They also contain vitamin C and calcium which aids in strengthening bones and teeth. Bell peppers are also an excellent source of carotenoids lutein and alpha-carotene which promote healthy vision by filtering out blue light waves that aggravate eye strain.
Bell peppers are low calorie vegetables! One cup of sliced bell pepper contains about 25 calories and that goes down when you cook them or mash them up into a sauce. The great thing about the bell pepper is that it contains high water content which makes them feel like a full dish when you're eating them. Yet another reason why we love this vegetable!
This concludes my blog post about bell peppers. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, be sure to check out my other posts on food and nutrition. I'll leave a link at the bottom of this page for your convenience.