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Post by daylilydude on Mar 26, 2012 6:34:35 GMT -5
What is the secret to getting these things to produce, I have planted bell peppers almost every year and just hadn't had a lot of luck with getting good production from them, so I figure someone here might have a secret they would like to share... Mind you I plant Sweet Banana Peppers and get oodles of them...
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Post by coppice on Mar 26, 2012 7:06:17 GMT -5
Thats why I grow paprika peppers. Too many years they just were not that productive. I got more sweet peppers from a paprika.
I jumped up to a mildly hot one (Scentesi Pincos) about 15 years ago, in search of the perfect two-fer.
I'm trying Alma this year, just cause I haven't tried a new one in forever.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2012 8:41:42 GMT -5
Peppers prettty much like to be left alone. Water them when necessary, a little fertilizer, and lots of sun. Maybe some afternoon shade. I only grow 2 plants and have more bell peppers than I can handle. I am growing a new one this year-Cajun bell-which is supposed to be a bell pepper with a little heat. It is growing well, and my Big Bertha bells already have blooms and one has 2 peppers on it. I planted them a couple of weeks ago.
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Post by paulf on Mar 26, 2012 9:16:44 GMT -5
I also notice low productivity in bells. For me, way up north from you, I think my shorter growing season is the culprit. I need to start them indoors very early, let them get really big then plant outside. Mine seem to be getting a good start just as the season ends. All other peppers, including the big long types do very well.
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izzy
Pro Member
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Joined: July 2011
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Post by izzy on Mar 28, 2012 9:26:54 GMT -5
For years I grew lousy bell peppers. They were small, thin walled, and tasted bitter. Eventually I got better, little by little. Here's a few things I learned along the way (& I am no expert - just getting by): 1. The Soil: mine was too alkaline and too heavy. Took me about 3 years of compost and mulch, and a few concoctions to get a decent garden soil that would support most garden veggies. 2. Planting Early: I made this mistake over and over again. By the time I was setting out smallish transplants, it was already too late - I just didn't understand at the time. Peppers will bloom profusely and set large amounts of fruits if the timing is right. Optimal conditions seems to be nights in the 60's and days in the 80's for fruit set. That's what we have now in my area during March. I used to set out my transplants in March ("after danger of frost"), then wonder why I had such few peppers. The plants were too small and set out too late. Right now, I am starting bell pepper plants for this fall. Will let them grow all summer without fruiting - because at 90 and above, they won't set well - but when the cooler days of fall come, the plants will be mature enough to support a much larger production. I can overwinter peppers fairly well - a light cover with a frost, and in many cases, not even that. You may want to try growing in a protectd area, or in containters that you can take inside on freezing days. Below are some pics of a y.o. California Wonder - as soon as the temps rose, they started leafing out and setting fruits from bottom to top. By contrast is a pic of a bell started in December - jush beginning to flower. I think it's worth holding them over. Only thing - the branches are tender and break easily in high winds. 3. Fertility: Once I got the garden soil conditioned for veggies, I began experimenting. Bell peppers need magnesium, zinc, boron, and sulfur. Once the plants began growing good, I added a small amount of epsom salts, a pinch of Mule Team borax, and a tiny amount of zinc sulfate to a gallon of water to give them a boost while fruiting. My soil has plenty of calcium - so that was not a concern. It's best to know a bit about your soil before adding micro-nutrients because, as in the case of boron, it can also be toxic if too much is added. It takes me about 6 months to get my first bell - there's probably a faster way, and if anyone knows how, I'm all ears.
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Post by stratcat on Mar 28, 2012 17:51:55 GMT -5
Great, Izzy! I, too, have had peppers that just sat there and "didn't take." Organic Gardening had an article on peppers in 1997 that said if temperatures dropped below 50F (10C), production would suffer. I always keep my eye on the nighttime temps and wait until it's warm enough even if my starts are getting big. I'm still reading Crockett's Victory Garden. James Underwood Crockett waited to plant until the night temps didn't drop below 55F (12.8C). To paraphrase - "Some years he didn't have good production with peppers and he didn't always know why. Maybe even a matter of luck..."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2012 8:25:01 GMT -5
Picked my first 2 bells this weekend. The chopping begins!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2012 22:19:35 GMT -5
Mine are wrapped in envelops looking for dirt....once I get them out of the paper envelope, surrounded by dirt, given a drink and put under lights....then transplanted and allowed to grow to adulthood, I'll take a pic and let you know how they did. Last year I got some large, some a bit smaller/shriveled, and some other peppers delicious. I have a north facing yard/garden and getting enough sun is a challenge....but I have added compost every year and good black dirt to build up a base...Those two things help, I am sure. good luck with yours.
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 17, 2012 6:21:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the info and pics everyone, I planted 4 bells this year and they are growing great right now, so maybe I'll at least get a few.
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