Peppers (sweet and hot varieties)

Peppers are warm-season crops that thrive in the controlled, well-drained environment of raised beds. They are less fussy than tomatoes and produce heavily once established. Sweet bell peppers (California Wonder, Red Knight, Gypsy) take 65-80 days to mature and yield 5-10 large fruits per plant. Hot peppers (Jalapeno, Serrano, Cayenne, Habanero) are even more productive and more pest-resistant due to capsaicin. Start with transplants from a nursery; peppers are slow to germinate from seed and need 8-10 weeks indoors before transplanting. Plant after soil is consistently warm (65+ degrees F), spacing 12-18 inches apart. Peppers need full sun (6-8+ hours), consistent moisture, and moderate fertility. Too much nitrogen produces lush foliage but fewer fruits; switch to a phosphorus-rich fertilizer (like bone meal or tomato-specific fertilizer) when flowering begins. Stake tall varieties to prevent wind damage when loaded with fruit. Peppers pair well with basil and tomatoes in the same bed. Harvest sweet peppers at any color stage (green, red, yellow), though flavor and nutrition improve at full color. Hot peppers intensify in heat as they ripen to full color.