Interested in cultivating flavorful peppers right in your own garden? At Applewood Nursery & Landscape Supply, we’re excited to guide you through the process of growing peppers from starts and enjoying a bountiful harvest. Let’s explore everything you need to know to cultivate thriving pepper plants in your Minnesota garden.
Choosing the Right Pepper Varieties
First, select pepper varieties that thrive in Minnesota’s climate. Consider these popular options:
Bell Peppers: Ideal for Minnesota gardens, bell peppers come in various colors and have a sweet, crisp flavor. They require full sun and well-drained soil.
Jalapeño Peppers: Spicy and versatile, jalapeños are well-suited to Minnesota’s growing conditions. They prefer warm temperatures and can be harvested green or red.
Anaheim Peppers: Mildly spicy and great for roasting or stuffing, Anaheim peppers thrive in sunny locations with ample airflow.
Sweet Banana Pepper: These medium-hot peppers are excellent for pickling and canning. They appreciate consistent watering and warm temperatures.
Starting Peppers from Transplants
Select Healthy Transplants: Choose robust pepper starts from Applewood Nursery & Landscape Supply, ensuring they have strong stems and healthy leaves.
Prepare Planting Site: Pick a sunny spot in your garden with well-drained soil. Amend the soil with compost to improve fertility and drainage.
Planting Transplants: Dig holes slightly larger than the root ball of each pepper transplant. Place the plants at the same depth as they were in their containers.
Caring for Pepper Plants
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells. Water at the base of the plants to avoid wetting the leaves.
Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer once a month to promote healthy growth and fruit production. Follow package instructions for application rates.
Mulching: Apply mulch around pepper plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain even soil temperature.
Supporting Pepper Plants: Stake taller varieties like bell peppers to support heavy fruit. Use tomato cages or stakes to prevent plants from toppling over.
Harvesting Peppers
Bell Peppers: Harvest when fully mature and firm, typically when they turn their characteristic color (green, red, yellow, etc.).
Jalapeños: Pick when they reach the desired level of spiciness and size, usually green or red.
Anaheim and Hungarian Wax Peppers: Harvest when peppers are full-sized and have developed their characteristic flavor.
By following these tips and selecting the right pepper varieties for your Minnesota garden, you’ll be on your way to enjoying a successful pepper harvest. Visit Applewood Nursery & Landscape Supply to explore our selection of pepper starts and kick-start your pepper-growing journey this season. Happy gardening!