Chili Pepper

Growing

Because these peppers are sensitive to cold, start your seeds indoors well before the last frost to give the young plants a head start. Once the soil has warmed and the danger of frost has passed, transplant them into a sunny spot or a container. Use a well-draining growing medium and a slightly acidic soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Since these plants are compact bushes, they suit container gardening, provided you offer them plenty of heat and consistent moisture.

A single plant can self-pollinate to set fruit, but attracting pollinators to your garden can improve the yield. As the peppers develop, watch for signs of stress. The main challenge is maintaining steady water levels to prevent the fruit from dropping. Unlike some other varieties, these peppers do not continue to ripen once they are removed from the vine, so wait until they have reached their full color and maturity before harvesting.

When you are ready to harvest, use garden snips to clip the fruit from the stem to avoid damaging the plant. To extend the use of your harvest, you can dry the peppers, pickle them, or freeze them after a quick blanching. If you plan to store them in the fridge, keep them unwashed to prevent premature rot.