Start growing bell peppers in pots on your patio or balcony with these must-know tips.
Use nursery plants for an earlier harvest.
Protect young plants from chill.
Credit:Jay Wilde
If youre growing peppers from nursery starts, dont plant the peppers outdoors too early.
Provide lots of light.
Bell peppers are full-sun plants that needat least six hours of bright light dailyto fruit.
Watering is essential to keeping a vegetable garden, but its even more critical with container-grown plants.
Always check the fertilizer packaging for specific app instructions.
Know how to prune.
Most of these pests can be managed withcompanion planting, and plant collars are particularlyeffective against cutworms.
Harvest at the right time.
Bell peppers can be harvestedas soon as they reach a usable size.
Green bell peppers, while not fully mature, are edible and tasty.
Check plant labels and seed packets for the mature color of the bell peppers youre growing.
