Growing great peppers starts with the soil. All types of peppers, both sweet varieties (like bell peppers) and hot varieties (think jalapeño and cayenne) prefer a slightly acid soil. They are not overly sensitive to too much acidity, but thrive in soils with a ph between 6.0 and 6.8, with some varieties tolerating ph’s as low as 5.5.
Besides an appropriate ph, peppers, do best when planted in warmer temperatures after the threat of frost has passed. In Northeast Ohio this is usually May 15th. A daytime high of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a nighttime low, not plunging below 60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Avoid soils that do not drain well as peppers will not perform well in too soggy of soils.
Fertilizing peppers will promote good production. An acidic fertilizer will help deliver the nutrients that your plants need as well as to help maintain the required ph levels that the peppers like. Take preventative measures against weeds as well, as they will compete for the same resources as your plants. A one to two inch layer of mulch, straw or newspaper will help suppress the competing weeds and also help you to regulate temperature and moisture levels near the root zone of your peppers. Peppers are susceptible to certain pests such as aphids. Natural controls exist to control aphids and other unwanted pests such as the introduction of lady bugs to your garden and praying mantis’ as well.
Knowing your soil ph is an important component of successful pepper production as well as all other types of vegetables. The ph level of your soil indicates how available the existing nutrients in the soil are to your pepper plants. Your soil may well have all the needed nutrients and micronutrients that your peppers need, but they may be unable to use and absorb them if the ph is not in the range that it needs to be to be most useful for your peppers. A simple soil test available at all garden centers and home stores is all that is required to learn this important part of pepper cultivation.
If you should find that the ph of your soil is either too high or too low for ideal pepper production, there are several ways to remedy the imbalance. A ph that is too low (below 5.5) can be amended with horticultural or garden lime which is widely available. Too high of a ph can be adjusted with the addition of garden sulfur, or more organic sources such as composted manure, peat moss or compost. Remember though that ph levels do fluctuate, and that you should plan to test your ph levels at a minimum of once per year as you may have to amend your soils annually to get the maximum performance and yield out of your pepper plants.
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