Peppers

Some people like them mild, some like them hot. Whichever you prefer, growing fresh peppers in your garden will be very rewarding when they end up in many of your favorite recipes.

Peppers are warm weather plants and need 2-1/2 months to mature once started seedlings have been set outdoors. Only gardeners who enjoy long growing seasons in the deep south should attempt to sow pepper seed directly in the garden. You can start your own plants indoors about 8-10 weeks before transplanting, which should be done 2-3 weeks after the expected last frost.

Pepper plants need an area with well drained soil that gets full sun. Depending on the size of the pepper variety, spacing should be 12-18 inches apart. Peppers like a lot of water, but not so much that it waterlogs their roots. Pepper plants also get heavy and need to be staked.

Peppers can be harvested at any stage of growth, but their flavor doesn't fully develop until they are mature. If you have enough garden space (you can use containers too), plant at least two of each pepper variety you've selected. Let one plant of each variety fully ripen, and harvest the other throughout the season.