They also do better planted together in blocks where foliage shades the ground and provides a cool humid environment at ground level and between the plants. Plants need sun, but in inland valleys they do better with a little afternoon shade to help prevent sun-burning. Peppers will do very well for 2 months under floating row covers.

Row covers also keep plants insect free until they are well established. Small plants do very well under cover for 3 to 4 weeks. Don't set plants out in the garden until weather is warm (night temperatures above 60 degrees F.) or use floating row covers.

After repotting, feed weekly with a solution of diluted fish emulsion. Seedlings need a larger growing space after the first set of true leaves form. Germination and seedling growth need bottom heat about the same as tomatoes (72 to 80 degrees F.) for germination and 65 to 75 degrees F. START SEEDS in pots seven to ten weeks before transplanting to the garden. Peppers do very well with drip irrigation and mulch. Work in a complete fertilizer before planting. Inland, an artificial mini-climate can be beneficial if the garden is hot and dry.Ī well-drained soil with organic matter added will keep the soil moisture even and minimize blossom drop. Wind-free, sun pockets in the garden are ideal areas for sweet peppers. When some of the peppers are harvested, the plant will again set fruit.if the weather is right.Ĭoastal gardens with their moderate temperatures have only minor cultural problems in growing peppers. Peppers also have a stress relief habit of dropping their smaller fruit when overloaded. Small-fruited varieties are more tolerant of high temperatures than varieties with large fruit. will cause excessive blossom and fruit drop. Blossoms drop when night temperatures are just below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or above 75 degrees F.

Fruit set occurs in a limited range of night temperatures. Peppers are classified as a warm season crop, but their heat requirement is not as high as you might expect. A variety's performance can vary widely, depending on where it is grown. Recently breeders in more adverse climatic areas, for peppers, such as Maine and Texas have developed varieties adapted to their climates. Most pepper breeding for large production areas of the US has been in California, Florida and New Jersey.

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