PEPPER Tabasco 4″sq

• Peppers are a warm season crop and are sensitive to cold air and soil temperatures, so make sure to wait to plant until the night time temperatures are above 55 and 60 degrees, usually after Memorial Day.
• Peppers grow best in a soil with good drainage and a pH between 6.5 and 7.0.  Prior to planting, prepare the soil by incorporating a good quality compost and a balanced fertilizer. 
• Space plants 18” apart in rows at least 18” apart.
• Patio (12”) Peppers:
  • In addition to smaller sizes, we also sell our lunchbox peppers, jalapenos and shishito peppers in 12” containers to grow on your patio. There is no need to transplant them into the ground unless you would like to. If keeping them in the container, make sure to water and fertilize regularly. 
  • Watering too much or too little can affect the overall health of the plant. To check if your container plant needs water, you can poke a finger deep into the soil to see if it is dry or you can check the weight of the container. Don’t decide to water just because the soil surface looks dry because plenty of water may still be present lower down in the pot. If the container feels very light, it’s time to water. It is far better to water deeply and less often than to water frequently and shallowly. Roots need access to oxygen in the soil in order for the plant to grow well. If water is filling up all the pore space then there will be no space left for oxygen.
  • If you are using Pro-Grow 5-4-3, apply 1 tbsp of fertilizer (for the 12” pot) every 5 weeks during the growing season.

Peppers need consistent water to produce the best fruit. Drip irrigation is an effective and efficient way to irrigate vegetable crops because the water is delivered directly to the soil where it will be taken up by the roots. Drip irrigation also keeps water off of the foliage which will reduce the risk of disease development.

Keep the planting well weeded. Using mulch, such as cocoa mulch, straw, untreated dry grass clippings or shredded leaves will suppress weed growth and help retain soil moisture.

• Peppers can be harvested once they’ve reached a mature size. The fruit will feel firm when squeezed. You don’t necessarily need to wait for peppers to turn red to harvest. 
• Use clippers to snip the stem just above the fruit to harvest. 
• It is strongly advised to use gloves when harvesting and processing hot peppers. The juices, containing capsaicin, will irritate the skin and burn your eyes. Use caution!