Thinking about starting a garden this spring but not sure where or how to begin, let alone the potential success of such a project? Well, I’ve got good news for you. Plants grow all by themselves (Mother Nature is sweet that way) which frees a gardener from the stress of failure. Seriously. You might think you have a brown thumb, but I bet I can convince you otherwise. One season. That’s all it will take. Trust me!
And the plant you want to choose as you peruse the pages of those gorgeous seed catalogs?
The pepper plant. It’s the perfect choice for the warm region spring and fall garden and a wonderful choice for the cool region summer garden. Peppers don’t take up a lot of space, don’t ask much from you (or Mother Nature) and will please your palate with a vibrant array of color and taste.
Like it spicy? Try the Hungarian Hot Wax or Habanero pepper. Like it sweet? Go for the Sweet Bell or Banana pepper. For me, the Hungarian Wax are a staple in my garden because the kids and I can them for a delightful pizza topping for the perfect accompaniment to fresh Italian bread. See the full how-to instructions on my recipe page. It’s easy and totally worth growing several beds of the beauties!
Try canning jalapenos or any of the pepper family of plants and enjoy your harvest year-round. Tips for a successful pepper garden are simple. Lots of sun, warm temperatures, well-drained soil and phosphorous — the “P” on your N-P-K fertilizer label. Phosphorous = big fruits and strong roots, making it the perfect food for big beautiful peppers. Natural organic sources of phosphorous come from bone meal, rock phosphate, cow and poultry manure to name a few. And feel free to plant your pepper plants close to one another for an abundant harvest. They love to “hold hands!”
Check my How-to-Grow pages for more helpful gardening tips. Happy gardening!
Leave a Reply