Sow peppers indoors eight weeks before planting outside for quick results.
Gardeners are experimenting with the expansive variety of hot peppers available for planting. Hot peppers are grown for a number of reasons, including for use in an array of international cuisines. Generally, hot peppers are easier to grow than sweet peppers, are hardy vegetables and mature quickly. In order for most hot peppers to grow and ripen quickly, you need to sow the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before planting them outside.
Instructions
1. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in well-draining soil eight weeks before the date of the last frost, when you can move the plants outdoors.
2. Incorporate a plant bed fertilizer, such as a 12-6-6 into the planting containers. The amount of fertilizer that you use depends on the size of the planting container and the number of seeds you sow. Read the instructions carefully on the back of the fertilizer that you chose.
3. Water the soil regularly or whenever the soil is almost dry to the touch.
4. Set the planters outside for several hours each day, one week before you plan to transplant outdoors. Do this on calm, cloudy days. This will accustom the young plants to the outdoor conditions and reduce the chance of transplant stress.
5. Plant the seedlings 12 to 18 inches apart in rows that are 2 feet apart. If possible, plant the seeds in raised beds.
6. Cover the seedlings with a floating row cover. This keeps the transplanted seedlings warm at night and encourages the fruit to develop sooner.
7. Water the seedlings regularly.
8. Fertilize with a well-balanced fertilizer, such as a 5-5-5. Do not use a high-nitrogen fertilizer, which could stunt the growth of the peppers.
9. Harvest the peppers when they have fully ripened. The exact amount of time that the peppers will take to ripen depends on the type. In good conditions and when started indoors, peppers that ripen most quickly include Serrano del Sol, several varieties of East Indian and Thai peppers and ornamental hot pepper plants.
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