Most gardeners like to include bell peppers in their vegetable gardens. Peppers are great either cooked or raw in different kinds of dishes. You can freeze them at the end of the season and use them in meals during the winter season.
All peppers are grown and propagated the same way, regardless of the size, color, and flavor. Therefore, this can be an easy gardening project to do. This article answers the frequently asked question of how to grow bell peppers from scraps.
Table of Contents
What is a Bell Pepper?
Bell pepper is one of the most delicious vegetables grown as a comestible fruit. It has fresh and crispy flesh on the inside and is protected by a smooth outer cover. It is hollow, with several seeds huddled in the center and hanging to the white membrane along its walls.
Peppers flourish well in warm areas as well as in loamy soil that is properly aerated, well-drained, and rich in nutrients. The temperature required for growing bell peppers ranges between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. It is very easy to grow and maintain; thus, it requires a very small investment.
We have listed top 3 best seed trays for bell pepper seeds at the comparison table below in order to help you be time-saving:
Image | Features | Further information |
|---|---|---|
Peat Pots for Seedlings | - Brand: Mr. Sprout & Co. - Item Dimensions LxWxH: 10 x 20 x 2.5 inches - Item Weight: 1.95 pounds - Biodegradable - 100% Eco-friendly and Organic - Perfectly Sized to Increase Germination Success - 10 Seedling Trays with 2 Seed Starter Tray and Humidity Dome - Enhanced Aeration and Drainage | Check Latest Price |
4 Set Strong Greenhouse Trays | - Brand: SOLIGT - Item Dimensions LxWxH: 10.67 x 10.67 x 5.8 inches - Item Weight: 3.08 pounds - Designed exclusively to hold 2 sizes of jiffy pellets- 36mm & 42mm - Temperature and humidity easily controlled by two adjustable vents - Domes and trays fits well to reduce moisture and heat loss. - Humidity Dome and Pellet Holder for 30mm, 36mm & 42mm Peat Pellets | Check Latest Price |
Burpee Self-Watering Seed Starter Tray | - Brand: Burpee - Burpee 72 cell Ultimate Self Watering seed starting kit comes with one watering tray and two 36 cell planting trays with self watering mat and reservoir tray - Two plant-o-gram diagrams to note which varieties were sown in each cell - Six 4" plant markers - Burpee 32 XL Cell seed starting kit comes with one watering tray and two 16 cell planting trays with self watering mat and reservoir tray - Two Plant-o-Gram diagrams to note which varieties were sown in each cell - Six plastic plant markers | Check Latest Price |
Benefits of Growing Peppers from Scraps
- It is a great gardening activity: You can utilize pepper scraps for gardening purposes. Practicing this activity teaches you the significance of consuming fresh produce. And, you can also do this at home; thus, it gives you a sense of empowerment.
- Reduces waste: The vision and objective of most gardeners are to create a future in which people understand the importance of healthy food, its origin, and daily consumption. This vision has several benefits of growing plants with scraps, reducing waste, and saving you some money.
- It’s an easy entry into gardening: You must admit that gardening is fun. You need to consider various factors when growing peppers, such as the type of seed to purchase, kind of soil to use, the amount of water and sun required by the plant, the amount of space, and the temperature. Therefore, growing capsicum from scraps can use most of these aspects because you don’t need to buy new seeds, and you can propagate them indoors hydroponically.
- It takes few steps to grow: It requires few steps to grow pepper from scraps. These steps will be discussed later in the article. And you can propagate it indoors, and you only need a small garden or any other gardening system suitable for you.
How to Grow Bell Pepper from Scraps?
It is pretty easy to grow bell peppers from scraps. First, you need to collect the scraps from the remnants but ensure they are ripe or mature enough. Remove the seeds from the scraps and then spread them over a clean paper towel, container, or tray.
Place the paper towel or tray under the sunlight and leave the seeds there for about one hour until they are dehydrated. Do not leave the seeds under the sun for long hours because they can lose their freshness. You can also place them under a ceiling fan or shade for them to dry.
You must understand that bell peppers grow perfectly in little-raised containers and beds. After they are dry enough, you get the seeds that you can grow. The following section gives you detailed information regarding how to grow and propagate bell peppers from seeds.
How to Grow Bell Peppers from Seeds?
Bell peppers have an extensive growing season, and you can start your seeds from scraps, or you can buy them from the stores. Both of the seeds have the same propagation and growing mechanism. Therefore, follow these step by step guide to grow your bell pepper:
- Start your seeds indoors: If your climate is not suitable for planting and growing peppers, it is highly recommended to start propagating your seeds from a germination tray. This is the perfect way to grow your seeds into seedlings.
- Fill the germination tray with soil: Fill the ¾ of the tray with soil and plant 2 to 5 seeds in each section, and cover them with dirt.
- Water the pepper seeds: Sprinkle water in all the sections of the germination tray to moisten the soil. Be careful not to over-water your seeds. Instead, you should keep the mixture of soil and seeds moist.
- Put the germination tray under a warm place: Peppers thrive well under moist and warm temperatures with the range of 80-85°F. These temperatures help them to accelerate the rate of germination.
- Harden off the plant: Bell pepper seedlings sprout and ready for transplant after approximately 1-4 weeks of germination. Nevertheless, they are susceptible to transplant shock. Therefore, introduce your seedlings to the outside environment gently for a few hours per day as you gradually increase the time. This can help them adapt better, thus preventing stunted growth resulting in strong and healthy plants. You should conduct this process about two weeks before transplant.
- Transplant the seeds outdoors: After your seedlings have at least four true leaves, you can transplant them to garden soil. Ensure the soil temperature range between 65-75°F. Plant your bell pepper seedlings 12 to 24-inches apart in well-drained garden soil, and ensure their root balls are correctly covered.
How to Harvest Bell Peppers?
Now that you know how to grow red peppers from scraps, it’s time for you to harvest them. It takes about 60 to 90 days to mature and ripen, depending on the variety you planted. During this period, they are green, big, and delightful.
To harvest them, use sterile sharp scissors or a knife to separate the bell pepper fruits from the plant. To get a ripe red pepper, leave the green pepper on the vine; it changes from yellow to orange then to red.
Tips of Growing a Bell Pepper
Bell peppers require loamy or sandy soil rich in nutrients, warm and well-drained. Their soil pH ranges from 6.0 to 7. Therefore, to give them proper growth and care, you should:
- Mulch the pepper well: To keep your soil moist and warm, use a black plastic mulch to absorb excess sunlight. You can use grass clippings to smother harmful weeds that can destroy bell peppers’ delicate root system.
- Provide adequate sunlight: Capsicum requires full sunlight for them to grow and ripen well. So, in your vegetable garden, please place them in a direct sunny spot. If you live in areas with high climatic conditions, you can provide them with shade cloth.
- Apply the right fertilizer: Use fertilizers with low nitrogen compounds to fertilize your peppers to increase the rate of fruit production.
- Water the peppers carefully: Water your bell peppers when the soil becomes dry because they require deep watering. Given that they like to thrive under warm temperatures, they cannot survive well under intense heat conditions. Gardeners in climates with high weather should water their peppers at least twice a day. Overwatering causes root rot due to low calcium levels in the soil, but dry soil can cause bitter-tasting bell peppers. Therefore, you should regulate how you water your plants and keep them balanced.
- Check for harmful pests: Spray your plants with organic insecticides to control the invasion of pests such as aphids, spider mites, and flea beetles.
- Stake: Staking helps to keep your bell peppers off the ground. It also helps to reduce sunscald, which occurs when pepper is exposed to intense direct sunlight for a long time. Staking helps to keep the bell peppers straight and protected because they provide a canopy for vegetable fruit.
- Support plant: The peppers don’t flourish well under cabbage plants but thrive best around carrots or cucumbers.
The Best Seed Starting (Germination) Trays for Bell Pepper Seeds
The germination tray is a reliable and sturdy way to grow bell pepper seeds before transplanting them in your outdoor garden. Purchasing the wrong seed tray in terms of size and type can destroy your gardening vision. To avoid disappointment, select the best seed tray that can streamline your gardening dreams.
1. Burpee Seed Starter Tray Kit
It has a self-watering tray at the base and sufficient-size planting cells for additional seedlings. The two cell trays have a water reservoir and fit well into the base tray. It has a mat that provides moisture to the root system and prevents overwatering.
This germination tray comes with a lid and elastic coconut fiber pellets for an extra growing medium. You don’t have to worry about your plants dying due to the moisturizing mat and self-watering mat.
2. SOLIGT Greenhouse Trays
This seed starting tray comes in three parts for a quick cleaning in between uses. The base tray has additional channels for draining excess water. The pellet holder can hold about 20 to 25 seeds from scraps between 28mm to 42mm.
It has a transparent humidity dome with vents to enhance airflow and prevent the growth of molds. The four trays enable you to start planting about 100 seedlings. Recyclables materials are solid and durable to reuse.
3. Mr. Sprout and Co. Peat Pots for Seedlings
This germination tray comes with strong reusable 1020 plastic flats that can hold your peat pots. Nevertheless, it has organic peat cells that are friendly to the environment hence reducing plastic waste. The tray has robust and biodegradable cells that enable you to plant your seeds directly into the pots with minimal plant shock.
It has large planting cells that increase the success rate of germination and seedling growth. The peat cell materials are pressed to enhance soil aeration and absorb moisture to prevent root rot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What amount is required to propagate bell peppers from Scraps/ Seeds?
The seeds are propagated for about 10 weeks. You should grow your seeds before warm weather season sets in. Therefore, when you transplant the seedlings, it takes between 50 to 95 days in standard conditions to grow.
How can I grow peppers in my garden?
Before you transplant your bell plants to the garden, ensure the temperatures are above 50 degrees Celsius. You should wait until frost disappears because it can either kill the plants or inhibit growth. You should place your plants 18 to 24 inches apart in the soil. You should ensure that your soil is appropriately aerated and well-drained before planting them. Healthy peppers should produce a lot of fruits throughout the summer.
Can I grow capsicum from scraps?
Yes, you can grow your capsicum from scraps, but it might contain low qualities such as poor vigor and taste compared to other seeds. If the capsicum is cultivated from open-pollinated, you can grow a significant number of quality capsicum. This enables you to understand how to grow capsicum from scraps.
Can I grow bell peppers bought from the stores?
Yes, you can grow bell peppers from the seeds bought from the stores; the only challenge is that most of the peppers are GMO or hybrid seeds. The peppers from the stores are cultivated for consumption. Therefore, when you remove the seeds from store-bought bell peppers, the plant grown is not true to the parent regarding various elements such as flavor, taste, size, yield, and fruit.
Conclusion
Bell peppers are relatively easy to grow by investing a small amount of money. Suppose you understand how to grow bell peppers from scraps or peppers bought from stores. Therefore, it is good to grow peppers from local growers because their seeds are not grown for consumption, instead of for growing purposes.
