Zone 1-3:
If you live in zones 1-3, it can be challenging to grow hot peppers because of the harsh winter conditions. However, you can still grow peppers indoors with the help of a grow light or in a greenhouse. Start by choosing a pepper variety that is suitable for indoor growing, such as Thai peppers or Habaneros. Sow the seeds in early spring and provide plenty of light and warmth to encourage germination. Water your plants regularly and fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer. When the plants have developed, you can move them outdoors after the last frost date.
 Zone 4-6:
In zones 4-6, you can grow hot peppers both indoors and outdoors. Start your seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, and once they have developed, you can transplant them outside after the last frost date. Be sure to choose a variety that is suited to your region and provides enough heat. Peppers require plenty of sunshine, so choose a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Water your plants regularly and use a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth.
Zone 7-9:
In zones 7-9, you can grow hot peppers outdoors all year round. Start your seeds indoors in late winter or early spring and then transplant them outside after the last frost date. Choose a sunny spot and plant your peppers in well-draining soil. Water your plants regularly and use a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth. In hotter climates, you may need to provide some shade for your plants to protect them from the intense heat.
Zone 10-11:
In zones 10-11, you can grow hot peppers year-round. Choose a spot that provides plenty of sunshine and plant your peppers in well-draining soil. Water your plants regularly and fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer to promote healthy growth. In hotter climates, you may need to provide some shade for your plants to protect them from the intense heat.
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Regardless of your zone, it's important to choose a variety of hot pepper that is suited to your region and growing conditions. Be sure to provide your plants with plenty of water, sunshine, and nutrients, and monitor them for pests and diseases. With the right care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious and spicy peppers!

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Congratulations! If you're reading this blog you have most likely had success starting your pepper seeds and growing seedlings. The next question...when is the best time to transplant my seedling to your outdoor garden?

Warm weather crops such as our hot hot hot peppers are very susceptible to frost damage. As such, its important that you do not transplant your burgeoning seedlings until there is no danger of the air or soil temperature dropping below freezing. Pepper plants that are transplanted too early can not withstand a single frost.

So how do you figure out when you are in the clear to transplant your seedlings? Growers use something called the Last Frost Date which indicates the point in the season when the temperature isn't likely to drop to freezing. It is hard to pinpoint an exact date so it is wise to assume that freezing temperatures are possible two weeks before the first frost date and two weeks after the last.

​To find the frost dates for your region check out this great planting calendar by Almanac. 

Again, congratulations on reaching the next milestone in your grow journey! Leave a message and let us know how its going.

Whether you are growing peppers indoors or outdoors, knowing your planting zone is an important first step. 

What is a Planting Zone/ Hardiness Zone/Gardening Zone?
Your 'zone" is based on a map developed by the USDA that separates the United States into regions based on the average low winter temperatures.. There are 10 primary zones across the US, each representing a 10-degree increment. 

Why Does it Matter?
While many peppers are quite adaptable, most will not tolerate specific degrees of cold. Therefore knowing your zone helps you select peppers that grow best in your zone and tells you when to grow them.

What's My Zone?
Use the map below to identify your grow zone.

PLANTING PEPPERS OUTDOORS:

• Transplant peppers into the garden 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost in spring when the soil temperature has risen to at least 65°F.
• Young peppers transplanted should be 4 to 6 inches tall.
• Plants started indoors should be acclimatized to outdoor temperatures before transplants. Set plants outdoors for a few hours each day before transplanting to the garden.
• Sweet and hot peppers grow best in air temperatures 65° to 80°F. The ideal temperature for sweet peppers is a daytime temperature around 75°F and a nighttime temperature around 62°F.
• Grow peppers in full sun. Peppers should get 8 hours of sun each day.
• Plant peppers in soil rich in organic matter. Work aged garden compost or commercial organic planting mix into beds prior to planting.
• The soil should be moisture-retentive but well-draining. Slightly sandy or loamy soil is best.
• Pre-warm the soil before transplanting by placing black plastic over the planting bed for two weeks prior to transplanting peppers. The plastic will transfer solar heat to the soil.
• Set transplants in the garden at the same depth they were growing in the container. Do not plant deeper; buried stem may rot.
• Peppers prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8.
• Avoid planting peppers where another nightshade (Solanacea) family crop has grown recently—tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. These crops can be attacked by the same pests and diseases.
• ​Space pepper plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Space rows 24 to 36 inches apart.

CONTAINER GROWING PEPPERS:

• Peppers can be grown in pots or containers that are at least 12 inches wide and deep.
• Plant peppers in a commercial potting mix.
• Choose a container with holes in the bottom for easy drainage.
• Keep the soil evenly moist.
• Side-dress plants with compost tea or dilute fish emulsion every two weeks through the growing season.
• In larger containers, set plants on 12-inch centers

​MAINTAINING PEPPERS:

• Keep planting beds well weeded to avoid competition.
• Peppers are shallow-rooted, so cultivate around peppers with care.
• Mulch around peppers with aged compost or straw to keep soil temperature and moisture even.
• Plastic mulch can improve pepper yields. Organic compost mulches will reduce weeding and watering, but not fruit yields.
• Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers which will create large leafy plants with few or no fruits.
• Feed plants compost tea or water with a dilute fish emulsion solution every 10 days.
• Support pepper plants with a stake or cage; plants heavy with fruit can break or topple. Pepper branches are brittle and can easily break.
• High temperatures and wind can cause flowers to drop and plants not to set fruit.

Comment below and share how your growing is going.