Sweet Peppers

as per my post in the chilli thread, this is my first proper attempt at growing sweet peppers.

Few questions...

Are the pots big enough (just planted them up a size)?
Do u have to nip put side shoots like toms etc?
How tall will these grow?

They are a mix of "sweet pepper ingrid" -purply bell pepper types from rhs. AND franchi sweet red peppers.

Help appreciated as always

 

I would say they need bigger pots. I grew them in the greenhouse border last year and had 2 peppers. I haven't grown them this year.

Rusty

 

Humph-2 peppers hardly seems worth it. My mum said she didnt habe success with the franchi red peppers in the past too. Shame as i eat alot of peppers.

 

In the past I have read and seen on TV progs that you should prune pepper plants to improve overall pepper size, I have tried this and found no real differences if I am honest.

The plant grows in a Y structure, that is the main stem splits into two, at that point a pepper will grow, you are supposed to prune one of and allow the other to continue, whereupon it will do the same again higher up.

I just let mine grow now, I don't prune at all and I will get 2 fully formed/shaped fruits and an assortment of shapes and sizes that a supermarket would reject as extras...another 5 or six. Now I will harvest all at the same time and keep feeding/watering because I will get a second crop about 6 weeks later. So I get quite a bit from one pepper plant, but I grow mine directly in the polytunnel border.

Steve...

 

I've put some in, looking forward to a good vindaloo if any grow.

 

Not growing any this year myself, but I have grown them in pots for many years previously.

I usually use 9 in pots, and I have been known to prune out a few side shoots, but not all.
also I usually reduce the amount of fruit forming, the plants often set far more than they can cope with.

My way is to take the first crop green, when big enough, once the plants are free from fruit they will flower again and carry a second crop, I usually let these ones ripen on the plant as by that stage it's too late for anymore fruit to reach maturity.

 

How very odd....could have sworn id replied to these...maybe I did in my head!!! Thanks everyone for the replies...I've left them and they are grrowing quite nicely...got some flowers on now too. Lush and green....fingers crossed all goes well

 

Old thread but I'm adding on, I bought some sweet pepper seed this year , but not of the usual blocky types the smaller ones you get in supermarkets that are a bit more expensive but I prefer them.
Anyway most have grown well and some could probably do with bigger pots, I dont have any ripe yet but some are starting.

I also took some seeds from a similar kind from some I bought in Morrisons supermarket.
They are all looking ok, but the morrisons ones are doing the best.

 

They are looking good @pete
If sourcing seeds from supermarket crops, its worth finding the variety from the label and then researching by internet. Often these are registered varieties linking to the breeder, who likely provide cultural characteristics and requirements. If F1 hybrids, they may not come true to type.Its worth a go but still difficult to match climate in Morocco !

 

Yeah, i assume they were hybrids, I don't really know, but the plants are doing well of both types, a couple are starting to ripen now.
With this weather they are in and out the green house, it's all a bit cramped in there so I put them out when possible.

 

I've saved seed from the mini-peppers that Lidl sell. Three colours, red, yellow and orange. They're ideal for stuffing The past few years I've grown the long pointed version, but they are just too prolific!

 

I did try the red pointed ones one year and it wasn't very successful, I put it down to lack of heat but maybe I should try them again, as I do like those ones as well.

 

Not exactly a mega-haul this week but it's enough for ratatouille for two.

 

I have no idea of the actual variety but seeds from the yellow Lidl snack peppers give excellent crops. The fruits are variably shaped from plant to plant, so I'm guessing Lidl use a hybrid.

 

Attempting to overwinter Lidl Snack, Bogdan and Victoria. I had rotten germination with most of my peppers this year, so I might as well try to hold on to these as back-up.