What Are Some Of The Best Varieties Of Bell Peppers To Grow In Containers?

In this post, we are going to explore 20 different varieties of bell peppers, which are all good options to grow in containers. While there are easily thousands of varieties of peppers worldwide, these 15 varieties are among the easiest to grow, and definitely some of the most flavorful. There are a lot of different types of peppers that you may wish to plant in your own backyard, or even grow in containers.

 

Assuming that you are going to be growing bell peppers from seeds, you need to start with selecting the variety. Each plant will produce a single pepper color, so make sure to plant a few seeds so that you get a nice variety of colored bell peppers. A Bolivian pepper plant is going to be one of the prettiest ones to have in your container garden because of the variety of colors that the peppers can be.

 

Many gardeners like to plant an array of peppers to get some good variety, and there are several different options available. If you do not have a large yard, you may want to opt to grow several different types of peppers in a planter, a grow bag, or in containers. Even if you do not have a big backyard garden in your home, or cannot devote part of your yard to a vegetable patch, you still have options to grow some specialty varieties of hot peppers in pots on a balcony, deck, or patio.

 

You can grow two or three bell pepper plants in each container, depending on the bell pepper variety and the size of your chosen container. Like other varieties of bell peppers that we looked at above, this plant will grow to around two or three feet tall, requiring a larger container to plant in, at least five gallon.

 

The peppers themselves are only about one-inch long, and typically, this plant will grow about 2-3 feet tall. These peppers will grow about 3-4 inches long when they are fully grown, and they can be grown in a medium-sized container.

 

Goathorn peppers need to be grown in a larger container, with plants that grow about 1.5 to 2 feet high. Since the Canape Pepper is the typical size of a bell pepper, about 4-5 inches, it will require a larger container for it to grow comfortably.

 

A smaller 3 gallon container may be used for smaller, hotter peppers, and larger 5-gallon containers may be used for bell peppers. Smaller peppers (less than a foot tall) will grow fine in 2-gallon containers, but larger plants will require a minimum of 5-gallon containers.

 

While potted plants are great for their mobility, a smaller soil volume usually results in higher waterings and smaller yields for peppers. Peppers need a consistent wetter soil, and potted plants typically need watering more frequently than plants that are soil-grown. Peppers need warm air and soil, which is why it is best to start your young plants indoors instead of planting seeds.

 

Drawbacks of growing peppers in pots include a potentially larger planting area, watering more frequently, and smaller crops. Growing peppers in containers makes it easier to maintain plants, but peppers prefer containers because they drainage is better, and the soil is generally warmer than in the ground. Caring for peppers in containers is easier than it is if you are planting them in soil, particularly if you do not live in a tropical climate.

 

Whether or not you have enough room for planting in-ground, growing bell peppers in containers is a tempting way to guarantee an eye-catching harvest throughout the season. They are also one of the easiest peppers to grow in containers, producing gorgeous fruit throughout the summer.

 

Peppers are easy to keep around your kitchen, and sun and water requirements can vary depending on which variety of peppers you are growing and your climate. Since the Carrot Bell Pepper is adapted for cold Scandinavian climates, it is easy to keep them growing year-round in containers. The peppers will keep maturing in warm places, but as long as they are full grown, you can enjoy them as green.

 

Peppers are usually harvested when they are about eight inches long and have developed a waxy luster, but the fruits will turn red if left on the plant. A mildly spicy, sweet chili pepper native to California, Anaheim peppers are typically cooked and consumed while unripe, but young, green fruits will ripen to red if left on the plant.

 

Some plants, like Camelot, can be picked periodically to get green bells, while others, like Big Thai, will ripen all of their fruits at once. See the growing tips below to find out how to get lots of green fruit out of a bell pepper plant, then let some go longer for the sweeter red variety that comes from the same plant.

 

Surprisingly, the green and red bell peppers that we often see at the supermarket are actually the same pepper; red bell peppers just had longer maturation times on their plants, changing their colors and allowing them to develop higher vitamin C levels. The peppers are supposed to be just starting to turn green, so often you will find them staying green for about three days.

 

Bell peppers can be started from seeds, but they like it hot, so they are best started indoors around eight to 10 weeks before last freeze. Once you see two real leaves appear (about 4 to 6 inches high), you can transplant the peppers outside and get them ready for planting either in soil or a larger container.

 

If you are planning on planting more than one pepper in each container -- which is possible with the bushier varieties of bell peppers and others -- choose a pot that is wider than a foot across. Pepper seeds are tiny, and you will want to plant them about 1/4-inch deep, unless your seed packet says otherwise. Start from seedlings instead of using seed packets to help maximize your growing season, and choose compact varieties well-suited to containers, like Bonnie Plants(r) Lunchbox Sweet Snacking Pepper and Jalapeno Hot Pepper, instead of larger pepper seed varieties that can grow more than 3 feet tall.

 

Cayenne, Jalapeno, and Habanero pepper plants are the best hot peppers for growing in pots and containers. Try growing delicious bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, chile de arbol, cayenne peppers, and, if you can stomach a spicy taste, super-hot habanero peppers. Jalapeno, Habanero, Poblano, Anaheim, Thai peppers, and Hungarian hot wax peppers are some of the easiest hot peppers to grow, while California Wonder, Jupiter, Canary Bell, and Purple Beauty appear to be favorite varieties of bell peppers.

 

While Thai peppers are a perfect container variety and make a lovely ornamental, sample the small, inch-long peppers only if you are ready for a little bit of serious heat. The peppers themselves grow to around 5-to-6 inches in length, and can be mellow on first bite, but their gentle heat is quickly followed.

 

Smaller varieties of peppers will yield more, but because the bells are larger, there are less peppers to be grown per plant. While almost any vegetable can be grown in a container, if the variety is the right one, the pot is big enough, and you are using quality potting soil, few vegetables are as easy to grow in a container as bell peppers.