How to grow peppers: avoid heat stress and too much nitrogen

What you need

• Pepper plants or seeds
• Thermometer for nighttime temperatures
• High-potash fertilizer
• Watering can

Steps

1. Check your nighttime temperatures with a thermometer. Peppers set fruit poorly when nights stay above 70 to 75°F and days go over 90 to 95°F.

2. If nights are too warm, wait for cooler weather. Production usually picks up once temperatures moderate, so don't rip out the plant.

3. Look at your plant's leaves. A huge, bushy, deep green plant with few or no peppers likely has too much nitrogen.

4. Stop using high-nitrogen fertilizer on that plant. Switch to a high-potash feed to push energy into flowers and fruit.

5. Water deeply and regularly at the base of the plant. Keep the soil moist but not soggy so roots stay healthy.

6. Give plants full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours a day, and space them so air moves between them.

7. Don't blame bees. Peppers self-pollinate, so missing pollinators are rarely the cause of no fruit.

8. Harvest peppers when they reach full size and color. Pick regularly to keep the plant producing.

Tips and common mistakes

Questions

Why is my pepper plant flowering but not making peppers?

Heat stress is the most common cause. When nights stay above 70 to 75°F and days above 90 to 95°F, flowers abort before fruit sets.

Should I hand-pollinate my peppers?

Usually not needed. Peppers self-pollinate, so lack of bees is rarely the issue. Fix temperature and fertilizer first.

What fertilizer should I use for peppers?

Use a high-potash fertilizer once the plant starts flowering. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that make big leafy plants with few peppers.

This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.