Pepper Maintenance

Maintenance for peppers is similar to tomatoes. Once you’ve planted them, they are easy to maintain. You want to make sure they are getting enough water. If you are not getting an inch of rain per week, you will need to supplement it with additional water. The easiest way to keep tabs on the water is with an inexpensive rain gauge. Fertilizers that work for tomatoes will also work for peppers. I like the Vigoro Tomato and Vegetable Garden Plant Food Plus Calcium, and that’s what I usually use. If you prefer to be organic, Tomato-tone is also good, but it does smell. Peppers, especially bell peppers, also need calcium to produce quality fruit, so I like to supplement my fertilizer with Oyster Shell Flour. When the fruit starts getting big, you may need to stake them or use a small tomato cage for support.