Stunted peppers

[obsessed]

How do you grow the big peppers?

Last year I grew some jalapeos but they never got huge like some you see at the farmers market. And my bells aren't that big either. So what do they need.

 

[hoodat]

How do you grow the big peppers?

Last year I grew some jalapeos but they never got huge like some you see at the farmers market. And my bells aren't that big either. So what do they need.

Be sure you have enough potash and phosphate in the ground but chances are what they need is calcium. They are greedy for it. Add lime if your soil is acid, gypsum if it's alkaline. Both are forms of calcium. Oyster shell and egg shells are good organic sources but calcium is slow to become available. Next year make sure the calcium is there before you plant.

 

[patandchickens]

Compacted or underwaterered soil can also do it.

Pat

 

[hoodat]

Compacted or underwaterered soil can also do it.

Pat

Good point. They need soil that is moist at all times but never has standing water more than an hour or so after a hard rain. Sandy loam is the ideal soil. It has to drain well. In the right soil and conditions they almost grow themselves but in problem soil they can be a lot of trouble.

 

[digitS']

O, you may want to try Mucho Nacho jalapeos. They must be close to what one would think of as "jumbos!"

My pepper plants never get very large and that must restrict the size of the fruit. I like Peto and Whopper bells. Not that they are "whopper" size in my garden but they are, at least, standard size. I grew Chinese Giant one year. They were large but not very impressive at 1 fruit per plant .
My pepper plants are finally starting to grow a little I think that we may have just barely dodged a disastrous start to the pepper/melon growing season. (Okay, some of my melon plants actually died . . . :/) F i n a l l y, it's starting to warm up here.

Steve

 

[cwhit590]

obsessed, you're not the only one w/ stunted peppers this year! :/ I think mine are prolly underwatered since I can't drive over to my garden every day..........but the tomatoes and squash on either side are looking AMAZING and growing like weeds!

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

My pepper "seemed" to stop growing when they put on fruit. I pulled a few small ones as I cannot wait and then they started back. Sometimes you have to pull a few smaller ones to let the plant get bigger. I left a few peppers on one or two plants and they are getting bigger. Now that the plants are bigger, the peppers get to a nice size faster, but not like what you see in the grocery store.

Melissa

 

[digitS']

I think that peppers may be a very "geographically specific" plant - if'n I've come up with the right term . . .

I mean, there are so many varieties and they are so variable in habit. Would a space alien actually believe that a Giant Aconcagua and a Chiltepin pepper are in the same family of plants? Or a Sweet Hungarian Wax and a Thai Hot?

Some varieties take 55 days to maturity some, 120 days!!

Let's not all try to grow California Wonders.

I was born in California and knew Wonders! California was a friend of mine. Other places, Senator, are not California.

Steve

 

[obsessed]

I guess location could be a factor. I have a nice loamy soil (sandy loam with a ton of work) but maybe they don't like all the rain of the southern summer.
My friend who gave me the giant jalapeos said he fertilized with a 13-13-13 this year for the first time and he said he really noticed a difference.

 

[whamby2]

My jalapeno plants are loaded with peppers but they seem to be just sitting there at about 1 or 1-1/2 inches. I harvested about 8-10 today and gave them to my son-in-law....are the smaller green one REALLY hot and do they get milder as they redden? If they are little fireballs, he won't be happy with me.