Outdoor peppers

[bluecar]

I'm thinking about growing some peppers outdoors. Can anyone advise me as to size of the final pot that they need to end up in?

Thanks

[bluecar]

[tonybloke]

I space mine at 15" to 18" centres, (remember to put in a stake when transplanting them)  ;)

[tonybloke]

oops, you said 'pot' not 'plot'.  :)  so, thay grow well inb a 8" pot, but prefer a 12" pot, remember to feed and water regularly if growing in pots. (and add a stake at transplanting time)

[saddad]

Welcome to A4A bluecar
I grew some Cayenne out in the ground last year.. poor things had been in a yogurt pot for two months and not sold at the sale(s) so I just put them in.. actually got some peppers too!  :)

[bluecar]

Thanks.

A bit of a silly follow on question. When the size of the pot is quoted as being, say 12", is that the diameter whether a round pot or a square pot?

[manicscousers]

Hiya, welcome to a4a , bluecar...we use the black florists buckets, available either free or a t a nominal price from supermarkets like asda or morrisons

[Duke Ellington]

Just something to bare in mind!!..........I used the black florist supermarket freebie pots last year in the greenhouse they grew well but once the peppers got big the plants became top heavy and the pots kept falling over!!. The pots are narrower at the bottom! This year I am using square pots ~ the cheap plastic ones you can buy at pound shops etc !!

Duke :)

[saddad]

Or stick the florists pots into grow bags and bury a couple of inches... that makes them stable esp if the pepper roots can get out into the compost, we cut the bottoms off the pots.  :)

[Duke Ellington]

Good idea Saddad:)

[gordonsveg]

I grow all my peppers /chili and toms in black florists pot and never have any problems(APART FROM BLIGHT) ,size seems to be about right.

[Vinlander]

I'm too lazy to fill pots - I cut growbags in half and stand them upright - perfect for one big tom or pepper or aubergine each. A good heavy pot at each end of the row stops them going dominoes.

I re-use them at least once with a good dose of chicken manure - but with a different plant type (of the 3 above) each time.

I'd recommend cherry bomb as the best medium chilli for outdoor use.

Cheers.

PS. small-fruited aubergines are best for outdoors I find - you will always get something even if it's only one small one. I go for the black-stemmed ones because even if the yield is poor in a crap year they are still nice to look at.

[antipodes]

I don't see much point in growing peppers in pots if you are going to grow outside?? Here it is not that warm really and I successfully grow on the plot. I just make sure that the plants are a fair size before planting outside (12-15 cm) and that there is no danger of frost. I put mine out in May last year. I find they are actually pretty hardy, especially if well mulched.
This year I am trying a variety from Alan Romans called Robertina, which is an Eastern European variety that is said to grow well in a cooler climate. But I successfully grew peppers last year, the fruit was a bit small but tasty and there were several fruit on each plant.

[BAK]

I too do not understand why you would grow outdoor peppers in pots.

I plant mine out on the plot around mid-May under barn cloches. I remove the cloches when the plants are bursting to get out, usually around the end of June ... and then they are on their own. Sweet peppers (Gypsy) do particularly well for me this way.

PS I am in Berks.

[1066]

I've grown various things in pots in the garden - mostly due to space. But I do find them frustrating (plants in pots that is) as they can dry out very quickly and they do tend to topple over with the slighest breeze. I'm going to try some peppers and aubergines in the ground on the plot this year and see how they get on

[Vinlander]

I find peppers and aubergines do better in pots for me - it's possible that being on clay makes me think I can get away growing these greedy plants with less fertiliser in soil.

Clay also means my soil is a bit too heavy for them even when it is well composted - I get much better roots on my potted ones.

Black hungarian is a good medium chilli that's very ornamental - I can put them in pots and squeeze them into sunny spots which would otherwise be wasted on flowers - and more importantly they are so nice looking the wife doesn't object.

Cheers.

PS. I also grow courgettes in pots - it's the only way to make sure they don't take a quarter of the veg area each - and I don't have to put them there anyway. They look quite nice around the pond.

[bluecar]

Hello all.

Many thanks for all of the tips