Size of pots for peppers/cages necessary?

15 years ago

I'm growing sweet peppers and would like to know what size pots are big enough for growing these. How high and how deep?

Also, are cages necessary? Or are stakes sufficient?

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Comments (7)

justaguy2
15 years ago
The size of the container is more or less related to how often you wish to water. A large coffee can is enough room for a first year pepper.

Going larger means more potting mix which means it holds more water and nutrients which means less frequent watering.

If you use a loose potting mix (no soil or compost or 3 year old store mix) then the pepper should root well and probably won't require any support. If you find it does when it is large and laden with fruit a simple stake is enough.
snoop92
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the response.

I just asked because I currently have my pepper plants in 18-inch diameter pots that hold 32 quarts of soil (8 gallons capacity).

I'd like to transplant these to pots that are about 10-inch diameter, 9 inches deep. Someone thought that this size would be too small for the pepper plants.

I'd like to use the bigger pots for some tomato plants that I need to plant, but perhaps it's not a good idea to move the pepper plants now? They've been planted for about 2.5 weeks now.

Thanks...
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snoop92
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the response.

I just asked because I currently have my pepper plants in 18-inch diameter pots that hold 32 quarts of soil (8 gallons capacity).

I'd like to transplant these to pots that are about 10-inch diameter, 9 inches deep. Someone thought that this size would be too small for the pepper plants.

I'd like to use the bigger pots for some tomato plants that I need to plant, but perhaps it's not a good idea to move the pepper plants now? They've been planted for about 2.5 weeks now.

Thanks...
justaguy2
15 years ago
Transplanting in the middle of the growing season isn't a great thing to do.

If you really want to do it, prepare the receiving container first, make it moist and water the plant the day before so it is well hydrated.

Dump the plant out and transplant quickly. I recommend doing this indoors or in the shade and then move the plant into the shade for a week to try and avoid it wilting from transpiration.
moo_cow
15 years ago
Here is what bonnieplants.com says about pepper plants along with tomatoes.

Tomatoes and peppers need a minimum of a five-gallon pot.
msaunt
15 years ago
I have a book called "The Apartment Farmer" by Duane Newcomb. They recommend a 2 gal. or larger container for peppers and it says they need a lot of watering and fertilizing. You can grow singly or in groups in a larger container. They also say you can try one or two peppers in 12" pots in a south or east facing window.

msaunt
desertfarmerjohn
15 years ago
I think a container that is a couple of gallons is adequate for most. I have a Tabasco plant in a two gallon container that is doing great, while I have a jalapeno and red bell in a half barrel that are growing very slowly.

Here is a link that might be useful: Container Gardening in the Desert

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Size of pots for peppers/cages necessary?

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Size of pots for peppers/cages necessary?

Comments (7)

justaguy2

snoop92Original Author

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moo_cow

msaunt

desertfarmerjohn

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