I’m saddened to report that I was starting to compose the latest searches that led to this blog and there is nothing new and interesting in the collection. Well, there was one which was kind of interesting which asked what spacing should be used when planting habenero seeds. Coincidently I got a newsletter from Organic Gardening which was talking about how to make your peppers hotter and gave other tips on growing peppers. They even have a Peppers guide which gives you a nice overview on hot and hotter peppers to grow.
Peppers should be planted about 18 inches apart to let sunlight in. What I didn’t really realize is that they don’t love super hot weather but prefer temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees F during the day and 60 to 70 degrees overnight. When daytime temperatures climb above 90°F or fall below 60°F, pepper plants often experience blossom drop- a condition where flowers fall off the plant before fruit can set. Blossom drop causes low yields in otherwise healthy plants. In hot climates, shade peppers by planting them in the shadow of taller crops, such as corn or trellised beans, or by planting them in a dense block to help protect the fruit from bright afternoon sun.
And if you’re curious about how to grow hotter peppers, here is their advice:
Stress your peppers by making them thirsty, and they will reward you with mouth-sizzling fire. If you normally water your peppers every three to four days, cut back to one good soak per week. Don’t worry if the plants look wilted.
