Bell Pepper Plant Question.

[MKKimmen]

Both this year and last year we planted Bell Pepper plants in the Garden. We get maybe one pepper per plant! What gives?! Is there something we are missing? Are we not supposed to plant it near certain other veggie plants?? Any Ideas?!

 

[journey11]

I've found mine do best if I give them a little 10-10-10 fertilizer and epsom salts when I put them in. Before I started doing that, I never did very well. I till in lots of manure and compost too, over the whole garden, but I think they need the extra fertilizer. The epsom salts help them build a strong root system. (I use about 2 tbsp per plant mixed in well.) Keeping them well weeded helps to build strong plants, and mulch. They don't take well to any competition. But make sure you plant them pretty close to each other for good pollination. I plant mine 18" apart in double rows and staggered, like this:

X X X X X
X X X X X

 

[bills]

I too have been generally disapointed with the quantity and size of my bell peppers. I recently learned from another post on this forum that they need lots and lots, of calcium.

Egg shells, crushed oyster shells, and I would think bone meal as well, (although that wasn't specifically mentioned) dug into the bed prior to planting, is supposed to really improve the plants.

 

[wifezilla]

They do like their minerals. I use oyster shell since I have to have it on hand for my laying ducks and quail anyway. I do need to pick up some epsom salts too. That magnesium boost keeps em happy.

Generally I have better luck with hot peppers than with regular bells.

 

[hoodat]

The trick with calcium is that it has to already be in the soil prior to planting. Calcium is slow to become available so adding it when the plant is already growing may be too late to do it any good. Calcium also gets tied up in acid soils so it needs lime to bring the soil back to neutral or as close as you can get.
Peppers of all sorts also require a lot of heat and sun.