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In Today’s post, let us learn some easy tips and tricks on how to successfully grow bell Pepper plant at home in containers and how to get a better yield growing chilies in containers.

Choosing the Variety
There are dozens of bell pepper and chili pepper varieties, each varying in taste, size, and shape. The mildest type is bell pepper or capsicum. These tips are common for all varieties of chili peppers.
Seed Sowing

Bell peppers grow best in warm conditions. The right time to plant seeds is when the soil temperature is 70–85°F (20–30°C). Choose a mature seed pod to grow bell pepper plants, such as the red ones. Green pods are still immature and may show poor germination results.
You can sow the seeds first in a small container or seedling trays and then transplant after 4 to 6 weeks. In any case, the depth of sowing should not be more than 5 mm. The seed starting mix should have at least 50% compost, like vermicompost or decomposed cow dung. They usually germinate in 1 to 2 weeks and can be transplanted after 4 to 6 weeks.
Choosing the Container
You can easily grow bell pepper plants in small containers. Ideally, use a 12-inch container. Good quality plastic pots, cement pots, or grow bags work well.
Potting Soil Mix
A well-draining soil is very important for healthy root growth. A simple, well-draining potting mix should include 30-40% garden soil, 30-40% coco-peat or peat moss, and 20-30% compost like decomposed cow dung or vermicompost.
Support / Staking
Installing stakes or supports is helpful, especially if the plants load up with fruits. You can use sticks or pipes to support them and tie strings to support the main stem.
Sunlight / Location
Bell pepper plants need full direct sunlight of at least 6 hours for flowering and fruiting. Keep them in a spot where pollinator insects like butterflies and honeybees visit frequently. Otherwise, they will fail to produce fruit and result in flower drop-off.
Watering
Give chili peppers a steady supply of moisture, but do not let the soil get soggy. Daily watering is the general rule. Whenever you water, do it deeply and thoroughly so that the entire root system is drenched with water. Improper watering can result in flower or fruit drop-off.
Fertilizers
During transplant, adding some amount of phosphorus source like bone meal powder or organic rock phosphate will help the plant induce a lot of flowering and fruiting and confer resistance to pests and diseases like leaf curl virus. These two organic fertilizers are very important slow-release sources of phosphorus, which makes the roots stronger and in turn makes the plant grow healthier and yield better by boosting the plant’s immune system.
Additionally, a handful of compost like decomposed cow dung or vermicompost once every 15 days is the minimum requirement for chili peppers. You can double this frequency or amount during the flowering stage.
- If you’re struggling to start your garden and grow your own vegetables and flowers, this bag of composted cow manure has your back
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Adding some source of calcium like gypsum, lime, or finely powdered eggshells is also beneficial, especially during the fruiting stage.
Pest Control
Bell pepper plants are occasionally affected by pests like mealybugs, aphids, and whiteflies. Leaf curl virus needs a special mention. If the plant is affected by leaf curl virus, it’s better to remove the plant to prevent infection of other plants.

Prevention is best achieved by spraying neem oil once every 15 days. A mixture of 5-10 ml neem oil with some liquid soap in one liter of water is recommended. If it’s already infested, you can spray weekly or even twice a week until all pests are eradicated. Make sure to do a patch test on a leaf before spraying the entire plant.
Pruning or Trimming
Trimming promotes branching, which in turn produces more flowers and more fruits. When the plant is about six to eight inches tall, pinching the growing tip will result in a bushier plant. Also, remove any flowers that appear early, as they diminish the plant’s overall energy.
Harvesting Bell Peppers
You can harvest bell peppers or chili peppers anywhere between 60 to 100 days after planting.
Please watch a detailed video on growing bell peppers in containers below:
Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API