By Pamela Crawford, author, Easy Patio Veggies & Herbs
Photographs by Pamela Crawford
If you can only grow one pepper, make it the banana pepper. Although I grew these peppers to eat, they ended up looking almost too good to eat! Banana peppers have a mild, but slightly tangy taste. Like most vegetables, they do extremely well in the Lechuza self-watering planters.
The Plants
‘Banana’ peppers – three plants from 4” pots.
Purple mums – five plants from 6” pots.
Light: Full sun, at least six hours per day.
Season: Spring through fall for most warmer areas. Peppers take temperatures from 40 to 90 degrees, but bear fruit between 65 and 90 degrees. Mums require cooler temperatures and are generally planted in fall.
Lifespan: In this container, five to six months.
Care: Fertilize on planting day with a slow-release mix. Repeat if the leaves look yellowish or washed-out, although the fertilizer should last from six to nine months. Groom the mums to keep them looking good.
Water: Water thoroughly if the plants show signs of wilt, or the soil feels dry when you push your fingertip into the potting mix. I watered this one every day (after it was about a month old) in midsummer and every other day in cooler weather.
Troubleshooting: No problems at all.
Planting Plan: Easy. Simply plant three pepper plants, one in each of the liners in this pot. Plant them near the back. Be sure to plant in good-quality potting mix, not garden soil, top soil, or potting soil, which can kill your plants.
Container: Lechuza’s Trio Cottage 30 (39.4”L x 12.8”H x 13.6”W), white. Shop for it at https://www.lechuza.world.
Best Time to Pick: Be sure to check behind the leaves frequently because peppers hide! The more you pick, the more the plant produces. They are ready to eat when they turn a sharp shade of red.
This is an excerpt from Pamela Crawford’s book, Easy Patio Veggies & Herbs, available through Amazon and other online booksellers.
Pamela Crawford, author of 12 gardening books, is considered one of the most accomplished container gardening experts in the country. In addition to designing gardens for over 1500 residences, her work has been featured on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens publications as well as in Southern Living, HGTV Magazine, Fine Gardening, Country Gardens, and in over 300 newspapers. As an expert in her field, she has appeared on the Fine Living Network, GardenSMART, gardenloverstv.com and numerous local tv shows.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
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