Fertilize peppers: when, how & which fertilizer?

In order for bell peppers to develop their full aroma, they need sufficient nutrients. We show what you should pay attention to when fertilizing peppers in beds and pots.

paprika (Capsicum annuum) must not be missing in any vegetable patch. We owe it to the Italian navigator Christopher Columbus that the plant from the nightshade family (Solanaceae) is also widespread in Europe today. The peppers originally come from America. In addition to sufficient light, warmth and water, fertile soil is important so that your paprika plants produce lots of fruit and bring you a rich harvest. You can also support your peppers in their development through needs-based fertilization.

The nutritional requirements of peppers are in the medium to high range compared to other vegetables. In this article, we will explain the best time to fertilize your pepper plants and how you should ideally do so.

When to fertilize peppers?

Bell peppers grow very slowly at the beginning of the growing season. A sufficient supply of water and nutrients can, however, favor the development of the plant. If you grow your peppers yourself from seeds, the nutrients of a commercially available growing medium are sufficient for the first few weeks. After all, the seedlings still take care of themselves from their reserves in the seeds. When the first real leaves have developed after the cotyledons, the plants can be pricked out and planted in a larger pot. Then the right time has come for the first fertilization.

At the beginning of the growing season, the most important thing to do is to provide your peppers with sufficient nitrogen to allow them to grow well. During the formation of the flower buds, the supply of potassium and phosphorus is also important. In this phase, you should therefore re-fertilize so that the plants produce a lot of flowers and fruits. Special paprika fertilizers can hardly be found in specialist shops. However, the nutritional requirements of peppers are that of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) very similar. Hence, you can too Tomato fertilizer use to fertilize peppers. Organic long-term fertilizers are particularly gentle on the plants, the soil and the animals in the garden. Mineral fertilizers bring a quick nutrient boost, but they also involve some risks if used incorrectly.

Fertilize the peppers in the pot

If you are not using a pre-fertilized substrate, you can simply use a long-term fertilizer in granular form when potting your peppers - such as ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer - work into the substrate. Then water the young plants well so that the granules can loosen. Under humid conditions, the microorganisms in the substrate begin to convert the fertilizer and gradually release the nutrients for the plant. In order to avoid over-fertilization and not to damage the potted plant, you should fertilize more often during the fruit formation, but in smaller amounts.

Summary: when to fertilize peppers in the pot?

• Work in some slow release fertilizer when planting
• Keep the substrate moist so that the granules can loosen
• It is better to re-fertilize in smaller amounts during flowering

Fertilize the peppers in the bed

From the end of May, the cold-sensitive peppers can be planted in the garden bed. Give some fertilizer in granulate form, such as our Plantura Organic tomato fertilizer, into the planting hole. Don't forget to pour enough water afterwards. You can also upgrade lean soils beforehand with a little compost or rotted manure. These natural fertilizers not only provide your peppers with additional nutrients, but also help to improve the structure of the soil and activate soil life. After about two months you can again work some long-term fertilizer into the soil in order to optimally supply your peppers with nutrients. However, be careful not to damage the pepper roots.

Summary: when to fertilize peppers in the bed?

• Work compost or rotted manure into the soil
• Provide with slow release fertilizer when planting out
• Pour well so that the granules can dissolve
• Re-fertilize after about two months

How and with what to fertilize peppers?

Which fertilizer is used for your peppers is of course up to you. After all, there are many different ways in which you can optimally supply your peppers with nutrients. To help you make a decision, we have summarized some aspects that you should consider when choosing a fertilizer.

Organically fertilize peppers

In principle, you do not necessarily have to use a special fertilizer to fertilize your peppers. Commercially available tomato fertilizers with a suitable composition for nightshade plants are completely sufficient for the nutrient supply of peppers. It is best to use an organic fertilizer with a long-term effect, because this offers many advantages:

• Long-term supply of nutrients to the pepper plant through constant decomposition via microorganisms in the soil
• Promotion of healthy, active soil life (good for earthworms, microorganisms, etc.) and sustainable improvement of the soil structure
• By dispensing with chemicals, it is particularly gentle on the environment

Long-term organic fertilization: Instructions & dosage quantities for peppers

Our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer consists mainly of organic, plant-based raw materials. The composition of the fertilizer, with sufficient potassium for the best fruit quality, is ideal for your peppers. Our granular fertilizer is also easy to dose and easy to use, so there is hardly any risk of over-fertilization.

So that you provide your peppers with the right amount of nutrients, we have prepared detailed instructions for you below:

1. Before planting: about 60 - 110 g / m² (5 - 9 tablespoons) of our Plantura Organic tomato fertilizer work into the ground.
2. Pour well so that the granules can dissolve.
3. After 2 months you should re-fertilize about 50 - 70 g / m² (4 - 6 tablespoons).
4. A small amount of fertilizer about 3 - 4 weeks before harvesting gives your peppers even more optimal support.

Mineral fertilize paprika

Liquid fertilizer, Blue grain and Co. are often added to the pot or bed when planting peppers in order to ensure a basic supply for the plant. However, the first complete fertilizer available from the garden center is not always the best choice. Mineral fertilizers Although they provide a first, rapid burst of nutrients, the high salt concentrations can damage the sensitive roots of the peppers if used improperly. The leaching of the fertilizer into deeper soil layers can also lead to increased nitrate concentrations in the groundwater. In contrast to mineral fertilizers, organic fertilizers are much more environmentally friendly. In addition, by introducing organic material, you promote soil life and the soil structure in your garden is sustainably improved.

Fertilize peppers with home remedies

If you want to naturally fertilize your bell peppers, you can use one for nutrient delivery too Fertilizing with compost Grow from your own garden or well-rotten manure. Regular watering with diluted water is also recommended for blossoming and fruiting Nettle manurewhich was previously diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10. You can easily produce plant manure yourself and thus supply your plants with additional minerals that also promote the plants' defenses against diseases.

Another home remedy for fertilizing peppers found in almost every household is coffee grounds. You can sprinkle the actual waste product on the ground around the plant or add it to the irrigation water. Coffee grounds fertilizer contains important nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. It is also very popular with earthworms, which help break down organic matter and loosen the soil in the garden. As a fertilizer, coffee grounds should only be used in moderation so that the pH value of the garden soil does not drop into the acidic range in the long term.

Have you always wanted to grow your own peppers in the garden? Like you at Plants of peppers the best way to proceed is explained in our special article.