Fertilize peppers: when, how & which fertilizer?

In order for peppers to develop a full aroma, they need enough nutrients. We show what you should consider when fertilizing peppers in beds and pots.

paprika (Capsicum annum) must not be missing in any vegetable patch. We owe it to the Italian sailor Christopher Columbus that the plant from the nightshade family (Solanaceae) is now also widespread in Europe. The pepper originally comes from America. So that your pepper plants produce lots of fruit and bring you a rich harvest, fertile soil is important in addition to sufficient light, warmth and water. You can also support your peppers in their development by fertilizing them according to their needs.

The nutrient requirements for peppers are in the medium to high range compared to other vegetables. In this article, we will explain when it is best to fertilize your pepper plants and how to do this ideally.

When to fertilize peppers?

Peppers grow very slowly at the beginning of the growing season. However, an adequate supply of water and nutrients can promote the development of the plant. If you grow your peppers yourself from seed, the nutrients in a commercially available growing medium are perfectly sufficient for the first few weeks. Finally, the seedlings feed themselves from their reserves in the seeds. When the first real leaves have developed after the cotyledons, the seedlings 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 main thing you should do is provide your peppers with enough nitrogen so that they can grow well. During the formation of the flower buds, the supply of potassium and phosphorus is also important. In this phase you should therefore fertilize again so that the plants set many flowers and fruits. Special paprika fertilizers are hard to find in specialist shops. However, the nutritional requirements of peppers are those of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) very similar. Therefore 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. Although mineral fertilizers bring a quick nutrient boost, they also harbor some risks if used incorrectly.

Fertilize the peppers in the pot

If you are not using a substrate that has already been pre-fertilised, you can simply use a slow-release granular fertilizer - such as ours - when potting your peppers Plantura organic tomato fertilizer – Work into the substrate. Then water the young plants well so that the granules can dissolve. 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 fruit formation, but in smaller quantities.

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 dissolve
• It is better to fertilize in smaller amounts during the flowering period

Fertilize the peppers in the bed

From the end of May, the cold-sensitive peppers can be planted out in the garden bed. Give some fertilizer in granular form, such as our Plantura Organic Tomato Fertilizer, into the planting hole. Don't forget to water afterwards. You can also improve poor soil with some compost or rotted manure beforehand. These natural fertilizers not only provide your peppers with extra nutrients, but also help to improve soil structure and activate soil life. After about two months, you can work some more long-acting fertilizer into the soil to provide your peppers with the best nutrients. However, be careful not to damage the roots of the peppers.

Summary: when to fertilize peppers in the bed?

• Work compost or rotted manure into the soil
• Supply with long-term fertilizer when planting out
• Pour well so that the granules can dissolve
• 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 you can get the most nutrition from your peppers. To help you make your decision, we have summarized a few aspects that you should consider when choosing a fertilizer.

Fertilize peppers organically

In principle, you do not necessarily have to use a special fertilizer to fertilize your peppers. Commercial 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, as this offers many advantages:

• Long-term supply of nutrients to the pepper plant through ongoing decomposition via microorganisms in the soil
• Promotion of a healthy, active soil life (good for earthworms, microorganisms etc.) and sustainable improvement of the soil structure
• Particularly gentle on the environment by not using chemicals

Organic long-term fertilization: Instructions & dosage amounts for peppers

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

In order to 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 fertilize again with about 50 - 70 g/m² (4 - 6 tablespoons).
4. A small dose of fertilizer about 3 - 4 weeks before the harvest supports your peppers again optimally.

Fertilize peppers with minerals

liquid fertilizer, blue grain and Co. are often added to the pot or bed when planting peppers to ensure that the plant has a basic supply. However, the first complete fertilizer from the garden center is not always the best choice. mineral fertilizers Although they provide an initial, rapid nutrient boost, 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. Organic fertilizers are much more environmentally friendly than mineral fertilizers. 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 fertilize your peppers naturally, you can also use one for nutrient supply fertilization with compost from your own garden or from well-rotted manure. Regular watering with diluted water is also recommended for flowering and fruiting nettle manure, which was previously diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. You can easily produce plant manure yourself and thus supply your plants with additional minerals, which also promote the plants' resistance to diseases.

Another home remedy for fertilizing peppers that is 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 to break down organic matter and loosen the soil in the garden. However, coffee grounds should only be used in moderation as fertilizer 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 cultivate your own peppers in the garden? As you at Planting peppers We explain the best way to proceed in our special article.