When to pick an anaheim pepper

Grow a family-friendly bell pepper alternative…

Looking for a substitute for the popular bell pepper in the garden? Anaheim peppers can be just as versatile in the kitchen, with a delicious mild pop of heat. Your next step? Our Anaheim pepper planting guide to start delivering a constant flow of these delicious chilies all season long.

Anaheim pepper planting fast facts:

Scoville heat units:Anaheim peppers typically rate between 500 and 2,500 on the Scoville scale.

Reading: When to pick an anaheim pepper

PepperScale profile:pepperscale.com/anaheim-pepper

Buy Anaheim pepper seeds:Buy from Amazon

Light requirements:These peppers need full sunlight.

Soil requirements:Anaheim peppers should be planted in soil that drains well and that has an adequate amount of nutrients.

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Space requirements:Seedlings should be planted 12 to 24 inches apart.

Water requirements:Regular watering is essential but the soil should not be soaked.

Maturation:It can take up to 80 days for Anaheim peppers to mature.

Plant Size:A mature Anaheim pepper plant will usually be between 18 and 24 inches tall.

Chili size:Anaheim peppers can grow up to 7 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Container-friendly:These peppers can be grown in containers; 2-3 gallon containers are ideal.

The site and season: Where and when to grow Anaheim pepper

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Plant Anaheim peppers in a part of your garden that gets full sunlight for most of the day. The plants should get no less than 5 hours of sunlight each day. They should be planted in soil with a pH in the range between 5.5 and 7.0. The soil temperature should be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit when you transplant the seedlings. The temperature at night should be over 55 degrees Fahrenheit and in the day it should be above 65. Use mulch to cover the soil if you want to give your plants an earlier start.

Because these plants require soil that is lighter and that drains well, it is important to amend heavier, clayey soils with sand or compost.

Feeding and watering Anaheim pepper plants: How often and how much

Water the plants just often enough to keep the soil in which they are planted moist but avoid overdoing it. Increase the frequency of watering in hot, dry periods.

Side dress your Anaheim pepper plants with a fertilizer that is high in calcium, potassium and phosphorous. Avoid using too much nitrogen as this can hinder fruit growth.

Anaheim pepper harvesting: When to pick

Anaheim peppers are ready to pick when they have reached their full size of approximately 7 inches. Use a knife or shears to clip or cut peppers from the plant rather than pull them off. Pulling them off can damage the plant. You should also leave the stem in place on the fruit as this will keep it fresh for longer. Be sure to harvest peppers as soon as they are ready, as this will encourage the plant to produce more.

Anaheim pepper plant care: What to watch out for

While consistent watering is important, you should avoid soaking the soil as this can cause the fruit to rot.

While Anaheim pepper plants are resistant to many diseases, they are susceptible to Tobacco Mosaic Virus. This virus can be found in cigarettes. This means that if you smoke, you should avoid doing it near your plants; you should also keep your cigarettes away from them. Smokers should wash their hands thoroughly before touching Anaheim pepper plants.

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