Jessica ZanderCan you grow bell peppers from store-bought peppers? This is a question that many gardeners have asked themselves at one point or another. The answer is yes, you can grow bell peppers from store-bought peppers, but there are a few things you need to know.
This blog post will discuss the process of growing bell peppers from store-bought peppers and outline some of the critical steps you need to take. We will also provide some helpful tips for success.
So if you are interested in learning more about this topic, keep reading!
Contents
Can You Grow Bell Peppers from Store-Bought Peppers?
Some people grow bell pepper plants from scraps; the same applies to store-bought peppers. You can easily use store-bought pepper seeds for growing your peppers, but the seeds must be in excellent condition. You might have to settle for a hybrid plant if you opt for bell peppers.
Note that these varieties of bell peppers are grown chiefly for personal consumption and not for growing. Therefore, removing mature seeds from these bell peppers might not give you the taste, color, and size you’re looking for. However, with some care, your pepper seeds will germinate to produce a healthy pepper variety.
Materials to Grow New Pepper Plants
When you want to grow hot peppers from store-bought peppers, there are some materials you’ll need. Most of them are something you already have. If you don’t, they’re quite easy to obtain.
- Pepper Plant: You could opt for bell peppers as they’re the most popular choice. However, ensure they’re fresh peppers to get quality seeds. A single pepper should be enough for the planting process. This is because there are usually many seeds inside a pepper.
- Gardening Soil: Another material you’ll need is the soil to plant your seed. Any soil you prefer to grow your spicy vegetable would work just fine.
- Planting Container: The container for planting your bell peppers is also essential. You can use a small pot or a larger container. However, ensure it has holes to ensure well-drained soil when you plant your bell pepper seeds and prevent soggy soil. Size doesn’t matter when selecting a pot because when your pepper seedlings are ready, you’ll transplant them.
Extract & Prepare Your Pepper Seeds
Now that you have the materials to plant your bell pepper seeds, let’s talk about harvesting these seeds. It is an easy process that will only take a few minutes. However, cutting into mature peppers might produce seeds all over the place.
Start by cutting around the pepper’s stem, just at the top. Next, twist gently till the core of your ripe peppers comes free. When you pull it out, you’ll see that most of the seeds from your fresh peppers are still attached to the core.
Now, you can proceed to brush the seeds into a paper towel. Alternatively, you could use a paper envelope or any clean tray available. Some people use paper plates in this step. Next, spread the seeds out in a clean, single layer and then leave them in a safe location to let them dry for a couple of days. Afterward, you’re ready to grow your productive pepper plants.
How to Plant Your Pepper Seeds
To plant your fresh bell pepper seeds, get your seed trays and fill them with seed-starting potting mix. You should also wet the soil surface with non-chlorinated water. You can then plant the seeds at a depth of 1cm each.
If you’re using pots with soil, it’s best to plant 2 to 3 seeds for each cell to have a plant per cell. Although the seeds can touch, they shouldn’t overlap. Once you’re done, cover the seeds with a single layer of soil and water the soil. Loose, well-draining soil is vital for your bell peppers to grow.
Successful germination will occur after 7 to 14 days if you provide the proper temperature range and a quality seed-starter soil mix. Pepper seedlings prefer warm temperatures greater than 15°C as they’re ideal for germination. You can use a grow light before they’re ready for direct sunlight. Afterward, thin the seedlings till only the strong seedlings are left.
Now, provide your seedlings with essential nutrients, and after a couple of weeks in the seed tray, they’ll be ready for the garden. Although watering your plant is essential, don’t provide the seed starter soil mix with excess water.
The Best Store-Bought Peppers for Seeds
There are various varieties of peppers, and they come with their unique taste and texture. When choosing the best store-bought peppers for your garden, choose a variety that’s ideal for your climate.
However, sweet peppers don’t thrive in humid conditions; they prefer a cold climate. If you live in a location with many hours of sunlight, you should opt for serrano or jalapeno pepper plants.
You can check your organic food store for heirloom varieties of the jalapeno seeds, as they’re ideal for planting. When choosing your grocery store pepper seeds, you should also look out for open-pollinated varieties.
Most store-bought bell pepper seeds don’t sprout easily because they’re usually hybrid seeds. Hybrid varieties are not the best option if you’re looking for viable pepper seeds. You have to go for non-hybrid peppers or the open-pollinated varieties.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to grow green peppers or other seeds, it’s possible with the right material and conditions. Viable seeds you should go for are jalapeno seeds or open-pollinated varieties. Using a high-quality potting mix is also essential to growing potted pepper plants.
Although there are different bell pepper varieties, they’re easy to grow from scraps and stores. With a warm environment, regular watering, and loose, well-draining soil, your plant will be ready in no time.
I've been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
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Hello! I’m Jessica Zander, a garden coach and consultant based in the Boston area (zone 6b), offering virtual consultations across the country and Canada.
I’ve been passionate about gardening since the early 1990s, and in 2022, I launched You Can Do It Gardening to empower individuals to feel more confident in their gardening endeavors.
Following a 30-year career in nonprofit finance and operations, I transitioned out of that field in mid-June of 2023 due to the growing demand for coaching services. Interestingly, my years of presenting financial statements to boards and finance committees proved to be valuable experience for teaching people about gardening! I enjoy sharing skills, providing guidance and suggestions, and collaborating efficiently with clients to make significant improvements to their outdoor spaces, both small and large. I also regularly teach at the Arlington Continuing Education and Cambridge Adult Education.
My approach is direct and practical, akin to Mary Poppins, but tailored to your garden. Clients find satisfaction in saving money and taking pride in their own gardening achievements.
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