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How To Grow Bell Peppers From Scraps – 10 Steps Guide

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Ever wonder what to do with those last few pieces of bell pepper that are too small or weird-looking to use fresh? If you’ve never thought about growing your own, then you’re missing out.

You can grow one of these beautiful plants from just a scrap! This article will tell you how to grow bell peppers from scraps.

Bell peppers are a popular vegetable garden addition for most gardeners. Peppers are delicious cooked or raw in a variety of cuisines. They can be frozen and used in meals throughout the winter.

Regardless of size, color, or flavor, all peppers are produced and propagated in the same way. As a result, this could be a simple gardening endeavor. Here’s how to grow bell peppers from scraps:

How To Grow Bell Peppers From Scraps
Bell Peppers via pxhere.com

 A Step by Step Guide on How to Grow Bell Peppers From Scraps

Bell pepper scraps are commonly obtained from leftovers. It’s worth noting that the leftovers you’ll be growing should come from mature, overripe bell peppers. Overripe fruits typically contain natural seeds and produce the finest outcomes.

Method 1

1. Cut the bell peppers in half, remove the seeds with a little knife, and then spread them out on a clean tray and keep them in the sun. If you don’t have a tidy tray to spread them on, a paper towel can substitute.

2. Allow the tray or paper towel to dry completely after being exposed to the sun for at least two days. You don’t want to keep the seeds out in the sun for too long since they may lose viability.

As a result, they should not be exposed to the sun for longer than two days. You can also dry them by putting them in the shade or front of a fan. In any case, make sure they dry properly.

3. After the seeds have dried, grab a pot and top it with a high-quality potting mix, then scatter the bell pepper seeds over the soil.

4. Cover the seeds with a fine coating of potting mix, making sure they are not immersed too deeply. Now carefully press the potting mix with your hands.

5. Water your seeds next to help them acclimate to their new surroundings. You would like to avoid overwatering the seeds while doing this. You should also make sure the soil is moistened but not saturated.

6. After you’ve completed all of the previous processes, place the pot in partial shade and keep a very close eye on it.

7. Allow the seedlings to be exposed to the outside atmosphere for a few hours each day; you can progressively expand the time.

8. After 5-6 days of seeding, your seeds will begin to germinate. Your seedlings will be large enough after 10 days and will be ready to transplant in one month.

9. After your seedlings have produced at least four genuine leaves, you can transfer them to garden soil. Make sure the soil temperature is between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. Seedlings of bell peppers should be spaced 12 to 24 inches apart and planted in well-drained potting soil. Also, please make certain that their root balls are well-protected.

How To Grow Bell Peppers From Scraps 2
Bell Peppers via pixabay.com

Method 2

Materials Needed

  • 1 teepee style wooden plant stake (found in the garden center)
  • 2 zip ties
  • 1 bell pepper scrap, long enough to tie to a stake
  • Watering can or hose with sprinkler head

1. Take the wooden plant stake and push it about an inch into the dirt so that there is a little hole left when you pull it back out.

2. Attach zip tie to the top of the stake about 6 inches from the end. Place scrap bell pepper piece at the bottom of the zip tie so that it rests against or just inside, depending on how big your plant is, and loop tie around the belt for support.

3. Put the stake in the ground where you want to grow your plant (the teepee style works best for this purpose).

4. If the weather is hot and sunny, water plant every day or two so that everything stays nice and moist. Otherwise, give it a good drink every 5-7 days to keep the soil moist but not soggy.

5. That’s all there is to growing bell peppers from scraps! You should see sprouts popping up from the soil within a few weeks. In a few more weeks, you’ll have beautiful bell pepper plants that are just waiting to produce some delicious veggies for you!

If it takes longer than 6-8 weeks to see any signs of life, your scrap may not be viable or is taking too long due to environmental factors. Try again with a different scrap.

If you notice anything unusual about your plant, such as holes, discolorations, leaves falling off, or the stem beginning to split open, try transplanting it immediately and keep watch on any other plants nearby so you can treat them if necessary.

Tips to Grow Healthy Bell Peppers

  • Be aware that pepper plants are very sensitive to environmental factors like heat and cold. If it gets too hot or cold where you are, your plant may develop brown spots on the leaves and other problems due to this, so be sure it’s protected accordingly.
  • Peppers require pollination by bees to produce fruit. You can help out your little bee friends by shaking or tapping branches every day or so while flowers are in bloom. This will help bees out and give them a chance to do their work.
  • If you have bad soil, use a fertilizer labeled for veggies with no added nitrogen or phosphorous (these ingredients burn plants) at the rate listed on the container. Nitrogen is often found in manure-based fertilizers, but if it says 4-2-4 or something similar, that is too concentrated and will burn your plants.
  • Keep an eye on those leaves; pepper plants need lots of sunlight, but over-exposure can cause sunburned spots, browning, and loss of leaves, as well as other problems which you can look up online. If this occurs for some reason, try giving your plant a deep drink of water.
  • Pepper plants are annuals, so you need to bring them inside for winter storage after the growing season is over. Cut back any remaining leaves, remove stakes if desired, cut pepper fruit away from branches by slicing along the stem but leaving the base intact (don’t use scissors or you’ll cut into the stem and damage your plant), let pods dry out on a paper towel or slightly-moist surface then store them for next year in a dry, well-ventilated location.
  • Keep an eye on diseases that affect pepper plants but don’t worry too much if you see a few of these on a pepper plant. They may make the leaves look bad, but they rarely kill a healthy, robust plant. If you have a problem, search online for the name of the disease, and you’ll find it will tell you what to look out for.

Final Remarks

Follow the steps in this guide, and you will be growing bell peppers from scraps in no time! As always, it’s good to read up on any problems that you might encounter with your new baby plant, so do a little research online to see if there’s anything new and different about the growth process. Hopefully, you’ve figured out how to grow bell peppers from scraps by now.

Peppers are rather simple to grow once you understand their basic requirements. The steps are similar whether you’re growing bell peppers from seeds, scraps, or store-bought peppers.

Ensure to plant them in the correct potting mix, don’t overwater them, and keep them free of illnesses and pests, and you’ll have a bumper crop of bell peppers in no time.