If you enjoy both the flavor and health benefits of peppers, growing them at home is one of the most rewarding additions you can make to your garden. In Pinal County, the sweet spot for planting pepper starts the month of March, once the threat of frost has passed. 

The first decision is variety, specifically how much heat you want. Plant tags list Scoville Scale ratings, which measure pepper heat. 

Plant peppers in a sunny, well-drained spot where peppers have not grown recently. They love warmth, so patience pays off. If possible, set plants out on a cloudy day to reduce transplant stress. Place them slightly deeper than they were in their containers and space plants 1 to 2 feet apart. 

If you are growing both sweet and hot peppers, keep them separated unless you want everything spicy. Consider staking or caging taller varieties to prevent broken stems from wind or heavy fruit loads. Once planted, water thoroughly. 

Peppers, like tomatoes, are heavy feeders. Use a balanced vegetable fertilizer and water well after feeding. Avoid over-fertilizing, which encourages leafy growth at the expense of fruit. 

Consistent watering is key throughout the season. Mulch helps retain moisture during the dry summer months, but avoid overwatering. Peppers prefer evenly moist soil that drains well. Saturated roots will stall production. 

It may feel wrong, but pinching off early blossoms helps. Removing those first flowers allows plants to focus on growth, leading to larger harvests later instead of a few small early fruits. 

Peppers can be harvested green, but flavor peaks when they reach their mature color. Always cut peppers from the plant with hand pruners rather than pulling them off, which can damage stems. The more you harvest, the more peppers the plant will produce. 

Peppers are refreshingly easy to grow. Choose your plants, put them in the ground, watch them take off and enjoy the bounty.

Wende Gehrt is a Pinal County Master Gardener.