Fall Peppers

Host: Gary Bachman, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist

Transcription:

One way to make your landscape look hot is to plant ornamental peppers today on Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

I’m what you would call a true chili head and really like the increase juice of peppers as ornamentals. Each year, there are more ornamental peppers being introduced to the landscape market.

Most ornamental peppers are packed in heat and edible. Besides the culinary heat, many of these peppers are colorful and have great potential for use in the landscape. There are many to choose from. Being small, green and purple foliage and a multicolored fruit. This can be a unique way to add interest to your garden. Most ornamental pepper swill begin set fruit as the temperatures start to heart up. So the best show is always saved for late summer and will continue producing through the fall season.

When the pepper plants are producing fruit, it is very common for the peppers to have different stages of coloration. This is a fantastic feature and provides for an ever-changing look in the landscape. Ornamental peppers prefer to grow on consistently moist soil, but don’t over water as the plants will not tolerate wet feet. Fertilize with a good slow release fertilizer early in the season but once fruit starts to set, no need to add additional nutrition.

I realize it’s too late for plantings this year, but if you’re interested, the seeds are available at many of the online seed houses.  A source I would recommend are my friends at the chili pepper institute at New Mexico State University  

I am horticulturist Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.