how close to plant peppers?

Discussion and tips for growing all types of peppers
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habitat-gardener
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how close to plant peppers?

#1

Post: # 69055Unread post habitat-gardener
Thu May 05, 2022 3:31 pm

Last year, I grew about 20 varieties (sweets and hots in different beds), 2-3 plants each, with the plants spaced an even distance apart (iirc, 16-18 inches). But recently I heard someone recommend planting two plants of the same variety very close together, so that they support and grow into each other.

I was wondering if it makes more sense to give one plant extra space, or to plant two of the same variety together, or even to plant the whole pepper bed at much closer spacing. One of my garden neighbors spaces his peppers very close so they can shade each other, but I don't know if they are all the same, all different, or mixed. (Other local gardeners put shade cloth over the whole pepper bed.) I'm going for variety, not production, since it's a garden not a farm. These are all community garden plots, so I can't tuck plants in-between ornamentals.

How have you used your garden space for peppers most efficiently?

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Tormato
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#2

Post: # 69057Unread post Tormato
Thu May 05, 2022 3:58 pm

I use my garden space most efficiently by growing Frank's, spaced about a foot apart.

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worth1
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#3

Post: # 69059Unread post worth1
Thu May 05, 2022 4:13 pm

Tormato wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 3:58 pm I use my garden space most efficiently by growing Frank's, spaced about a foot apart.
What kind of pepper is Frank's?
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

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karstopography
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#4

Post: # 69065Unread post karstopography
Thu May 05, 2022 5:03 pm

@worth1 https://gaiaorganics.ca/product/franks- ... per-plant/ 56 day, compact, elongated bell shape.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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karstopography
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#5

Post: # 69066Unread post karstopography
Thu May 05, 2022 5:11 pm

E238BABA-8238-47C9-980A-A7B86E7F1ADC.jpeg
8054D174-E838-429A-8CCB-DAB09906AFD3.jpeg
C3D608A2-EBD1-41EA-B749-29259A4185BB.jpeg
Interesting idea, the extra close planting for mutual support and shading.

I don’t think any of my 40 something pepper plants are closer than a foot apart. One bed I did closer together than the other bed. I also have a few scattered peppers in two more beds. They mostly all end up blowing over into other pepper plants so I end up staking them all. I kind of like the 14” plus or minus spacing. Some peppers get bigger than others. Even at spacing at 14-18”, they are already growing into each other.
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Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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Labradors
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#6

Post: # 69069Unread post Labradors
Thu May 05, 2022 5:36 pm

I learned about planting 2 pepper plants close together, then spacing as usual (as if it's just one plant). I've been doing that for a few years now. They do very well, seem to like the company, and it saves on garden space :).

Linda

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karstopography
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#7

Post: # 69081Unread post karstopography
Thu May 05, 2022 8:08 pm

@Labradors so when you say close, what are we talking about? Say you have two sweet peppers, Jimmy Nardellos, how far apart would each main stem be from each other?
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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Spike
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#8

Post: # 69086Unread post Spike
Thu May 05, 2022 9:42 pm

In my raised beds 2 X 2 foot, I plant 4 of the same pepper, my raised beds are fenced (just welded wire) in due to the neighbors cats. The plants and the fence support each other. Been working great for me for years now.
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jmsieglaff
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#9

Post: # 69087Unread post jmsieglaff
Thu May 05, 2022 10:10 pm

I grow all my peppers in 5 gallon buckets, two plants per bucket. They do wonderfully, so I think the two plant next to each other, regular space, two plants next to each other.......and on...and on... would be worth trying out.

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Tormato
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#10

Post: # 69088Unread post Tormato
Thu May 05, 2022 10:27 pm

I doubt if 2 plants next to each other would work well with Frank's. One plant by itself is very compact and dense.
Last edited by Tormato on Fri May 06, 2022 9:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#11

Post: # 69089Unread post Old chef
Thu May 05, 2022 10:55 pm

Peppers like to "Hold Hands". 1 plant per sq. ft. they create their own microclimate

Old Chef

mama_lor
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#12

Post: # 69102Unread post mama_lor
Fri May 06, 2022 6:21 am

As long as they get adequate light (with some pruning/trimming) it should benefit them. More roots are always better. Light is key though, depends a lot on how strong your sun is.
Example: Have you noticed that the peppers in the middle of your bed are having half the production of those in the corners? Then putting them even closer won't do any good.

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GoDawgs
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#13

Post: # 69112Unread post GoDawgs
Fri May 06, 2022 12:06 pm

Mine are planted down the middle of a 4' wide bed, 16-18" spacing. Then there are spring-sown carrots growing down both sides of the bed. It's worked well.

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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#14

Post: # 69118Unread post MissTee
Fri May 06, 2022 1:59 pm

karstopography wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 5:03 pm @worth1 https://gaiaorganics.ca/product/franks- ... per-plant/ 56 day, compact, elongated bell shape.
Thanks for your link to Frank’s pepper at the Gaia Organics website from Ottawa, Ontario.

If you hadn’t I wouldn’t have know this company is back up to their tricks of stealing photos. I contacted them earlier this year when I saw my tomato photo had been lifted. They apologized and offered me a $20 web code for their “error”.

In looking at the link you posted above, I thought why not look at more peppers? The sneaky folks there have taken another photo of mine without permission — this time a pepper. So then I had to look at the tomato plants and see they have also stolen another tomato image of mine.

Rant over. Sorry if I’ve derailed this post, but Gaia Organics in Ottawa is not very reputable.
Too many tomatoes, not enough time.

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worth1
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#15

Post: # 69119Unread post worth1
Fri May 06, 2022 2:04 pm

MissTee wrote: Fri May 06, 2022 1:59 pm
karstopography wrote: Thu May 05, 2022 5:03 pm @worth1 https://gaiaorganics.ca/product/franks- ... per-plant/ 56 day, compact, elongated bell shape.
Thanks for your link to Frank’s pepper at the Gaia Organics website from Ottawa, Ontario.

If you hadn’t I wouldn’t have know this company is back up to their tricks of stealing photos. I contacted them earlier this year when I saw my tomato photo had been lifted. They apologized and offered me a $20 web code for their “error”.

In looking at the link you posted above, I thought why not look at more peppers? The sneaky folks there have taken another photo of mine without permission — this time a pepper. So then I had to look at the tomato plants and see they have also stolen another tomato image of mine.

Rant over. Sorry if I’ve derailed this post, but Gaia Organics in Ottawa is not very reputable.
Not for sure who it was but the same thing happened to tomato growers supply a few years ago.
Someone robbed their photos and I emailed TGS and told them about it with the link to the offending people.
They responded promptly to me with a thank you.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

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You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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worth1
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#16

Post: # 69120Unread post worth1
Fri May 06, 2022 2:11 pm

As for the Frank's pepper thanks but I'm not interested.
It seems to not have any heat. :lol:
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

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You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Shule
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#17

Post: # 69129Unread post Shule
Fri May 06, 2022 5:03 pm

I planted a raised bed full of peppers, pretty close together, once. They weren't very productive. I don't recommend it. I'd say, space them at least 14" apart.

However, if you have great soil and growing conditions, and fertilize well, I imagine putting them closer together could be more effective.

Interestingly, one of my most prolific peppers last year was smothered by a tomato. I lifted up the tomato plant, and saw loads of big orange bell peppers underneath. :) It was supposed to be Purple Beauty, but as it was orange, I think it was mixed up seed, or a cross.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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YSEF
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#18

Post: # 74534Unread post YSEF
Sat Jul 23, 2022 10:43 am

The past two years many of my pepper plants - or even most - are double seedlings that are not even an inch apart. Then I use fairly close spacing of the singles/doubles (about 12-14 inches).
It is tight but was not underproductive last year. This year the configuration of the hoop is different and I'm growing about half the plants and I have yet to fully assess the productivity.
Some plants (Mountain Roaster sweet peppers) are not doing as well this year as last. But the Red Bananapeno are killing.

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ddsack
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#19

Post: # 74661Unread post ddsack
Mon Jul 25, 2022 10:02 am

I've never measured distance between my peppers, but I grow 9 rows down, 3 across in a 12'x4' raised bed, so 27 plants total. Each one is supported by a cheap small tomato cage to keep the bigger ones from flopping over their neighbors after wind and rain. I have just enough room between cages to get my hand in for needed weeding. Fertilize every few weeks. Works for me.

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Shule
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Re: how close to plant peppers?

#20

Post: # 74769Unread post Shule
Wed Jul 27, 2022 3:29 am

I prefer to grow them about two feet apart. Some varieties do better at closer range than that than others do (e.g. Corbaci did decently well compared to many others I grew in the same crowded conditions).

Crowding can affect fruit size and quality, too (not just production).
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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