Sweet Peppers in Zone 10B — Florida

Sweet peppers are a fantastic addition to any Florida garden. Their sweet flavor and crisp texture are delicious raw or cooked, and they bring a burst of color to your plate. Plus, growing your own lets you enjoy fresh, flavorful peppers even during our mild winters when other parts of the country are snowed in.

Our Florida gardening calendar is different, and we face unique challenges like humidity and sandy soil. But with the right timing and techniques, you can absolutely grow beautiful sweet peppers. Our long, 360-day growing season gives us plenty of opportunity, especially if you plant in fall and harvest in winter.

For those of us in Zone 10B, starting sweet pepper seeds indoors gives you a head start. Aim to sow your seeds from mid November through early December. This gives the seedlings about 8 weeks to develop before transplanting.

Use seed trays or small pots filled with a good seed-starting mix. Keep them warm (around 75-80°F) and provide plenty of light—a grow light works wonders. A little trick is to water from the bottom to encourage strong root growth. Just set the tray in a shallow dish of water until the soil surface looks moist. Remember, spring is reversed here; we're starting seeds as other areas are winding down!

Transplant your sweet pepper seedlings outdoors from mid January through mid February. Before planting, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week. This helps them adjust to the sun and wind.

Space your pepper plants about 18-24 inches apart in well-drained soil. At this time of year, we usually have mild days, but keep an eye out for any unexpected cold snaps. A little frost protection fabric can save your seedlings if temperatures dip.

Consistent watering is key to growing sweet, thick-walled peppers here in Florida. Our sandy soil drains quickly, and our hot summers can stress plants. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on rainfall.

Stick your finger about 2 inches into the soil. If it feels dry, it's time to water. In the rainy season, you might not need to water at all, but during drier periods, you'll need to water deeply. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal diseases in our humid climate.

Signs of underwatering include wilting leaves and small, misshapen peppers. Overwatering can lead to yellowing leaves and root rot. A layer of mulch, like pine straw or wood chips, helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, which is always a plus.

While not always necessary, providing support for your sweet pepper plants can be beneficial, especially as they become laden with fruit. Some varieties get quite large and can topple over, especially after a heavy rain.

Stakes, cages, or even a simple trellis work well. Install the support at planting time to avoid disturbing the roots later. As the plant grows, gently tie the stems to the support using soft twine or plant ties.

Pinching off the first few flowers that appear on your sweet pepper plants encourages them to focus on vegetative growth, leading to stronger plants and higher yields later in the season. It might seem counterintuitive, but it really works!

Simply remove the blossoms as soon as you see them. Otherwise, leave the plant alone. As the end of our growing season approaches around late December, you can remove any remaining flowers to encourage the plant to put its energy into ripening existing fruit.

You can expect your first harvest of sweet peppers from late March through mid May, about 65 days after transplanting. The peppers are ready to pick when they've reached their full size and have developed their mature color, whether that's green, yellow, orange, or red.

Sweet peppers actually get sweeter the longer they ripen on the plant, so don't be afraid to leave them on a little longer. To harvest, use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut the stem just above the pepper. Be careful not to damage the plant. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. As the first frost approaches around late December, harvest any remaining peppers, even if they're still green. They'll ripen indoors in a warm spot.

Sweet peppers are generally easy to grow, but here in Florida, we do face a few common problems: blossom drop, aphids, sunscald, and blossom end rot.

Blossom Drop

• What it looks like: Flowers fall off without setting fruit. Small fruit yellows and drops.
• What causes it: High temperatures (nights above 75°F, days above 95°F), low humidity, excess nitrogen, or poor pollination. Our hot summers can definitely cause this.
• How to fix/prevent it: Be patient, fruit set resumes when temperatures moderate. Provide afternoon shade. Keep plants well-watered. Avoid excess nitrogen. Try hand-pollination.

Aphids

• What it looks like: Clusters of tiny insects (green, black, or white) on stems and leaf undersides. Sticky honeydew residue. Curled or distorted new growth.
• What causes it: Rapid-reproducing sap-sucking insects. Populations explode in warm weather. Our warm, humid climate is perfect for them.
• How to fix/prevent it: Strong water spray knocks them off. Encourage ladybugs and lacewings. Insecticidal soap for heavy infestations. Neem oil works systemically. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer.

Sunscald

• What it looks like: White, papery patches on fruit exposed to direct sun.
• What causes it: Intense, direct sunlight on fruit — usually after leaves are removed or lost to disease.
• How to fix/prevent it: Don't over-prune foliage. Use shade cloth in extreme heat. Maintain healthy foliage to shade fruit naturally.

Blossom End Rot

• What it looks like: Sunken, dark brown or black leathery patch on the bottom of the fruit.
• What causes it: Calcium deficiency caused by inconsistent watering.
• How to fix/prevent it: Water consistently. Mulch heavily to maintain even soil moisture. Don't over-fertilize with nitrogen. Remove affected fruit.

Florida Specific Challenges: Our hot, humid climate and wet-summer rainfall can exacerbate these problems. High humidity promotes fungal diseases, so ensure good air circulation around your plants. Wet weather can lead to inconsistent soil moisture, contributing to blossom end rot. Also, nematodes can be a problem in our sandy soil, so consider using nematode-resistant varieties or growing in raised beds.

Companion planting can be a great way to improve the health and productivity of your sweet pepper plants here in Florida. Tomatoes are excellent companions because they share similar growing requirements and can offer some shade during the hottest part of the day. Basil is another good choice, as it repels pests like aphids and whiteflies.

Carrots and onions are also beneficial, as they help to deter soil-borne pests. Spinach makes a good ground cover, helping to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Avoid planting fennel, kohlrabi, or brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli) near your peppers, as they can inhibit growth or attract pests.