Peppers (Capsicum spp.) are a warm-season vegetable that is well-suited for growing in a food forest in central Florida. They come in a wide range of varieties, from sweet to hot, and are known for their unique flavors and health benefits. Although traditionally thought of as an annual garden favorite, peppers can actually be a warm weather perennial plant.
When choosing varieties of peppers to grow in your food forest, consider selecting a mix of different cultivars that are well-suited to the specific growing conditions in your area. Some popular pepper varieties for central Florida include:
Bell peppers: These are the most common type of pepper and come in a variety of colors, including green, red, yellow, and orange. They are known for their sweet and mild flavor, and are great for cooking or eating raw.
Sweet peppers: in a variety of colors, including green, red, yellow, and orange, and are known for their sweet and mild flavor, making them great for cooking or eating raw. They are a great addition to any food forest or garden, and can be used in a variety of dishes, adding flavor, color and nutritional value.
Jalapeno peppers: These are a medium-hot pepper that are known for their unique, slightly spicy flavor. They are great for adding heat to a variety of dishes.
Habanero peppers: These are one of the hottest pepper varieties, known for their intense heat and fruity, slightly sweet flavor. They are commonly used in hot sauces and salsa.
Poblano peppers: These are a mild to medium-hot pepper that are known for their rich, smoky flavor. They are commonly used in Mexican dishes, such as chiles rellenos.
Hatch chile peppers: Known for their prominence in New Mexican cuisine where green chile goes on just about everything.
Carolina reapear peppers: Carolina Reaper peppers are one of the hottest pepper varieties, known for their intense heat and fruity, slightly sweet flavor. They are known to be one of the hottest peppers in the world, with a Scoville rating of over 1.5 million. They are considered a novelty pepper, and are not recommended for most culinary uses, but for those who enjoy extreme heat, they can be used in hot sauce or for creating spicy snacks.
Ghost peppers: Ghost peppers, also known as Bhut Jolokia, are extremely hot peppers that are known for their intense heat and unique smoky flavor. They are one of the hottest pepper varieties, with a Scoville rating of over 1 million. Like the Carolina Reaper, they are considered a novelty pepper, and not recommended for most culinary uses, but for those who enjoy extreme heat, they can be used in hot sauce or for creating spicy snacks.
Peppers are a love/hate relationship with most people. Either they can’t tolerate anything more than a jalapeno, or, if they like hot peppers, it can never be hot enough. Peppers prefer well-drained soil, full sun, and warm weather, making them an ideal vegetable to grow in central Florida. They can be planted directly in the ground or in a container, but make sure they get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Peppers should be planted in the early summer, after the last frost. When planting peppers, it’s best to start with seedlings, as it can be difficult to germinate pepper seeds directly in the ground. Seedlings can be purchased from a local nursery or garden center, or you can start your own seeds indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last frost date in your area. I find planting them in a seedling tray on top of a heating mat with a humidity dome gets the fastest germination.
When planting pepper seedlings, make sure to choose a location that receives full sun, and has well-draining soil. Peppers prefer warm weather and high humidity, making them well-suited to the climate in central Florida. Space seedlings about 18-24 inches apart, in rows that are 2-3 feet apart, in the ground or in a container.
Peppers require consistent watering, but be careful not to over-water, as they do not tolerate soggy soil. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Applying a layer of mulch around the base of the plants can help to retain moisture in the soil.
Fertilize pepper plants every 4-6 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, following package instructions. Keep an eye out for any pests or diseases that might affect the plants, and take appropriate action if necessary.
Peppers typically take about 60-90 days to reach maturity and be ready for harvest, depending on the variety. Bell peppers will take longer to mature.