Growing Peppers in Pots & Containers at Home
March 25th, 2025 | Categories
Growing sweet peppers in pots and containers at home is a great way to grow a good crop of fresh peppers to enjoy. What makes it even better is that it is relatively easy to do, and the versatility that pots and containers offer, means that you can place them indoors if you don’t have a greenhouse. Peppers need little attention too once established; they will grow and produce throughout the growing season quite happily. Being a tropical plant, they require a lot of sun and consistent warmth to crop well – if they don’t get this they may not crop as well, but we’ll cover that in greater detail later to keep you on the right track.
Growing sweet peppers is very straightforward for experienced and new gardeners alike. Usually, once they are established and planted, they’ll need little attention from you. But, with some more care and attention, they’ll really flourish giving you a good crop. In this guide we will focus on growing from seed, which does require a little more effort, but rest assured it is all very uncomplicated, and quite rewarding. However, there’s also details on growing from a young plant which makes the process even easier.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know so you can confidently grow sweet peppers like bell peppers in pots or containers at home. Let’s get started!erything you need to know so you can confidently grow sweet peppers like bell peppers in pots or containers at home. Let’s get started!
Why Grow Sweet Peppers at Home in Pots?
Sweet peppers are immensely popular in the UK for their versatility, nutrients, and flavour. We can chop them up and throw in a salad, use as a pizza topping, roast them, and bake with a great stuffing. While they’re a great addition to our plates, they’re also quite expensive to buy regularly. Growing them at home is straightforward for even new gardeners with the right conditions and doesn’t take up a lot of space either. Additionally, a single plant can produce up to 20 peppers over the growing season, which makes growing your own very economical. They’re also very easy to grow and suffer from fewer diseases than other plants.
Another pro is the variety you have to choose from. There are more sweet peppers out there than the eponymous green, yellow or red bell peppers you see mostly in supermarkets. There are many different types with their own colours, shapes, sizes and unique flavours. But even if you simply want to grow your own fresh bell peppers at home, we can guarantee a noticeable flavour difference over store bought.
You’ll get more of the goodness too. Peppers are full of vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid, and are a source of fibre. In the supermarket the sweet peppers we buy are grown with a focus in longevity at the expense of things like flavour. They’re also subject to numerous pesticides, fertilisers and chemicals to ensure a successful crop.
And as for growing them in pots this means they can be moved to sunnier and warmer spots as needed or even brought indoors during cooler patches of weather, keeping conditions optimal for good cropping! With so many good reasons, it’s hard to come up with reasons for not giving it a go.
General Sowing and Harvesting Timescale for Peppers
The general growing season for peppers is from January to September. Peppers need a long growing season and from seed you will start the process off in January as long as you can meet the right conditions. This depends on being able to keep them warm consistently, so if you cannot give them what they need naturally, a heat mat or propagator is a necessary purchase. Otherwise, you may need to wait until ambient temperatures are much warmer, depending on where you are in the UK. You can sow seeds up until early April, but it means your peppers won’t be ready for harvest until later in the season. Starting the process off early means you could have peppers producing as soon as late May or June depending on the varieties you are growing.
So, consider all the factors and get a good idea of your plan ahead of time.
The Guide – How to Grow Sweet Peppers in Pots & Containers
Now you know a bit more about peppers you’re almost ready to get started growing your own at home in pots and containers. It pays to know what to do in advance so read through our guide first. We’ll take you through growing from seed to harvest but you can also grow from young plants which are available from any good garden centre in late spring/early summer.
Growing from Seed
You can buy most seed varieties throughout the year. However, the best time to start sowing your seeds will be indoors from as early as January if the conditions are right. Rest assured it does not take much effort and can be very rewarding starting at this stage.
- Timing: Sow seeds indoors from January to early April. Starting early gives peppers the long growing season they need.
- Materials Needed:
- Pepper seeds of your chosen variety.
- Small starter pots or trays.
- High-quality vegetable compost.
- A heat mat or propagator for consistent warmth (above 20°C).
- Planting: Fill pots with compost to the top and level off, place one seed per pot at a depth of 5cm, and water lightly to moisten the soil, not overly wet. Place pots in a warm, sunny spot on the heat mat or in the propagator.
- Care Tips for Seedlings:
- Seeds usually sprout within 8 – 10 days, but if it takes a bit longer don’t worry.
- Keep the soil lightly moist but avoid overwatering.
- Once seedlings reach 2 – 3cm tall, thin them out and prepare for transplanting.
Top tip, as the seedlings appear, if you keep the soil on the drier side, it will encourage the roots to develop more.
Growing from Young Plants
If starting from seed feels too daunting, you can purchase young plants from a garden centre during the growing season. The great thing about this is the effort to cultivate young seedlings has been done for you. Simply transplant them into larger containers and follow the care instructions below
Transplanting Your Seedlings and Young Plants
Now your seedlings can be moved to their final containers. How exciting!
- Choosing Containers: Use pots or containers at least 30cm deep and wide. Ensure good drainage with holes at the bottom.
- Soil: Fill containers with nutrient-rich vegetable compost.
- Spacing: Leave 15 – 20cm between plants if using larger containers for multiple plants.
- Placement: Position containers in a warm, sunny spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight daily.
When you go to transplant the seedlings, gently dig them out of their starter containers or pots, and place them in their final spots, approximately 15cm apart. Planting them together does help, but you don’t want them too close that they can’t expand and take in lots of good nutrients to grow.
As for considering your spot, decide if you can move the filled containers or pots easily. If you cannot do this because they are too large and heavy, then considering your spot becomes even more important. Peppers need warmth and lots of sunshine to really thrive and must get a minimum of six hours of sun daily with a warm ambient temperature.
Bear in mind that the UK weather is very changeable. While peppers could be grown outdoors realistically it would have to be under cover in a grow house or greenhouse to provide shelter and consistent warmth and to protect them from heavy rains.
Caring for Your Plants
Peppers are relatively low maintenance but thrive with consistent care:
- Watering: Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water little and often to prevent issues like blossom end rot.
- Fertilising: Once flowers appear, use a high-potash fertiliser (e.g, tomato feed) to support fruit production.
- Staking: Tall varieties may require support as fruit develops. Use stakes or cages to prevent stems from leaning and breaking.
- Pruning: Pinch off early flowers or side shoots to encourage strong growth and a better yield.
Watering is the primary thing the pepper plants will need. The soil needs to be moist but never water-logged. Aim to be consistent with your watering and do it little and often to prevent problems.
Some pepper plant varieties can grow tall, above 70cm, and as peppers form, they can sag under the weight. Watch out for this ahead of time and stake them to provide the support they need to keep growing and producing.
Harvesting Your Sweet Peppers
- When to Harvest: Sweet peppers are typically ready between July and September. Harvest green for a crisp flavour or let them ripen to red, yellow, or orange for added sweetness.
- How to Harvest: Use scissors or secateurs to cut peppers from the plant, leaving a small stem attached. Avoid pulling to prevent damage.
Your peppers should be ready for harvest sometime between July and September, perhaps even as late as October if the conditions can be maintained. You are free to pick them when they’re green or leave them to ripen to their final red or yellow colour (depending on the variety grown) which will also give them a sweeter flavour. Another key sign of when they are ready for picking is the skin; it will be shinier. Once peppers are harvested give your plants another feed with a high-potash fertiliser to encourage more peppers.
Storing Your Peppers
Freshly harvested peppers taste best but can be stored for later use:
- Refrigeration: Keep for up to 5 days in a fridge.
- Freezing: Slice and freeze peppers for long-term storage.
- Drying: Some varieties can be dried and ground into powders for seasoning.
Best Sweet Pepper Varieties for Pots & Containers
Choose varieties suited to your taste and container size. Here are some excellent options:
- Ace: Blocky, red peppers with great flavour.
- Atris: Horn-shaped peppers known for high yields.
- Bell Boy: This is a reliable and good cropping variety that produces nice and chunky peppers.
- Calimero: Produces rounded, uniform, medium sized red peppers that are great for stuffing.
- Corno di Toro Rosso: Long, pointy red peppers that can grow up to 20cm long.
- Diablo: Produces large, red, pointed horn-shaped peppers that have a great flavour.
- Mohawk: Compact, dwarf variety with yellow fruit, perfect for small spaces.
- Sweet Chocolate: Uniquely brown peppers with a rich, sweet flavour.
- Corno di Toro Rosso: Long, crisp red peppers.
- Purple Beauty: Stunning deep-purple bell peppers.
- Topgirl: Fast-cropping, medium-sized peppers ideal for stuffing.
- Redskin: A dwarf pepper variety producing short stumpy peppers but with good yields. Also produces well on a windowsill or in a conservatory.
Common Problems & Solutions
While peppers are relatively trouble-free, here are some issues to watch for:
- Blossom End Rot: Caused by irregular watering. Keep soil consistently moist.
- Red Spider Mites: Mist plants regularly to deter these pests in hot, dry conditions.
- Aphids: Rare indoors but can be managed with soapy water or natural insecticides.
The Rewards of Growing Sweet Peppers at Home
Growing sweet peppers in pots or containers is not only easy but also rewarding. With proper care, you’ll enjoy a steady supply of fresh, flavourful peppers throughout the season allowing you to pick when ripe for a quick wash and chop right into your summer salads. Plus, it is a fantastic way to experiment with unique varieties and flavours not found in supermarkets. Although if you just want to grow your own bell peppers the flavour difference will be significant. Just remember, in winter the plants will die, but now you have the process and necessary tools, you can get started again when January rolls around. Have fun and see how you get on!
Useful Links
- Shop Online for Seeds & Bulbs
- Growing Tomatoes from Seed to Harvest (Article)
- Growing Carrots from Seed to Harvest (Article)
- Growing Onions from Seed to Harvest (Article)
- Growing Potatoes from Planting to Harvest (Article)
- Growing Chillies from Seed to Harvest (Article)
- Grow Your Own Herbs (Article)
- Grow Your Own Strawberries (Article)
