GROWING NOTES

Don’t plant peppers outdoors until night temperatures are above 55°F (13°C). Prepare soil with aged manure or compost. Plant only robust seedlings with well-developed roots. Mulch plants to maintain even soil moisture. Stake or cage your plants to help support their heavy fruit set.

HARVEST AND USE

Ready to pick in late summer, pepper fruits start out green and ripen up to rich red, orange or golden yellow, depending upon variety. Edible at any stage, glossy, fully colored fruits have the best flavor and are high in vitamins A and C. Carefully cut rather than pull peppers from plants. Enjoy these pretty peppers sliced up raw, sautéed, stir fried or grilled.