Peppers are not vegetables as considered, they are fruits. There are different types of pepper available, some of which are sweet and some have a pungent spicy taste. Some pepper plants are fast-growing, and the others are slow.
Besides, some plants produce limited fruits and plenty of peppers. Before planting this plant and expecting a pepper plant loaded with colorful bright peppers, let’s know first when do pepper plants produce fruits.
When do pepper plants produce fruit?
Grown pepper plants take almost 50-150 days to produce fruit depending on the type. Plants grown from seed take longer than transplanted plants. Whereas sweet pepper takes 60 to 90 days, hot pepper takes 150 days to produce peepers. Pepper plants produce fruit for a lifetime before passing away.
There are both slow-growing and fast-growing peppers available. The growing period varies according to planting variations as well. Plants from seeds grow slower than transplanted ones.
If you sow pepper seeds, they will require about 150 days to grow mature. Propagated pepper plants usually require 60-90 days to mature which is almost half the time of the previous one. It also varies based on different species. Hot peppers take more time than sweet ones.
However, November to February is considered the most suitable time for planting pepper plants so that they can grow well during summer. By April and May, you can enjoy peppers from your plants.
Bell pepper plant:
Though most of us consider bell pepper as a vegetable, it is a fruit. Red and green bell peppers are enriched with vitamin C complemented by vitamin A and several minerals. They are good as green salads and also used in cooking.
It usually grows well in summer as it requires full sun and well-drained moist soil. Plantation of pepper plants is suggested 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. They are transplanted outdoors 2 to 3 weeks after the frost threat is gone.
It usually takes 60 to 90 days to mature. Propagated plants take less time than seeds. So, you would like to plant propagated ones in your garden. After 90 days, it will start producing peppers.
If you want the pepper to grow fast, transplant it, otherwise sow seeds.
Chili pepper plant:
Chili peppers are from the genus capsicum and are cultivated for their pungent taste. They are eaten both raw and cooked. They can be used in salad as well.
Growing chili pepper plants are almost the same as bell peppers. They usually take 75 days or more to grow up. Sowing seeds might be a lengthy process.
Things to know about pepper plant fruiting
Well, who doesn’t want to get pepper from their own plants! But there are few things to know about pepper plant fruiting.
The months of the year when pepper plants produce fruit:
Pepper plants grow well in summer. In summer, the sunshine is direct and the soil doesn’t remain wet. Peppers require direct sunlight and moist soil, not a wet one. These requirements can only be fulfilled during summer.
So, it is suggested to sow pepper seeds from November to February, 8 to 10 weeks before the frost so that the plants get enough sunlight during summer and grow well.
After 6-10 weeks, by April and May, they get mature and start producing peppers. Pepper plants can grow fruits all year. But you need to make sure that they are not affected by molds and the soil is not wet. Such inconvenience will lead them to unexpected passing away.
So plant them on time, take great care of your plants, and enjoy plenty of peppers the whole year.
Frequency of fruit production each year:
Peppers produce fruits all year. After summer, the monsoon period is the most suitable for them to produce peppers.
The summer season helps the plants to grow well with enough sunlight and the monsoon period keeps them moist and a well-drained potting system keeps them away from being wet.
Amount of pepper produced from a tree each year:
There are different types of pepper available around the world. Different peppers have different product ranges. For example, bell pepper plants can produce 2 to 4 peppers per plant and 8 to 10 plants per season.
On the other hand, chili peppers produce 30 to 60 spicy small fruits per plant. In a year, you can produce 120 to 150 chilies from a plant.
What causes a pepper plant not to bear fruit?
After taking so much care of your pepper plant if it doesn’t bear fruits, we know how disappointing it is. You may wonder if something was wrong with the seeds or if you’re not being able to pamper the plant properly.
Well, Pepper plants often don’t produce fruits when they are affected by a few factors. Here we’ve explanted some common reasons that stop a pepper plant from bearing fruits:
Wrong Temperature:
Peppers need a warm temperature to grow and produce fruits. They are warm-seasoned vegetables and cannot tolerate the too low temperature. Pepper plants prefer a temperature that’s around 60-80 degrees.
A temperature that’s below 50 degrees reduces the rate of fruit production in pepper plants. Low and frosting temperatures can delay the production of peppers in the plant. So temperature or weather is a reason why a pepper plant is not bearing fruits.
Inadequate pollination:
Poor pollination can lead to no fruits even after years. Wind helps the pepper plants to pollinate and then produce fruits. But if that pepper plant is placed somewhere the wind can’t reach it gets hard for the plant to complete pollination.
Thus it fails to transfer pollen from its flower to another flower and produce peppers.
The inadequate pollination process in pepper plants results in slow fruit production or no fruits at all. However, helping the plant by shaking or hand pollinating can make quick pollination in pepper plants.
Lack of nutrients:
Lack of nutrients can be caused by unwanted weeds and grass near the plants’ trunks as the crowd blocks the way for the pepper plant to absorb nutrients from the soil. Besides, less fertile soil, low quality, and insufficient fertilizer slowdowns fruit production in pepper plants.
Tips for encouraging fruiting on pepper plants:
You cannot just water a pepper plant twice and expect a plant full of bright peppers. There are many things that need to be taken care of in between. To have tons of healthy and fresh fruits frequently, you must concentrate on some factors.
Otherwise, you might end up having the plant only. Here are some tips to encourage fruiting on pepper plant for you to follow:
Choose the right time:
If you plant a pepper tree in winter and expect it to produce fruits within 2 months, that’s not possible. The plant may even lose its life due to low temperature and frost. So the first thing you must ensure is the right timing to plant the pepper seeds or staple.
Warm weather and soil are best for growing pepper plants. So it’s best to plant it in summer when the temperature is around 50-60 degrees celsius to avoid the colder weather.
Water the plant properly:
Watering is the first step in keeping any plant healthy and fruitful. But every plant has different requirements for water and so does a pepper plant.
Pepper plants bloom the best in warm weather thus they don’t prefer to have wet soil all day. It’s best to water a pepper plant every two to three days except it’s summer. In summer when the soil is always more or less dried you can water the plant every day in a moderate amount.
Overwatering lowers the chances of survival in a pepper plant and also affects its fruiting. Lack of water too can leave your pepper plant fruitless.
Use the correct fertilizer:
To boost fruit in a pepper plant you have to apply the right fertilizer. Though plants can absorb nutrients naturally from the soil, it’s important to add a fertilizer that will encourage plants’ fruiting.
Low nitrogen fertilizers can boost fruiting in pepper plants. Apart from this, you can use potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus-based fertilizers in the 5-10-10 rule to increase fruiting in a pepper plant.
Also, keep your plant’s trunk clean and let it have the sun to avoid calcium deficiency that slows down fruiting in pepper plants.
Final Thoughts:
Pepper plants grow fruits more or less all year round as they are perennial plants. Pepper plants’ fruit reaches its best in summer and lasts till the late autumn that’s till August. It takes about 9 to 13 weeks for a pepper plant to produce fruits. However, depending on pepper type time may vary.