GROW IT
Some like it hot
October 1, 2009
Sonia Day
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Peppers Capsicum
Pity poor peppers. To grow properly, they must have heat, lots of it – and mine had a rough summer, thanks to all the rain and cool nights. The unreliability of Mother Nature is the main reason why virtually all the bell peppers on sale in supermarkets come from massive greenhouses.
Peppers are a good bet for urban gardeners because they adapt well to containers. Pots must be at least 12 inches (or 30 cm) in diameter and it's best to buy started plants (from seed, peppers take too long in Canada). If spring nights are cool, haul the containers indoors, or the flowers may fall off and you'll wind up with no fruit. Then put them out again next morning. This rule applies to all peppers.
A pot of little chile peppers turning from green to red on the deck also looks very decorative. But if you want to eat yours, pick varieties such as jalapeño and hot Hungarian. The ornamental kind do not taste as good.
Sonia Day's latest book is Middle-Aged Spread – Moving to the Country at 50. soniaday.com
Toronto Star