The Ideal Container Size For Pepper Plants

If you are growing your pepper plants in pots, you want to give the plants enough room to grow. Pepper plants require adequate space to mature and produce lots of fruit. The best container size for pepper plants will vary based on which variety you are growing.

In general, the larger the pepper variety, the larger the pot should be. For example, a bell pepper plant requires more space to grow and mature than a jalapeño pepper plant.

In this article, we’ll help you pick the right sized container for pepper plants. We’ll also share some of our favorite planters for sale online.

In This Article:

• What size pot for pepper plants?
• Best pots to buy for pepper plants
  • Cheapest pots
  • Affordable pots
  • Fabric grow bags
  • Modern containers

Container Size For Pepper Plants (Video)

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What Size Pot Is Best For Pepper Plants?

While the perfect planter does not exist for all peppers, there is an ideal range of soil volume. Generally, pepper plants need between 3-5 gallons of growing medium to produce a healthy yield. However, this varies based on the type of pepper.

For smaller pepper varieties, like habanero or ghost peppers, your pots should be at least 3 gallons. For larger varieties like bell peppers and poblanos, aim for a pot with 5 gallons or more.

Some pepper varieties can make use of 10 or even 15 gallons of soil medium. However, this large size container may be unsuitable for the home gardener.

3+ gallons/11 litres (small peppers):

• Serrano
• Thai chilies
• Cayenne
• Fresnos
• Aji charapita
• Other small pepper varieties

5+ gallons/19+ litres (large sized peppers):

• Bell peppers
• Poblano
• Habanero
• Ghost Pepper
• Chinense species varieties
• Any other large pepper variety

Keep in mind these are meant to be minimum container sizes for happy, healthy pepper plants. If you want to achieve larger harvests, grow in larger containers to allow your pepper plants to mature to their maximum size.

You can grow these varieties in smaller pots and still produce peppers. However, you will end up with smaller harvests, smaller peppers, and potentially stunted plant growth.

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The Cheapest Pots

For the frugal pepper gardener, look no further than the 5-gallon bucket. These are usually between $3-4 and can work well as a pepper plant container. Just be sure to drill some holes in the bottom for adequate water drainage.

While 5 gallon buckets are not the most aesthetically pleasing to put in your yard, they are a practical and affordable option.

Note that 5-gallon buckets are not made for growing plants, and that the plastic used may not be food-grade. Use them to grow peppers at your own discretion.

Get some on Home Depot here.

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Affordable & Attractive Pepper Plant Pots

These pots also come in many colors, perfect for color coding your plants, or simply making your garden more quirky and fun.

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Fabric Planter Grow Bags

One unique option for gardeners are plant grow bags. They are highly effective for faster plant growth because of their breathable walls. Fabric grow bags are affordable, collapsible, and easily stored after the growing season.

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Modern Planter Pots

If you want a modern look to your outdoor garden, you may find what you’re looking for on AllModern.com. You can also shop for attractive planters at department stores, gardening centers, Etsy, and even Goodwill!

For fancy, upscale planters, we recommend using a cheap nursery pot placed into your planter box, out of sight. Just check that the nursery pot will fit comfortably in your planter beforehand.

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Related:

• Pepper plant spacing
• How to make peppers grow faster
• Fertilizer for pepper plants
• Harvesting peppers

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I hope this article helps you understand what the best sized container for pepper plants is. Good luck with growing your peppers in pots this year!

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