Choosing The Best Fertilizer For Pepper Plants

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When growing peppers, it is easy to feel unsure of your fertilizing habits. Am I fertilizing too often? Not enough? Is this Miracle-Gro even any good for my plants? Is it safe for veggies? I’ve been there, too.

After testing dozens of fertilizers, we now have a tried-and-true method for growing healthy and productive pepper plants. In this article, I’ll go through some of the best fertilizers for pepper plants. This will include both organic and chemical versions to suit all growers.

Quick summary: This all-purpose fertilizer (organic) does well for in-ground planting. This fertilizer trio (not all organic) is great for potted plants. This is another good option for year-round feeding in any planting setup.

Fertilizing Peppers (Video):

There are countless fertilizer brands on the market today and most seasoned gardeners have their favorite. However, some are certainly better than others. The basic fertilizer regimen we use for peppers will work for a wide variety of fruiting plants, especially those grown in containers.

For peppers, we usually use two fertilizers through the growing season. The first fertilizer encourages leafy growth and root development, while the second stage fertilizer encourages flower and fruit production. I’ll share which fertilizers we use, when and how often we use them, and where to buy them.

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Fertilizer Grades and Contents

On the packaging of most fertilizers, you will find a 3-digit number. This is an important number as it represents the percentages of three important elemental nutrients. It is called the fertilizer grade or NPK ratio.

These numbers will look something like this:

• 5-5-5
• 4-1-4
• 12-0-4

The first number represents the amount of nitrogen (N), the second number is the amount of phosphate (P₂O₅), and the last number is the amount of potash (K₂O) in the fertilizer. This is a labeling requirement for all fertilizers, and it is essential to understanding how the fertilizer will feed your pepper plants.

So what ratio is best?

Based on nutrient analysis of healthy pepper plant tissue, a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 4-1-4 is best for growing peppers. However, this is assuming that your soil doesn’t contain any of these nutrients to begin with. If you are growing in containers, a 4-1-4 fertilizer will work perfectly.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a fertilizer with this ideal ratio, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. Anywhere from an even ratio (ex. 5-5-5), to a 5-1-5 will work well. And frankly, most “all-purpose” fertilizers fall somewhere near this range.

What Do These Nutrients Do?

The primary nutrients are those used most by plants (that aren’t available in the air). Here are the 3 primary nutrients and their roles in plant growth.

• Nitrogen is first because it is the most important element for foliage production and overall plant health. Nitrogen is essential to the process of photosynthesis and new leafy growth. This is why lawn fertilizers typically have a large amount of nitrogen. It is also quick to deplete from soil, as rainfall can wash this nutrient away.
• Phosphate is a nutrient that gives plants phosphorus, an essential nutrient in most life forms, allowing plants to take in energy from the sun.
• Potassium is essential to plant life because of its role in water and nutrient movement throughout the plant’s tissue. Without potassium, the regulation of photosynthesis could also be compromised.

Secondary Nutrients

While the main three nutrients are the most important, there are several secondary nutrients and trace elements, that are also critical for ideal growth of peppers.

• Calcium helps with cellular development in pepper leaves and fruits. If your fertilizer does not contain calcium, be sure that your soil does (most native soil has plenty). If you need to, you can amend your soil with bone meal to add calcium.
• Magnesium is important for healthy, green foliage. A magnesium deficiency can cause stunted plant growth and inter-veinal yellowing. Epsom salt is one method to amend soil with magnesium and sulfur, but should only be added if you know it is lacking.

Best Fertilizers For Pepper Plants

When you plant a pepper seed, the seed itself contains the nutrients required to germinate and become a small seedling. However, after just a few days, the plant will require additional nutrients from the soil.

Great All-Around Fertilizer

Another easy option is a slow release, all-purpose fertilizer like Garden Tone. These granulated blends contain all the primary and secondary nutrients that peppers need to thrive. They can also last for months before needing replenishment.

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Another option we’ve seen great results from is Fox Farm’s trio of fertilizers. They have a straight-forward feeding schedule which makes the growing process a lot easier, especially for potted plants. These are best used in a controlled environment (potted plants, indoor growing, etc.) to avoid nutrient washout.

Also, be careful not to over-feed with these nutrients – they can burn!

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How To Fertilize Peppers

Many casual gardeners fertilize whenever they remember to do it. This is not ideal, as you may be over or under-feeding your plants. To get the most out of your pepper plants, you’ll want to keep track of when you fertilized last and stick to a schedule.

When to Start Fertilizing

Once your plants have sprouted their first true set of leaves, the plants need nutrients from the soil. If you start seeds in seed starting mix, the soil likely does not contain any nutrients. That is why it is important to begin fertilizing as soon as the plants need it.

For most pepper varieties, fertilizing should begin about 1 week after the seeds have sprouted. After the first feeding, you can usually wait 2-3 weeks before re-applying since the plants grow slowly early on. However, fertilizer will play an essential role in forming healthy roots at this stage, as well as strong stems and leafy growth.

If your seeds were planted in a nutrient-rich medium, hold off on fertilizing until they are established in a final planting location. Compost, potting mix, and other soils often contain all the nutrients that peppers need, in which case there is no need to add more!

Frequency

Aside from the initial fertilizing (the first ~3-5 weeks of growth), we simply follow the packaging guidelines. Most fertilizers are administered weekly or bi-weekly for potted plants. Don’t over-fertilize and expect good things to happen! Pepper plants require a steady supply of nutrients, not an abundance of nutrients all at one time.

Note: If you plant in a medium that has built-in nutrients (potting soil, etc.), hold off on fertilizer until the plants are more mature and have used the available nutrients.

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Nutrient Burn and Flushing

If you provide too much fertilizer, your pepper plants will show you. Leaves will develop brown spots, usually towards the edge of the leaf.

If you notice brown spots and have ruled out disease, you may be over-feeding your plants. Non-organic liquid nutrients are the most likely to cause nutrient burn, since they are immediately available for plant use. One option is to flush the nutrients from the soil to reduce the amount of excess compounds.

To flush your potted pepper plants, water the plants with plain water, allowing the excess water to flow out of the pot’s drainage holes. This process washes away some of the excess nutrients from the soil and root system.

If your plants are in a raised bed or in the ground, simply water without nutrients, skipping a few weeks of fertilizing. Basically, allow time for the fertilizer to be used by the plants before adding more.

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Soil pH

While nutrients are what fuel healthy pepper plant growth, the pH of your soil is arguably just as important. Most peppers grow best in a soil pH between 5.8-6.8, or slightly acidic soil.

Why is pH important, you ask? Well, if the pH is too low or too high, your pepper plants may not be able to access and use the nutrients from the soil, even if they are present. This is called ‘nutrient lockout’ and can be detrimental to productivity and overall plant health.

You can test your soil’s pH with a simple meter, though the readings are often inaccurate. If you suspect you have alkaline soil, you can get a soil test.

Read Next:

• Pepper leaves turning yellow
• Pepper leaves curling
• How to grow peppers from seed

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I hope this article helps you choose the best fertilizer for your pepper plants. Remember, it’s important to “listen” to your plants. If a plant is unhealthy or nutrient deficient, you’ll know it!

What works for some people in certain climates may not work for others, so experiment with new feeding regimens. What’s your favorite fertilizer? Feel free to leave questions or suggestions in the comments below.

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