Pepper Plant Spacing – How Far Apart To Plant Peppers?

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If you are planning to grow peppers in either a raised bed or a garden bed, you’ll want to make sure you have your pepper plant spacing right. Every plant needs a different amount of space to thrive.

Some vegetables need several feet of space between plants, like squashes and tomatoes. Others need just a few inches, like carrots and bush beans. Spacing between pepper plants varies from one variety to another. So in this article, I’ll share spacing suggestions for popular pepper types.

Quick answer: In general, peppers should be spaced at 18-24″ between plants, stem to stem. For larger varieties, more space may be beneficial for easy access while harvesting.

General Pepper Plant Spacing

Different pepper plant varieties have different growth patterns from others. Some tend to grow wide and bushy, while others grow tall and slender. Leaf size and density are also highly variable.

Generally speaking, if you are growing peppers in the ground, they will likely not grow much taller than 3-4 feet during a single season. Many varieties will stay even smaller.

So, how much space do peppers need between plants? For most varieties, pepper plants should be spaced around 18 inches between plants. Larger varieties can be given slightly more space, but will usually not need much more than 18 inches. This spacing will prevent the plants from competing for space both above and below ground.

I have experimented with spacing closer and farther apart, and have found 18″ to be the sweet spot for plant health and ease-of-access. If you space your plants any closer, they may compete for light and root space. Overly-tight spacing also restricts airflow which can cause other pepper plant problems.

One great reason to use closer spacing is that the plants can help support each other and prevent wind damage. An individual pepper plant without support is vulnerable to storm damage. If it has a few other plants nearby, it is less likely to fall over or have broken branches.

With that said, you can space your pepper plants as far away from each other as you’d like. These spacing guidelines are meant to maximize your garden space.

Spacing for Bell Peppers

Bell pepper plants are fairly standard in size compared to other pepper varieties. I recommend spacing bell peppers at 18 inches (46 cm) between plants. Though the plants are usually on the slender side, the root systems can be extensive, requiring a bit of extra space. I prefer to be on the safe side to maximize our pepper yields.

Bell peppers are among the largest pepper varieties, and also the most commonly grown. The plant’s leaves are broad, and plants can grow quite tall, easily 4 feet or taller in one season. However, they tend to be more thin than bushy, so they don’t take up as much lateral space as you would expect.

Don’t space your bell peppers too far apart! Having neighbors nearby is helpful for bell peppers. They provide added shade for the fruits to avoid sun scalding on the pepper’s skin as they grow and mature. Nearby plants can also help support each other.

Bell peppers can be grown vertically (like trellised tomatoes). In this case, you can space the plants even closer, around 12-14″ between plants, pruning off side shoots throughout the growing season. Keep in mind that your plants will end up growing much taller (often 6 feet or more), and will require support on a vertical stake or trellis.

Jalapeño Plant Spacing

Another popular variety to grow at home, the jalapeño is a smaller pepper. However, the plants can grow as big (or bigger) than bell peppers!

In general, jalapeno plants need 18-24 inches (46-60 cm) between plants for maximum yields. You can give them more space if desired, but the plants should produce best at around this spacing.

Jalapeños are part of the Capsicum annuum species, along with banana peppers, poblanos, bells, serranos and many others. These plants tend to be a bit less bushy when mature, thus an 18-24 inch spacing will work for most of them.

Habanero Plant Spacing

The Capsicum chinense varieties can grow to be much, much larger than C. annuum types. These pepper types include habanero, ghost pepper, 7 pot, scotch bonnet, and many other superhot peppers.

For habanero peppers, space plants at 24 inches for easier access during harvest and plant care. This spacing will allow the plants to reach a mature size of 4-5 feet wide in a single season!

Keep in mind that, by spacing closer, your pepper plants will help shade the ground below, preventing weeds from growing. Spacing correctly also makes the best usage of your soil space.

If you have an especially long growing season (tropical zones), then you may wish to add space between your habanero-type plants. This will give the plants enough room to mature and grow bushy with the extra growing time.

What To Plant Near Peppers

Perhaps just as important as plant spacing are pepper plant companions. Here are a few great options for what to plant near your peppers:

• Flowers. Alyssum, zinnias, cosmos, and marigolds can all help keep your peppers happy throughout the growing season. They do this by attracting beneficial insects, and in some cases luring pests away from your pepper plants.
• Basil. We absolutely love growing and cooking with basil. There are a ton of different varieties to choose from, each with a unique flavor, aroma, and even color. Basil is also a great companion for tomatoes and other garden veggies.
• Chives. Another easy-to-grow herb, chives are happy to be planted nearby your pepper plants. They don’t grow too tall and can help deter certain types of flies. Keep in mind that chives are perennial in most zones.
• Garlic. You may think that growing garlic would be difficult, but it is one of the easiest crops to grow. If you have a fresh, organic garlic bulb, you can use it to grow more garlic. It is a great companion for most plants, and a culinary treasure.
• Rosemary. Another fragrant and delicious herb, rosemary is a staple in our kitchen. It grows well and is very hardy throughout the season.
• Tomatoes. Though this may be debated by gardeners, we always have a few tomato plants nearby our pepper garden. We recommend rotating where the tomatoes are planted each year to avoid potential pathogen or pest issues.

Related:

• Planting peppers from seed
• Transplanting peppers
• Choosing the right container for peppers

I hope you found this article useful for your pepper plant spacing in the garden this season. Let us know if you have experimented with different spacing distance and how it worked for you. Thanks for reading!

Calvin

One of the original Pepper Geeks! When Calvin isn’t gardening or learning more about peppers and botany, he might be traveling new places or playing some music.