Doe Hill Pepper

Pepper seed requires heat to germinate; it just won't do much in cool soil. So the first trick is to find a spot that is steadily warm; usinag a heat mat is ideal, but above the fridge may work, as might a spot near the woodstove. Sow pepper seeds at least 6-8 weeks before your last frost date; they mature later in the season than tomatoes, and to get a good crop of ripe peppers requires an early start. (If you prefer green peppers, you've got more flexibility.) Sow peppers about a quarter-inch deep in soil blocks or plug trays. Give them a good ten to fourteen days to germinate before thinking of giving up on them. Once up, peppers grow quite slowly when young and, again, require warmth to grow quickly. Peppers should not be transplanted until the weather is settled, usually about two weeks after tomatoes go in. Space them about 18" apart. Row cover provides a warm microclimate for quicker growth. Although most pepper plants stay much smaller than tomato vines, their stems are weak and, when loaded with fruit, they tend to blow over in late summer storms. They can easily be staked to prevent this.

Days to Maturity	60 days from transplant
Days to Germination	7 to 14 days
Height at Maturity	18 inches
Sun Conditions	Full Sun (8+ Hours Sun)
Planting Depth	1/2"
Row Spacing	24-36 inches
Plant Spacing	18 inches

Susan Estelle Kwas is an illustrator whose personal work exists somewhere between contemporary painting and illustration. In her vibrant watercolor painting, she balances elements of whimsy and fact with elements of this sweet little pepper's origin in Virginia.