If you have been following Crazy for Gardening, you know we love hot peppers! I will be growing 4 plants of 4 varieties of hot peppers in one of my six elevated garden beds that is 2 feet by 8 feet.
I have been growing jalapenos, Anaheim green chiles and poblanos` for a long time. A couple of years ago, I added guajillo peppers to the mix. While these peppers all have a special purpose for us in the kitchen, I am grouping them in the garden for different reasons.
Even though peppers are vegetables, they bear fruit and are in the same plant family. Also, they like the same plant food so it helps to plant them in the same bed. By doing so, I can cover them to protect them from certain bugs like aphids when they are first growing.
Since my elevated garden beds were built to accommodate square foot gardening, I wanted to let you know that it is suggested to place one pepper plant every 12 inches. This means that I can plant 16 hot pepper plants in a bed that is 2 feet by 8 feet. Don’t forget you can plant low growing flowers under the peppers and/or greens that are sowed real close together like microgreens. You don’t want to shadow the main attraction.
Depending on the weather, I usually plant my pepper plants closer to the end of May. They will produce until early fall. This means that I can plant a quick growing early spring crop in the squares or on the gridlines. For example, I could plant Chinese cabbage and/or bok choy in the square or scallions and/or radishes on the gridlines. Also, I could plant a quick growing fall crop like winter radishes on the grid lines. I will let you know what I decide.
With a home garden, I think planning always helps maximize your space!
