Growing Peppers is Easy, Adding Color and Taste to Your Garden

When a friend of mine bought his first house he exclaimed, Now I can grow peppers! Even if peppers aren't your primary reason for having a garden, be sure to add some in a sunny spot. Peppers are just too flavorful and colorful to pass up. Plus they're full of phytochemicals and have terrific amounts of Vitamin C (the C levels go ten times higher as the peppers ripen). In our latest video, Tricia teaches you about Growing Peppers and shows you how she plants and nurtures them in her raised beds.

Pepper seeds

We have so many Peaceful Valley organic pepper seed packs that your big question really should be which peppers to grow next summer?

Three of our gift-worthy seed tin collections have peppers as part of their specially chosen ten-packs of seeds. Salsa Fiesta, Sun Splash, and Edible Front Yard all make great host gifts anytime, or holiday gifts in December, and the tins offer rodent-proof storage for a stack of seed packs.

If you've been growing peppers for a while you know your must-haves, but we add new peppers every year, so take a peek at our varieties to see which would tickle your taste buds and liven up your garden.

Peppers in edible landscaping

Peppers look so good you can show them off in your front yard and inspire your neighbors to do some edible landscaping. To really catch the attention of the dog-walkers who pass by, try Black Hungarian peppers that grow up, instead of hanging down. Since the peppers change colors as they mature you get a rainbow effect on just one plant.

Smokin' hot peppers

Growing peppers for maximum heat? Red Scotch Bonnet and Habanero are the hottest. Dried Poblanos are Anchos so we call the seeds Ancho Poblanos. Smoked Jalapeños become Chipotles; smoking any pepper will enrich and deepen its flavor. We use a smoker for this.

Peppers to dry and grind as spices

For genuine paprika, grow your own Paprika, then dry the peppers and grind them into a powder with complex flavors. Love to use pepper flakes in cooking? Those flakes are dried and sliced pieces of cayenne peppers -- we have red Cayenne. Hang bundles of peppers to dry as chile ristras, then use them later for chile sauces. New Mexico Joe Parker and Anaheim are the traditional ristra peppers.

Chill with the sweet peppers

Crunchy, juicy bell peppers are a hit with everyone from kids on up. Red bell peppers are green bell peppers that have completely ripened. Sweet Purple Beauty bell peppers are smaller than their cousins -- known as "salad bells" they're the cherry tomatoes of the bell pepper group. Don't know which peppers to choose? Nardellos don't look like bell peppers (they have a long, thin shape) but their thinner flesh and slightly stronger flavor make them a pepper to add to your garden. They are wonderful in pasta dishes and sauces.

Stuffed peppers

For chile rellenos start with the Ancho Poblano pepper shown above. For European stuffed peppers, Cal Wonder Green Bell peppers have thick walls, and are easy to fill and bake.

Grow peppers in containers too

Add peppers to your front yard, vegetable bed, or grow them in containers. Our Smart Pots are easy to plant, easy to move, fabric containers and are perfect for peppers. Enjoy your pepper growing adventures and please leave us a comment about your favorites!