Tropical Style

The Best Soil to Use for a California Wonder Bell Pepper

December 25, 2022

“California Wonder” bell peppers have a squarish form and three or four lobes at the base. They’re prized for their rich colour and thick, sweet flesh. As with other varieties of sweet pepper, the very best soil to use for “California Wonder” bell peppers is warm and moist, but in addition well-draining. It should also include key elements for optimum growth, such as adequate nourishment and medium acidity.

Moisture and Railroad

“California Wonder” bell peppers are somewhat drought-tolerant, but grow best in well-drained soils that are always and evenly moist. If the soil is too dry, especially at the time of flowering, you may have problems with stunted fruit production, or even no fruit set at all. Soil that’s too wet can lead to diseases such as root rot. Soil that’s watered weekly with two to three gallons of water supplied through a drip irrigation system functions well. In periods of drought, you may want to water more frequently to ensure the dirt stays consistently moist.

Soil pH

Bell peppers aren’t sensitive to soil acidity, and can tolerate soil pH as low as 5.5, but thrive best when soil pH ranges between 6.0 and 6.8. You can purchase pH test kits or lawns at garden centers or ship your dirt for testing by a laboratory. If the pH of the soil is too low, then apply lime to raise it to acceptable levels.

Soil Temperature

“California Wonder” bell peppers prefer warm, dry weather, and they thrive in warm soil with a temperature of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit. When transplanting your pepper seedlings outdoors, warm the soil by covering the planting area with approximately two inches of compost or plastic mulch. Plastic or natural mulches implemented during the growing season might keep the soil warm and in addition, they retain moisture and prevent blight. Daytime temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit can result in soil that’s too warm, and this could result in reduced fruit set. The fruit that does seem when temperatures are too warm is frequently small and misshapen.

Nutrients

“California Wonder” bell peppers are moderate to heavy feeders. Before transferring the seedlings into the garden, prepare the planting area by mixing two to three inches of organic matter, such as composted manure and lime, to a thickness of approximately 4 to 6 inches to enhance the soil. Mix a starter solution of 3 pounds of 15-30-15 fertilizer per 50 gallons of water, and apply 1 cup each plant at transplanting to encourage growth and to reduce transplant shock. Apply fertilizer to the soil every 2 weeks after fruit set to make sure your peppers have sufficient soil nutrients for optimum growth and fruit set. Fertilizers with a nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium ratio of a 1-2-2, such as 5-10-10 or even 8-16-16, are perfect for bell pepper dirt, advises Ohio State University Extension.

Location

The location of the soil, and preceding crops developed in it, can also be important to growing healthy and productive pepper plants. A southern exposure ensures the soil warms early in the spring and is ready for planting. Avoid soils that have been used to grow onions, onions, eggplant or potatoes during the previous two seasons to prevent diseases.

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