How to Grow Big Bertha Peppers From Seeds

Fill a flat with seed-starter mix and moisten it. Sow the seeds 1/4 inch deep six weeks before you expect the temperature outside to begin to hold above 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the day. Your local cooperative extension office or nursery can tell you what date that happens on average. Maintain the seeds at 75 degrees to 85 degrees to promote germination. Place the flat on an electric propagation mat to provide bottom heat if necessary.

Irrigate the “Big Bertha” seeds whenever the soil surface begins to dry. Apply water until it drips out of the drainage holes.

Clear the planting bed of debris and incorporate 2 inches of compost or manure into the soil. Rake the surface to smooth it out for planting. Select a site that is in full sun and drains within one hour of irrigation.

Transplant the seedlings when the plants are at least 1 foot tall and the temperature is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. One seed distributor recommends moving the baby plants outside on a cloudy day when you expect rain. Plant them at the same depth as they have been growing in the flat. Space the seedlings 2 feet from one another. Rows should be 4 feet apart.

Install a soaker hose 2 inches from the base of the plants. Irrigate the bed regularly to prevent the ground from getting dry. One inch of water weekly is usually sufficient. Increase the amount and frequency during heat spells and decrease it when it rains.

Apply a 2-inch layer of straw or grass clippings around the pepper plants. Verify that the soaker hose is right side up before covering it with the mulch.

Fertilize the pepper seedlings with a high-phosphorous fertilizer at transplanting to boost root development. Apply it at the rate recommended on the product label.

Fertilize the pepper plants twice weekly with the vegetable fertilizer of your choice. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application rates.

Cut the “Big Bertha” sweet peppers off the plants with a pair of scissors. Pick them while they are still green or wait until they become red, an indication they are fully ripe.