How to Grow White Peppers

Lay out two sheets of paper towel on a plate. Scatter your pepper seeds over the paper towels. Cover them with two more layers of paper towel. Saturate the towels and seeds with enough water to wet well, but not so much that you have standing water on the plate. Leave in a warm spot overnight.

Fill a seed flat or starter tray with potting mix or specially formulated seed-starting potting soil.

Remove the seeds from the paper towel and plant one in the soil every 2 inches, or one per seed pod in the tray. Push the seed down 1/4 of an inch in the soil.

Place the tray in a warm location such as on top of a refrigerator or on a growing table. If you use a growing table, use a heat mat beneath the tray or use heat lamps to keep the seeds warm and help germination.

Fertilize the seedlings after they emerge and the first two leaves develop. Use a fish emulsion or balanced seed-starter liquid fertilizer according to package directions. Take care not to over-fertilize the seedlings or they will die.

Prepare the garden when the threat of frost has passed. Turn the soil over so it is loose and remove any weeds. Add compost or fertilizer if necessary at a rate of 1 inch per square foot. Plant the peppers in an area of the garden that receives full sun; peppers like hot weather and do not grow well in shade.

Plant the seedlings in rows, with the plants 18 inches to 24 inches apart. Space the rows with 12 inches to 24 inches between them. Don't overcrowd; white peppers need air between the leaves to avoid fungus and rot.

Lay black landscape fabric or newspaper around the base of the plants. Leave a 6-inch opening around the base of the plant. Landscape fabric or newspaper will allow water through, retain moisture in the soil and keep weeds down.

Place a wood stake at both ends of each row when the peppers reach 12 inches high. Run a string between the stakes 6 inches above the ground, next to the plant stems. Run another string at 18 inches high to support the top of the plants so the heavy peppers don't snap the stems. Run the strings so that one is on one side of the plant, and the other is on the opposite side. Tie off the plant stems to the top string when they reach adequate height.

Add mulch to the rows using compost or straw. Mulch keeps the roots cooler during hot months, adds nutrients and helps retain moisture in the soil.

Water the peppers weekly during hot dry periods. Keep the soil moist but not wet.

Allow peppers to ripen fully and turn a soft, creamy white color before harvesting.