How to Make a Pepper Planter

Start peppers in springtime when frost lifts. Peppers need temperatures of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and do best with temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees. Start peppers at least 80 to 90 days before the first frost in fall.

Prepare an old 3- to 5-gallon bucket as your pepper planter. Drill a 2- to 3-inch hole in the bottom of the bucket. Your pepper plant will grow through this hole. Cut an "X" in a piece of cloth and then lay the cloth in the bottom of the bucket with the "X" on the drilled opening. The cloth will keep soil in the bucket while allowing the water to soak through.

Mix your potting soil to the side. Use 1 part organic compost to 1 part potting soil or garden loam for a rich, loose and moist planting soil. Upside-down planters dry more quickly than traditional pots, so potting soil must retain moisture dependably. Turn 5-10-10 or 8-16-16 fertilizer into the soil for more nutrition.

Thread twine through the bucket's handle for hanging. Put an eyehook in a wall where the pepper will get 6 to 8 hours of full sunshine every day with good air circulation. Hang the twine from the eyehook and elevate the bucket to hip level. Tie the twine off for temporary security.

Plant the pepper seedling. Push the roots up through the hole, with foliage hanging down below the bucket and roots in the bucket itself. Hold the pepper in place and use a scoop to fill the bucket with potting soil.

Elevate the pepper planter to its permanent location and water with 1/2 gallon of water.