How to Grow Capsicum Annum

Purchase nursery-grown plants for transplant into your garden, or start your own seeds indoors, six to eight weeks before the last frost date for your area. Provide supplemental heat for your seeds, as temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit will encourage germination. Sow pepper seeds 1/4 inch deep, whether planting indoors or out. Provide a bright light source for your seedlings to prevent legginess in your plants. By starting your own seeds, you will have access to a wider range of pepper varieties.

Select an outdoor growing site with well-drained soil and full sun. Harden your plants off over a period of one to two weeks. Set your plants out after all danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures remain above 55 F. Cooler temperatures cause yellowing of leaves, poor pollen production and loss of blooms, so cover the ground with black plastic mulch. It serves a dual purpose -- preventing weeds and helping to warm the soil. Use row covers to protect your plants from wind damage and to hold warm air around your plants until they establish themselves.

Perform a soil test to determine if there are any nutrient deficiencies in your garden. Lacking a test, apply a starter solution fertilizer before planting your peppers 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on the variety, and in rows two to three feet apart. Side-dress the plants with a 33-0-0 fertilizer at a rate of 3 tablespoons for each 10-foot row after your plants set peppers.

Water your plants deeply, to a depth of 6 inches, particularly during fruiting. Provide supplemental water if necessary to supply plants with the equivalent of 1 to 2 inches of rain each week. Moisture is crucial for the proper development of fruits on your plants.