The Major Effects of Fertilizer on Sweet Peppers

Nitrogen

• Well-rotted animal manure should be worked into the soil two to three weeks before planting your sweet pepper seedlings. Nitrogen is more important to sweet pepper growth at the beginning of the cycle when leaves and stems are developing and growing. Commercial fertilizer blends, whether organic or inorganic, should contain half as much nitrogen as phosphorus or potassium. A 5-10-10 blend is a common formulation for sweet pepper fertilizers. With this mixture, your sweet pepper plants will receive the needed nitrogen without growing too much foliage instead of flower buds and fruit development.

Phosphorous

• Phosphorus plays a key role in developing a strong root system in a sweet pepper plant. Strong roots will be able to send more vital food to the flower buds and fruit, resulting in more flower buds and bigger peppers. A fertilizer formulation with a higher phosphorus than nitrogen, such as 5-10-10, is well suited for sweet peppers. Additions of fish emulsion fertilizer or bone meal worked into the soil around your sweet pepper plants so the roots can access it, will feed your plant additional phosphorus. This extra phosphorus feeding should be given when flower buds and fruit setting begins on your sweet pepper plants.

Potassium

• Potassium, like phosphorus, assists the sweet pepper roots and plant move needed nutrients to the flower buds and pepper fruit. Potassium improves the flavor, size and quality of sweet peppers. Fertilizers formulated with higher potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen are the most beneficial to increase the pepper yield on your plant. Foliar sprays containing potassium nitrate sprayed on the foliage of your sweet pepper every 15 days beginning when flower buds begin to develop enhances the fruit and yield. The foliar spray can also include phosphorus and nitrogen, but the nitrogen must be at minimal or low levels to prevent abundant foliage growth over fruit development and growth.

Micro-nutrients

• Calcium is actually considered a macro-nutrient which works in conjunction with potassium and phosphorus to strengthen pepper plant cells and stems. Other minerals, such as magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, iron, chlorine, boron, and molybdenum, are needed in trace amounts to help process the major nutrients into beneficial food for your pepper plants. These minerals are micro-nutrients and commonly found naturally in the soil unless the soil is acidic and has a low pH. If your soil is acidic with a pH value below 5.5, work into the soil some garden lime into the soil. Contact your local university cooperative agricultural extension office for assistance in soil testing and supplements.