What Depth Should You Plant Grand Bell Peppers At?

Soil Temperature

• Temperature of the soil helps determine how deep you need to plant your Grand Bell Mix peppers. When the soil temperature is consistently 68 degrees F, sow Grand Bell Mix pepper seeds 1/4 inch deep. If the soil is warm in the early summer, you can plant the seeds slightly deeper. They should germinate within two weeks.

Soil Moisture

• Moisture of the soil is another consideration in planting peppers. The more moisture the soil holds, the higher you can plant the pepper seeds. Seeds set too deep in damp soil tend to rot before they have a chance to germinate. Early plantings in areas with shorter growing seasons require a long germination period. Start seeds directly on the top of the soil and then cover them with plastic so you can see when they sprout.

Transplants

• Transplants are a little different from pepper seeds. Generally, you want to plant a Grand Bell Mix pepper just a little lower in the soil than it was in the nursery. This will cover the roots and keep moisture in the plant. The lower depth gives a little extra stability to the plant that might be a little spindly after growing in a greenhouse.

Container Plants

• Container grown peppers are not much different when it comes to the depth of planting. You may be able to plant the seed a little deeper than directly in the soil since the container will warm up much faster. The extra depth means that the pepper will develop a larger rooting system even before the sprout breaks the surface. A better root system is important in container garden since the plants have less protection from the elements and are susceptible to a lack of water.