Peppers are planted after all danger of frost has passed. Plants are sensitive to unfavorable weather, and blossoms often drop when the temperatures are overly cool or hot and with insufficient watering. Plants flower and flowers produce fruit; the key to a successful crop is temperatures from 65-80 degrees.
Peppers can be planted in containers. If growing outdoors, a five-gallon container is ideal. The larger the container, the larger the pepper plant will grow. Ornamental peppers need smaller pots; small pots are used for perennial peppers that will be moved indoors during the winter. Too small of a pot limits root growth, foliage, and flowering. Because peppers enjoy cooler soil, lighter-colored pots will reflect the sun, and clay pots will control moisture. Well-draining soil should provide an even water supply. To protect roots from excessive water, add a layer of stones to the bottom of the pot and remove drain trays.
Outdoor varieties of peppers are threatened by weeds and insect-transmitted diseases. Fast-growing weeds rob pepper plants of sunlight, moisture, and nutrients. Proper mulching will eliminate weed infestation.