How to Grow Hot Pepper 'Beaver Dam'

Soil, care & harvest

Prepare a sunny spot with well-draining soil adjusted to a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 for optimal growth. Since this is a frost-sensitive warm-season plant, do not sow seeds directly until after the last spring frost when the soil is warm. Alternatively, start seeds indoors six weeks before your local last frost date. Press seeds into the soil surface lightly or cover them by just one-fourth of an inch to encourage germination within ten to twenty-one days.

Space plants eighteen to twenty-four inches apart in a bed receiving full sun for at least six hours daily. Although these peppers grow relatively bushy, staking young plants provides stability against wind or heavy fruit loads. Maintain consistent moisture by providing about one inch of water weekly, and apply mulch around the base to retain soil humidity while feeding regularly during the active growing season.

Watch for aphids, spider mites, pepper hornworms, and cutworms; inspect leaves frequently and hand-pick pests or use organic sprays as needed. Prevent bacterial leaf spot, anthracnose, mosaic virus, and blossom end rot by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest the peppers seventy-five to eighty-five days after transplanting when they have reached their full color and size.