How to Grow Sweet Pepper 'Jimmy Nardello's'

Soil, care & harvest

Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before starting seeds indoors six weeks before your last expected frost. Sow seeds about one-quarter inch deep in seed trays, keeping them moist until they sprout within ten to twenty-one days. Once the danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are warm, these warm-season crops must be moved outside; do not plant directly into cold ground.

Space plants eighteen to twenty-four inches apart to ensure good air circulation. Provide consistent moisture, aiming for one to one-and-a-half inches per week, especially during fruit set. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer if growth slows or fruit production decreases.

Watch for aphids, spider mites, pepper weevils, and hornworms; inspect leaves frequently and use insecticidal soap or hand-picking to manage infestations early. Prevent bacterial spot, anthracnose, and mosaic viruses by rotating crops annually and removing infected plants immediately. Harvest fruits when they reach full size and your preferred color, typically eighty to ninety days after transplanting.