Pepper plant spacing: How far apart to plant peppers

Red Section Separator Spicy exchange / 2023 Learn more

Spacing plays a vital role in the health and productivity of your pepper plants. Correct spacing reduces disease, nutrient competition, and allows plants to grow to their full size.

Cream Section Separator Spacing matters Learn more

Spacing varies based on the type of pepper you’re growing and the quality of your soil. In general, most peppers do well with around 18" of spacing.

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Pepper plants vary in size greatly depending on the specific type of pepper being cultivated. The size range is extensive, with some pepper plants reaching a modest height of 12-18 inches while others can tower as high as 10 feet

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Spacing recommendations by type of pepper

Cream Section Separator Most seed packets recommend spacing, or you can google the specific variety to see the recommendations. However, 18″ is a pretty safe bet if all else fails. Learn more

Bell peppers typically do well with 18″ spacing. They are not particularly large plants but can develop extensive root systems.

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Jalapeños

Cream Section Separator Jalapeños do well with 12-18″ between plants. Different types of jalapeños can grow to different sizes, anywhere from 1-3 feet tall. Larger varieties might need more space than more compact plants. Learn more

Habanero plants are larger compared to some of the other commonly grown peppers. They can grow up to 5 feet tall. To provide sufficient room for their growth and development, it is recommended to space habanero plants around 18″ -24″ apart.

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Pepper spacing for raised garden beds

Cream Section Separator When it comes to raised garden beds, the recommended spacing for plants is generally similar to in-ground planting, typically around 18″ apart. Learn more

In square-foot gardening, pepper plants are spaced 1 per square foot or 12″ apart. I am using this spacing for my 4 x 8 garden beds for the first time this season. With square-foot gardening, there is still a risk of plants providing too much shade for one another and disease spreading

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