Yep, I did one per 5 gal bucket w/ MG Potting Mix and they got to be about 3-4 ft tall. I had a bunch of peppers too.

I grew them one year in 5 gallon buckets on my patio, produced a bit less than those in the ground, but it was also later in the season then they were potted, (probably more likely the cause).

I had some that I overwintered in my garage, they lived but only produced one more pepper, so not worth the effort.

Given my zone, overwintering anywhere really isn't an option. Thanks for the input. 5 gal and regular potting soil it is!

if you've got extra 5 gallon buckets you might try self-watering containers.

I'll be doing 5 gal SWC's with Al's mix for almost everything this year. not quite decided if peppers need 3/4/5 gallons.

Alice

Got to admit, I don't have the first idea of how to make a self watering container. (That is what SWC means, right?) I always just take the hose to them once a day, and pay the neighbors in veggies to do it when I'm gone.

I watered mine in 5 gallon buckets the same way alys, daily, and they thrived. of course any method that makes the daily tasks easier is always welcome...dont feel bad, I had to really scratch my head to figure out what SWC stood for also and that was just the other day ;) I'll keep look to see how folks describe SW...

Any type of potting soil better than others

LOL, you just had to ask a question like that one *this* forum :)

More to the point, your lack of success probably has a lot to do with your raised beds and air temps being too cold for good pepper growth.

One solution is container growing as the containers will warm faster as well as get warmer than the earth and probably raised beds will.

You still want to be careful about when you set them outside though. If peppers sit in too cool of conditions for too long they seem to never fully recover. As a general rule peppers are put outside a couple weeks later than tomatos and about the same time as eggplant. Many put them all out at the same time, but in cooler areas particularly waiting the extra couple weeks often sees the peppers do better than those set out earlier.

Container growing gives you the option of putting them outside when it is above 65F by day and inside when it drops below 60F at night. Warm peppers are strong, healthy peppers. It is often temping to 'rush summer' and get growing things too soon. Peppers are not a plant you want to do that with.

alys,

I would NOT recommend using Potting SOIL in a container. Instead, use Potting MIX. Either make your own with Al's Mix formula, or get Miracle-Gro Potting MIX.

Also, a primer on SWC growing:

http://www.tomatofest.com/tomato-earthtainer.html

Raybo

Here is a link that might be useful: EarthTainer link

Oh Thank You!!! I may have to try making an earthtainer or two. I usually like the pots I plant in to be "pretty" but really, they never are anyway so what's it matter if it's a big tote instead of a planter? I was buying new containers this year anyway for the extra things I'm planting.

Someone taught me how to make low budget containers last year. Not sure they would fall under SWC..

Basically, I stapled landscaping fabric around a bucket so that the bottom would be about an inch off the bottom of the bucket. Cut a hole in the side about an inch or so from where the bottom of the fabric would sit. Filled with dirt and a plant and watered from the side. Saved on watering big time.

Close enough to a SWC in my book.

Has a way to fill the water at the bottom, and to get the water to migrate up for the plant.