SFG says you can plant one per square foot. I think more traditional methods usually says something along the lines of 18-24"

I plant about 1 per square foot in my raised beds. It seems to work okay.

Depends on how much production you want. Less plants = more production. No more than 3 staggered in a triangle. For best results I'd plant only 2.

Dave

3 staggered in a triangle.
Dave

Exactly that is what I was going to suggest.

If you're in Maine, I think your summers would be (relatively) cool and short enough that you could get away with the three rather than two because the plants just won't grow as big. Down here, because of the heat and long season, pepper plants get much bigger.

I've read that growing pepper plants close together can be beneficial because it can help keep the plants cooler and provide a canopy for the fruits (which are prone to sun scald). You'd think that a plant should be able to provide its own canopy, so that seemed a little dubious to me. Thoughts?

Annew21:

I've had colored bells that have gotten burnt on their shoulders and maybe an Anaheim or 3. It's the larger, thicker fleshed varieties that may get burned. Usually when you're waiting for them to change color. All my other varieties -- never.

Kevin