How much sun do bell peppers need?

QUESTION: How much sun do bell peppers need? I’ve got a spot on the back porch that is extremely sunny and I wonder if it’s too much. – Lydia B

ANSWER: Bell peppers are sun-loving plants. They enjoy plenty of bright light and warm temperatures. Therefore, they must be grown in a location where they’ll receive full sunlight.

When choosing your growing location, either indoors or outdoors, ensure they’ll receive at least six to eight hours of bright lighting each day.

Bell peppers can be grown in containers, raised beds, or in ground garden plots. They also may be grown indoors, under grow lights.

Ensure you don’t plant bell peppers outdoors until temperatures are above 70-degrees Fahrenheit. They typically begin fruiting when the days are longer, and the temperature hangs around 80-degrees Fahrenheit.

When growing this plant, it’s important that it’s grown in well-draining soil. If your soil doesn’t drain adequately, and they don’t have the adequate amount of sunlight, you could invite fungal diseases into the mix. Such diseases thrive in wet, cold conditions.

By planting bell peppers where they’ll receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight, and providing the right growing conditions, you should be able to grow happy and healthy pepper plants.