When do you start feeding Peppers?

[ItsEssexRob]

Title says it all really. My sweet peppers have grown 2 sets of true leaves now and are about 5-6 inches tall. I sitll have them indoors though because of the adverse weather.

Can you use any Tomato food? What is the best time to start feeding them?

Also the Tomatoes I have, when do I start feeding them?

Thanks

Rob

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine Rob, as with most fruits you start feeding when they have flowers. Feeding now will encourage more foliage.

[ItsEssexRob]

Feeding now will encourage more foliage.

Is that a bad thing? Or will that help in the long run. Think they have a long way to go yet then :-)

Thanks

[Bigmallly]

You want the flowers Rob not more leaves.

[Bigmallly]

I stand corrected Rob.

How to Feed Hot Pepper Plants | eHow.co.uk

[The Large One]

iv'e fed mine weekly since pricking out
using a specialist feed "Chilli Focus" but i'm sure it will be a more expensive brand name of the standard tom feeds, so they should be fine
i add 30ml to 10litres of water so not much in first instance then ramp it up when flowere form

[VirginVegGrower]

I start feeding when flowers appear, as Bigmally says.

[Florence Fennel]

I've never fed mine before the flowers, but I'm trying it this year feeding every two weeks with Miracle grow and I can see a marked difference, hopefully it's not going to restrict flower formation. When they flower, I'll feed with Tomorite, or shop's own version, or my own comfrey tea.

[Bigmallly]

Well according to the link I got it totally wrong.........

[Potstubsdustbins]

After they have been in the pot for 5 weeks I follow Auntie Flo's routine.

Colin

[mcuk]

Can you use any Tomato food? What is the best time to start feeding them? Also the Tomatoes I have, when do I start feeding them?

If you are using a general purpose compost then there's no need to add anything for a while - the manufacturer should have put enough fertilizer in it for you.

The tomato feed is there for the fruit, so I personally start feeding them once the fruit starts forming - weekly for tomatoes, every other week for sweet peppers.

The more expensive tomato feeds include additional minerals, so if you go for the cheaper products you may need to add other things if the plants look unhealthy further down the line.

[taff]

I saw the difference in mine and my fathers tomatoes last year. He was feeding as soon as they had proper leaves. He had massive plants...and tomatoes before I did, and he's in wales....

[ItsEssexRob]

Is it normal for pepper plants to start showing some brown colouration on the stems and joints? They look healthy but the stems have taken on a slightly browny tint in places.

[mcuk]

Here's a photo of one of my sweet peppers from last year, it has those brown patches that you mentioned...

[ItsEssexRob]

I gave all my Peppers and Toms a little early Tomorite ( it cant do any harm can it?) to aid their growth. However I have some new questions.

I have one scotch bonnet pepper plant that is older than my sweet peppers but appears to have crinkly leaves which I read somewhere is a sign of calcium or magnesium deficiancy, and they reccommend always using bonemeal to pot peppers.

I went to my local Wyevale and they told me Tomorite contains the same minerals so I wouldnt need bonemeal. Is this correct?

Also my peppers are different sizes. Three of them have grown several sets of true leaves and really coming along, but others only have 1-2 sets and are several inches shorter.

I have put this down to the fact the smaller ones are the ones where I still have 2 in one small pot. I recently transplanted some of them into larger pots that are about 11-12 inches across and about the same depth. Will this be as big as I ever need for them?

I dont have any heatpads or anything to keep them extra warm, but I do keep them off the windowsill a bit at night and into the house more.

Thanks

Rob