HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 



PEPPERS 



TV/TANY of the directions given in connection with egg- 

 -L * -1 plants on pages 271-272 are applicable to peppers 

 as well. These are distinctly warmth-loving plants 

 and every effort should be made to keep them in a con- 

 stantly growing condition. 



Seeds are sown late in February or early in March, in 

 greenhouse, hotbed, or in a flat in a kitchen with even 

 temperature. Pepper seed seldom germinates strongly 

 and evenly excepting under ideal conditions of soil and 

 heat and these are difficult to maintain. For this reason 

 it is wise to sow seeds rather thickly and transplant the 

 seedlings as soon as they are large enough to be handled. 

 The average packet contains about 300 seeds and should 

 provide about 150 plants. 



Pepper plants require a long season to develop fruits, 

 for which reason it is not practicable to make successive 

 sowings. Rather depend on sorts maturing in succession 

 to provide a constant supply. 



275 



