If you are growing peppers this year, you might be wondering if they need a lot of nitrogen. After all, nitrogen helps plants to make chlorophyll and produce green growth.
So, do peppers need a lot of nitrogen? Peppers need a lot of nitrogen early in the season, so they can produce lots of green growth (stems and leaves). This green growth will create energy for fruit production later in the season. However, apply only a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer after pepper plants start to set fruit. Too much nitrogen late in the season will delay flowers and fruit, resulting in a poor harvest.
Of course, it is possible for pepper plants to suffer from either a lack of nitrogen or an excessive amount of nitrogen.
In this article, we’ll talk about what happens when pepper plants get too little or too much nitrogen. We’ll also look at how to supply nitrogen and avoid these extremes.
Let’s begin.
Do Peppers Need a Lot of Nitrogen?
Peppers need nitrogen for proper growth, as do most plants. Nitrogen is a vital component in chlorophyll, which is what makes plants green and helps them to produce energy by photosynthesis.
Pepper plants need more nitrogen early in the season. This is when the plant is producing green growth (stems and leaves) that support energy and fruit production later on.
When a pepper plant gets plenty of nitrogen, it grows strong, thick stems to support the weight of fruit. It also grows healthy leaves, which help to absorb sunlight for energy production.
The plant will use this energy to produce fruit later in the season, unless you over fertilize with nitrogen (too much nitrogen at the wrong time).
So, how can you tell when your pepper plants are getting too little or too much nitrogen? Let’s start with signs of nitrogen deficiency. We’ll talk about excessive nitrogen later.
What are the Signs of Nitrogen Deficiency in Pepper Plants?
One of the most common signs of nitrogen deficiency in pepper plants is chlorosis (yellow leaves). Chlorosis is often an early warning sign, followed by stunted growth of the plant due to a lack of energy.
According to the Cooperative Extension:
“Nitrogen deficiency usually presents as lower leaves turning yellow, and then that progresses upward.”
https://ask.extension.org/questions/553681
The bottom leaves of the plant turn yellow first because nitrogen is a mobile nutrient. This means that the plant can move nitrogen throughout its tissues (or from one leaf to another).
So, a pepper plant lacking nitrogen will pull this vital nutrient from its lower leaves and move it to the upper leaves. This is because these upper leaves get more sunlight and can make more energy for the plant.
In less extreme cases of nitrogen deficiency, the stem and leaves of a pepper plant may turn light green instead of yellow. However, the underlying reason is the same: a lack of nitrogen.
What are the Causes of Nitrogen Deficiency in Pepper Plants?
There are a few possible reasons for nitrogen deficiency in pepper plants:
- pH imbalance (soil is too acidic or too basic)
- Lack of nitrogen in soil (this can happen due to a lack of crop rotation or soil amendments)
- Excess carbon in soil (too much carbon makes it harder for plants to absorb nitrogen)
It is a good idea to do a soil test before adding anything to your soil. A soil test tells you the soil pH and nitrogen levels (and also the levels of other important plant nutrients).
You can learn more about how to do a soil test in my article here.
Let’s take a closer look at the causes of nitrogen deficiency in pepper plants and how to solve the problem.
pH Imbalance
The ideal soil pH for pepper plants is around 6.5, but anything in the range of 6.0 to 7.0 should be comfortable for them.
If the pH in your garden soil is too high or too low, it will lead to a deficiency of nitrogen or other nutrients in your plants. This can happen even when there is enough nitrogen in the soil.
As the chart shows, nitrogen availability drops off rapidly when soil pH goes below 6.0.
There are several amendments that raise soil pH, such as:
- Lime – calcium carbonate, also called lime, will raise soil pH. Lime will also add calcium to your soil. Be careful about adding too much lime, or your plants will end up with a magnesium deficiency.
- Dolomitic lime – calcium and magnesium carbonate, also called dolomitic lime, will raise soil pH. Dolomitic lime will also add both calcium and magnesium to soil.
You will also see nutrient deficiencies when soil pH is too high. In that case, elemental sulfur or sulfates (iron or aluminum) will lower soil pH.
Lack of Nitrogen in Soil
What if your soil test shows you that the pH is already at or around 6.5? In that case, the soil itself may be lacking nitrogen.
A soil test will reveal a lack of nitrogen in your garden. Another sign is that other plants (in addition to your pepper plants) also have yellow leaves.
A nitrogen deficiency can happen if you plant the same crop in the same place for many years. It can also happen if you plant different nitrogen-hungry crops in the same spot each year without replacing nitrogen in the soil.
Given enough time, the plants will take the nitrogen out of the soil faster than nature can replace it. To prevent this from happening, practice crop rotation or use soil amendments in your garden to replace nitrogen (more on these methods later).
Excess Carbon in Soil
If your soil has the right pH (around 6.5 for peppers) and enough nitrogen, then it is possible that there is too much carbon in the soil.
According to Wikipedia, adding too much carbon to soil will tie up nitrogen. Too much carbon makes nitrogen unavailable to plants, even when there is enough nitrogen in the soil.
Adding sawdust to your garden is one reason that you might have too much carbon in your soil. Sawdust contains lots of carbon, so putting too much of it in one spot can cause a nitrogen deficiency in your pepper plants.
Instead, try adding sawdust to your compost pile along with food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings. Then, give the sawdust time to decompose and break down with the other materials.
Eventually, the compost will ready, and it will provide balanced nutrition for your garden. You can learn more about how to compost sawdust in my article here. (You can also use sawdust as bedding for animals).
If you suspect that there is already excessive carbon in your soil, try mixing in some new low-carbon material. This could be soil from another part of your yard, or it could be compost that does not contain so much carbon (made from more green than brown materials).
What is a Good Source of Nitrogen for Pepper Plants?
There are lots of things you can use to add nitrogen to your garden to make pepper plants grow, including:
- Compost
- Manure
- Cover crops (green manure)
- Fertilizers
Compost
Good compost has a balanced mix of nutrients, including nitrogen. As an added benefit, compost also contains organic material (also known as humus).
Humus promotes the growth of organisms such as bacteria and earthworms in your garden. Organic matter also helps sandy soil to retain water and improves drainage of clay soil.
The best thing about compost is that you can make your own for free, using only kitchen scraps and yard waste. You can learn more about how to make your own compost in my article here.
Manure
Manure means animal bedding and waste. Manure has a good amount of nitrogen, but the amount will vary depending on the animal it came from.
Common sources of manure for gardens are from chickens, horses, and cows. Remember: you need to allow manure enough time to age before adding it to your soil.
Aging manure neutralizes pathogens that may be present. It also reduces the risk that you will burn your plants with “hot” manure.
Cover Crops (Green Manure)
As mentioned before, a lack of crop rotation will eventually cause a nitrogen deficiency in your garden. To prevent this, you should plant different crops in the same area every year.
Green manure (cover crops) is used to replace nutrients in soil between plantings.
For instance, legumes are plants that move nitrogen into soil from the air. This happens thanks to bacteria that live on the roots of legume crops.
These bacteria fix nitrogen in the soil by converting nitrogen in the air into nitrogen compounds, such as ammonia and ammonium.
Two common green manure cover crops are alfalfa (lucerne) and clover. You can learn more about green manure in my article here.
Fertilizers
Maybe you plant crops that use up lots of nitrogen. In that case, your soil may still need a boost, even after using compost, manure, and crop rotation.
In that case, fertilizers are an option for you. Some fertilizers are potent and have very high nitrogen content, but this high concentration comes at a price.
It is all too easy to burn plants with excessive nitrogen if you over fertilize them. One way to burn plants is to forget to water after fertilizing.
You can also burn plants if you add too much fertilizer at once. Always follow the instructions on the package, and water in your fertilizer after you add it to the soil.
As alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, some of the best organic fertilizers for pepper plants that provide lots of nitrogen are:
- Feather meal
- Blood meal
- Fish emulsion
You can find more ideas for high-nitrogen fertilizers in my article here.
Remember: some fertilizer that is used in large-scale farming may not be good for the home garden. For example, according to the Colorado State University Extension:
“Urea or ammonium nitrate fertilizers are not recommended sources of N.”
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/vegetable-gardening-nitrogen-recommendations-7-247/
The high concentration of nitrogen or salt means that these fertilizers are too strong for home gardens.
Which Fertilizer is Best for Peppers?
The best fertilizer for peppers is one that provides a balanced dose of the big 3 NPK nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
You can learn more about what the numbers on a fertilizer package mean in my article here.
Unless your soil is deficient in nitrogen, you will want to use a low-nitrogen fertilizer or perhaps a fertilizer with a moderate amount of nitrogen (such as 10-10-10).
Can Peppers Get Too Much Nitrogen?
It is possible for pepper plants to get too much nitrogen. According to the University of Michigan Extension:
“Unlike their relative the tomato, peppers will respond to more nitrogen by producing more fruit – at least to a point. Peppers can be over-fertilized, which can delay flowering and fruiting.”
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/its_time_to_review_your_pepper_fertilization_program
This means that peppers will benefit from a moderate amount of nitrogen early in the season. However, too much nitrogen that comes too late will hurt your harvest.
According to the University of Arkansas Extension:
“Too much nitrogen fertilizer often results in poor yields, although the plant will appear large and healthy.”
https://www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-6015.pdf
This is tricky, because the plant will look fine until it is too late to do anything about poor fruit set. The last thing you want is to get pepper plants with lots of green growth (stems and leaves), but no flowers or fruit!
To avoid this problem, Michigan State University suggests that you “front load” nitrogen in your garden. That is, apply most of the nitrogen before the peppers flower or set any fruit.
The reason is that vegetative growth will slow down once fruit begins to set. As a result, the plant won’t be able to use all that nitrogen for producing leaves and energy.
So, let the plant use nitrogen and produce green growth early in the season. Michigan State University recommends 3 phases of nitrogen application for pepper plants, as follows:
- Pre-Season – apply 30% of the nitrogen before transplanting the peppers into the garden. Scatter the fertilizer and mix it into the soil where you will plant the peppers.
- Post-Planting – apply 45% of the nitrogen after transplanting peppers. Wait two weeks after planting, and then add about 10% per week for 4 to 5 weeks or until fruit starts to swell.
- Maintenance – apply 25% of the nitrogen in the last part of the season.
This tells us percentages, but how much nitrogen do we actually use? Well, according to the Colorado State University Extension:
“Apply 4 ounces of N per 250 foot of row after the first flush of peppers is set.”
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/vegetable-gardening-nitrogen-recommendations-7-247/
Great, but how do we know what amount of nitrogen to use, and when? Let’s look at an example.
Let’s say that you are growing 5 rows of peppers, and each row is 10 feet long. That would be 5*10 = 50 feet of peppers.
50 is one-fifth of 250, so you would need one-fifth of 4, or 0.8 ounces of nitrogen. If you are using a 10-10-10 fertilizer (which is 10% nitrogen by weight), then you need 0.8/0.1 = 8 ounces of fertilizer.
Then you would apply the following amounts:
- Pre-Season: 30% of 8 ounces, or 2.4 ounces of fertilizer.
- Post-Planting: 45% of 8 ounces, or 3.6 ounces of fertilizer.
- Maintenance: 25% of 8 ounces, or 2 ounces of fertilizer.
You can use the following formula for your specific situation:
Total amount of nitrogen to use (in ounces): N = 1.6xF / P
F = how many feet of peppers (for example, 4 rows that are 6 feet each would be 4*6 = 24 feet)
P = percentage of nitrogen in your fertilizer (the first number: so 12-8-6 is 12% nitrogen, P =12 in that case).
Pre-Season Amount: multiply total by 0.3
Post-Planting Amount: multiply total by 0.45
Maintenance Amount: multiply total by 0.25
Be careful not to over-apply fertilizer! You can always add more, but it is difficult to fix the problem if you add too much.
Blossom end rot causes the bottom of peppers (and tomatoes) to become brown and sunken (due to a calcium deficiency, which can have several causes).
If you already have too much nitrogen in your soil, there is one fix you can try. According to the University of Mississippi Extension:
“Some diseases that are made worse by too much nitrogen may at least be partially reduced by increasing potassium.”
http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/information-sheets/the-plant-doctor-plant-disease-and-fertilization
So, if you overdid it with nitrogen fertilizer, try adding potassium (potash) to see if you can save your crop. You can find high-potassium fertilizers in my article here.
You can also learn more about low-nitrogen fertilizers in my article here.
Conclusion
Now you know how much nitrogen peppers need. You also know some ways to provide it to your plants.
You can restore nitrogen to the soil with this list of nitrogen fixing plants.
If you want some ideas for how to add nutrients to your garden soil naturally, check out my article here.
If you find your pepper plants growing slowly, you can learn why (and how to fix it) in my article here.
If your pepper plants are not producing fruit, read my article to find out why.
I hope you found this article helpful. If so, please share it with someone who can use the information.
If you want to read some of my most popular posts, check out the “Best of GreenUpSide” page here. Enjoy!
~Jonathon
FAQs
Do peppers need a lot of nitrogen? ›
To put it simply, pepper plants require lots of nitrogen during early growth to produce healthy leaves. During the fruiting stage, plants need less nitrogen but plenty of phosphorus and potassium for the best yields.
How do you give peppers nitrogen? ›- Apply about 30 percent of the nitrogen as part of the pre-planting broadcast.
- Two weeks after planting, add 45 percent of the nitrogen.
- Save the last 25 percent for the final weeks as the pepper harvest is wrapping up.
Like other plants, peppers require nitrogen to help in the development of foliage and fruit. Phosphorous is also necessary for the plant to absorb enough sunlight, which is mandatory for strong root development and robust fruit.
How much nitrogen does bell peppers need? ›The recommended NPK values for peppers is 5-10-10. A fertilizer with 5-10-10 on the label will contain 5% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium.
Are peppers heavy nitrogen feeders? ›Tomatoes and peppers are heavy feeders and need readily available nutrients from the soil. Most summer vegetables are heavy feeders, with tomatoes being one of the heaviest nitrogen consumers. Before putting your plants in the garden, work a slow-release fertilizer into the soil of the planting hole.
What do pepper plants need to thrive? ›Your peppers need full sun and hours of sunlight along with adequate spacing in between plants to grow their best. Pepper plants need good drainage too and do well in a raised bed. If your summer months see a lot of rain, this is a setup worth looking into.
How can I give my plants nitrogen? ›- Add Composted Manure.
- Use a Green Manure Crop.
- Plant Nitrogen-Fixing Plants.
- Mix Coffee Grounds in the Soil.
- Use Fish Emulsion.
- Spread Grass Clippings As Mulch.
- Use an Actual Plant Fertilizer.
Much like tomato plants, pepper plants are heavy feeders from the soil. To develop strong roots and healthy foliage, they need a constant supply of energy. And they need even more when it comes time to start producing blooms and fruit. Pepper plants require a lot of nutrients from the soil to develop their fruit.
Do pepper plants self fertilize? ›Pepper flowers are self-fertile, and most flowers can set fruit without cross-pollination. Even so, peppers still produce both pollen and nectar.
Do plants need nitrogen in soil? ›Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, development and reproduction.
What is a natural fertilizer for peppers? ›
Manure is a favorite with many gardeners, because it boosts plant growth and improves both drainage and aeration. Spreading manure around the base of pepper plants, or adding it to the planting hole before planting, provides your peppers with rich nutrients.
How much support do peppers need? ›To stake pepper plants, simply drive a 2- to 3-foot wooden, bamboo, or other sturdy-material garden stake at least 6 inches deep into the soil right beside each plant.
What feed is high in nitrogen? ›Comfrey, nettles and liquid from wormeries all make excellent liquid fertilisers. Comfrey is potash rich, so is useful for flowering and fruiting plants and vegetables; nettles are high in nitrogen, especially in spring, and the liquor from a wormery is a good general feed.
What stunts pepper growth? ›Why are my pepper plants so small? They could be stunted by cool weather, especially cool nights. Keep peppers warm and wait to plant outside until the weather has warmed up to 60-70˚ F at night consistently. You'll find once the hot weather arrives and the soil warms up, the peppers should start taking off.
Which crop is in Richest the soil with nitrogen? ›Beans are a leguminous crop that enriches the soil with nitrogen, Leguminous crops fix the atmospheric nitrogen themselves by using nitrogen-fixing bacteria present in their root nodules.
How do you strengthen pepper plants? ›- Start your pepper plants indoors.
- Use grow lights!
- Use the right soil.
- Use a big enough pot (for potted plants)
- Use the right fertilizer.
- Prune your plants.
- Optimize sunlight, heat and watering.
Like tomatoes, peppers are prone to magnesium deficiency. Epsom salt can be used just as efficiently with pepper plants as with tomato plants.
Is Miracle Grow good for pepper plants? ›Miracle-Gro® Performance Organic® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules will feed your pepper plants for up to 6 weeks, providing loads of extra nutrients to the beneficial microbes in the soil as well as to the plants. A month after planting, mix this into the soil around your pepper plants, following label directions.
What is the best source of nitrogen for plants? ›The richest organic sources of nitrogen are manures, ground-up animal parts (blood meal, feather dust, leather dust) and seed meals (soybean meal, cottonseed meal).
How do you make homemade nitrogen rich fertilizer? ›Mix 1/4 cup of Epsom salt with two cups of urine. Add this to the grass clippings steeped in water. Strain the liquid and dilute it by half with water. Pour into a bottle ready to apply to the soil.
What is best nitrogen fertilizer? ›
If you are looking to increase the nitrogen content of your soil, then please take a look at our nitrogen rich fertilizers, which include: Ammonium Sulfate 21-0-0. Crustacean Meal 4-0-0. Feather Meal 12-0-0.
Do pepper plants need lots of water? ›Do pepper plants need a lot of water? Peppers actually like to dry out a bit between watering. That said, during the longest hottest days of summer, especially in pots, that may be every day. With cooer weather and during the spring and fall you may only need to water them every 2-3 days.
What is the best fertilizer for peppers and tomatoes? ›Feed fruiting crops that have flowered and set fruit with liquid balanced fertilizers such as compost tea, comfrey tea, or solid organic fertilizers in powder, pellet, or granular form. An ideal fertilizer ratio for fruiting tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants is 5-10-10 with trace amounts of magnesium and calcium added.
Can you over feed pepper plants? ›Peppers can be over-fertilized, which can delay flowering and fruiting. However, with good rates and timing, more nitrogen can translate to more fruit and thus, higher yields. The problem with more fruit is the pepper plant is not capable of staying erect with the extra fruit load.
Does coffee grounds have nitrogen? ›CORVALLIS, Ore. – Coffee grounds can be an excellent addition to a compost pile. The grounds are relatively rich in nitrogen, providing bacteria the energy they need to turn organic matter into compost.
Should I cut bottom leaves off pepper plants? ›Prune off the lowest leaves to keep them away from ground-dwelling pests. Slugs and snails and other pests find pepper foliage delicious. When pepper leaves touch the soil, or they're very close to the ground, these pepper pests have an easier time gaining access to a favorite food source.
Are eggshells good for pepper plants? ›Plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in particular will benefit from shell fertilizer, Savio said. The extra calcium will help prevent blossom-end rot. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach and amaranth are also calcium-packed and could use extra from eggshells.
Do peppers get hotter the longer they stay on the plant? ›Let chili peppers age on the vine
The longer a hot pepper ages, the spicier they become. The amount of capsaicin in the fruit increases over time, so if you can wait until those green jalapeños turn red, then you're in for a much spicier experience.
Why are my pepper plants blooming but not setting fruit? Peppers (especially bell peppers) are sensitive to high and low temperatures during bloom. Pollination and fruit set typically don't occur when daytime temperatures rise above 85 F or when nighttime temperatures drop below 60 F.
What triggers pepper plants to flower? ›By reducing your fertilizer amount or nitrogen content, you help encourage the plant to begin producing flowers. Providing too much nitrogen is a leading cause of pepper flowers dropping off.
Should you bury pepper stems when transplanting? ›
If you're potting up leggy pepper plants, bury them up to the first set of true leaves so that part of the stem is beneath the soil. Only do this deeper planting the first time when pepper seedlings are in the green stage. If you bury the stem when it's woody (lignified), the stem can rot.
What should I add to soil for peppers? ›Perlite, vermiculite, or sand all work great for aiding in drainage. They also give the roots more channels to easily grow through. 1/4 water and nutrient retention. Peat moss and coco coir increase the soil's ability to retain nutrients.
Are coffee grounds good fertilizer for peppers? ›Coffee grounds are rich in a number of nutrients and can help revive ailing pepper plants.
What is the best organic fertilizer for pepper plants? ›Good balanced fertilizers like EB Stone Tomato & Vegetable Food or Down to Earth All Purpose Mix. Once your plants are starting to produce fruit, you should side dress with more fertilizer. Since phosphorus is essential for fruit production, the fertilizer you use should have more phosphorus than nitrogen.
What nutrient Do peppers need the most? ›The three key nutrients you need for your pepper plants are nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Nitrogen is the most important element as it supports the regulation of photosynthesis, which then encourages foliage production and leafy growth.
What are the best pepper plant supports? ›The best way to stake peppers is to drive a wooden or metal stake next to the plant or every 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 m.) per row. Then, simply tie the main stem and branches of the plant loosely to the stake using torn sheets or pantyhose. Continue to add ties as needed while the plants are actively growing.
Do peppers need a lot of soil? ›Peppers prefer rich, loamy soil. You can easily get this soil type by tilling in an inch or so of good, organic compost. Be careful with nitrogen, though. Peppers react well to nitrogen, growing so quickly that they are more disease-prone and won't produce as much.
What vegetables need a lot of nitrogen to grow? ›Responsive to extra nitrogen are: tomatoes, peppers, greens, sweet corn, pole beans, muskmelons, cucumbers, squash and okra.
Do peppers need Miracle Grow? ›Grow Your Hot Peppers From Seed
Plant in loose, well-draining soil amended with compost or garden soil, like Miracle-Gro® Organic Choice® Garden Soil. To prevent transplant shock, consider applying a starter plant food such as Miracle-Gro® Quick Start® Planting & Transplant Starting Solution.
Nitrate is the form of nitrogen most used by plants for growth and development. Nitrate is the form that can most easily be lost to groundwater. Ammonium taken in by plants is used directly in proteins.
What kind of fertilizer do peppers need? ›
Pepper plants dropping buds is often stemmed from too much nitrogen in your soil. This is called "nitrogen burn." Often a sulfur-based fertilizer which is a 5-10-5, will do the trick.
What is the best natural fertilizer for peppers? ›Manure is a favorite with many gardeners, because it boosts plant growth and improves both drainage and aeration. Spreading manure around the base of pepper plants, or adding it to the planting hole before planting, provides your peppers with rich nutrients.
What does Epsom salt do for pepper plants? ›Being the best source of both these elements, Epsom salt for peppers is very effective. Its application reduces slow growth, makes the pepper plants healthier, lusher and greener than before (due to the boost in chlorophyll production), and induces larger and tastier fruits.
How do you perk up peppers? ›Peppers. Peppers are a tricky bunch, with their ability to bounce back depending on the type of pepper and the thickness of the skin. If they've lost their crispness and you want them for salads, you can slice them up and try a 10 minute ice bath in a bowl. You can also pickle the peppers, even in their limp state.
Does topping pepper plants increase yield? ›The more side branches, the more places to grow flowers and fruit! So, that's why topping pepper plants can help you get larger harvests.
What do peppers not like to grow with? ›There's really no evidence that certain plants will somehow affect pepper growth, but you may want to avoid planting peppers near cabbage and other brassicas such as broccoli and cauliflower (because peppers prefer slightly different soil acidity levels) and fennel (which some gardeners say inhibits pepper development) ...
Are coffee grounds good for pepper plants? ›Coffee grounds are rich in a number of nutrients and can help revive ailing pepper plants.