How to Water Big Bertha Bell Peppers
"Big Bertha" bell peppers thrive in full sun -- six to eight hours a day -- in humus-rich, well-drained soil. These 7-inch peppers mature to deep green or dark red in just 72 days from transplanting the seedlings to the garden, making them suitable for nearly any area of the United States. Thick walls and few seeds make this pepper ideal for stuffing or adding to garden salads. "Big Bertha" is crisp and juicy while green and matures to the robust sweetness characteristic of red peppers.
Water "Big Bertha" in the morning while the air is cool to prevent excessive evaporation from the summer heat. Still morning air is preferred to avoid the water being carried away by the wind in a spray. If morning watering is not possible, water your peppers in the late afternoon or early evening, but early enough to allow the foliage to dry before sunset. Wet foliage during cool nights encourages disease.
Apply water directly to the soil and avoid overhead watering for the most efficient use of water. Soak the soil to the root level and water again when the soil feels dry to the touch 1 inch below the surface. Like other peppers, "Big Bertha" prefers 1 to 2 inches of water a week.
Mulch the soil around the base of your "Big Bertha" peppers with organic mulch, once the soil reaches 75 degrees Fahrenheit, to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- Use a soaker hose in conjunction with the mulch to water peppers deeply, if preferred.
- Peppers prefer moist soil that drains well, but do not do well in soggy soil.
- Either over- or under-watering peppers causes blossom end rot or blooms to drop.
Nannette Richford is an avid gardener, teacher and nature enthusiast with more than four years' experience in online writing. Richford holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from the University of Maine Orono and certifications in teaching 7-12 English, K-8 General Elementary and Birth to age 5.