Question
QUESTION: Hello,  I am new to gardening and began to grow hot peppers this year.  The seedlings are about 6 inches high now and still in small individual pots.  Recently, the plants have been growing but the stems are not growing straight - they are bending and curving (not leaning) and growing crooked altogether.  Is this normal?  How do I resolve before moving them to the garden?

Thanks.

ANSWER: If they are already this high I recommend that you transplant to your garden. In the garden you might want to line a string on either side to get them to grow vertically. Make sure that you water once per week and fertilize every 15 days.

Not unusual for peppers in pots like this to behave this way as pots are not the best for them.

Best wishes.

Don

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Don, thanks for your reply and thanks for the tip.  Regarding fertilizer, is there a particular type I should be using for hot peppers?
Thanks again,
G

Answer
If the peppers are just getting started use some chemical 15-15-15 until they are growing well. After that use anything with a lower nitrogen value. They don't like to much nitrogen and water. Water about once per week. A good grade of organic fertilizer should help after you use the 15-15-15 2 times at 14 day intervals.

Best wishes.

Don