2. Bell Pepper Seedling 

Once the seeds sprout, your peppers enter the seedling stage, which lasts about 2-4 weeks. You can notice a few sets of tiny leaves growing on. At this point, the young seedlings are delicate and require careful attention like babies. 

To name some key factors, bell peppers are sun-lovers, including the seedlings, so it would be perfect to provide up to 16 hours of light per day. Also, watch out for pests, as bell pepper seedlings are pretty vulnerable to these tiny invaders. 

So far, your bell peppers have formed the initiated growth. To further develop the root system, bell pepper seedlings can be transplanted to either individual containers/pots (if grown indoors) or outside garden soil. When growing them in pots, use well-draining potting soil with a pH level around 6.5 to 7.5. 

Note: Transplant bell pepper seedlings outdoors until the risk of frost has completely passed. Ideally, it’s best to gradually transplant bell peppers until daytime temperatures reach at least 60°F and nighttime temperatures remain consistently around 50°F.

3. Vegetative Growth Stage

After transplanting to larger containers or outdoor gardens, bell peppers will have one week or two of stunted growth. It’s totally fine –  just give them time to recover from the stress. After that, bell pepper plants enter the fast-growing vegetative stage, focusing on producing lush leaves, branches, and a thicker, stronger stem for 5-8 weeks. By the end of the vegetative stage, you can expect mature plants to reach 3-4 feet in height.

This stage is crucial for developing a strong foundation for future fruit production, so let’s see the best practice for bell peppers during this stage:

• Light is important as always. Give your bell peppers adequate sunlight at least 6 to 8 hrs a day. When short in sunlight, use grow lights for vegetables as a great supplement. 
• Bell pepper plants are not a fan of soggy soil. Water your bell peppers only when the top inch of the soil is dry. 
• For indoor-grown peppers, keep the temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C). Cover your garden peppers with plastic bags when extreme cold approaches. 

One more tip – you may notice some early flowers pop up during the vegetative stage. When that happens, feel free to pluck them so your peppers can concentrate on leaf growth. 

4. Bell Pepper Flowering & Pollination Stage

As the bell pepper develops, it enters the maturation, or the flowering stage which lasts about 3 weeks. When flowering begins, decrease nitrogen fertilization and focus on fertilizers with higher phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content. 

During this time, small, yellow flowers begin to form along the stem. These flowers will start to self-pollinate, but certain varieties (California Wonder, Yolo Wonder, etc.) are likely to perform better with the help of pollinators such as bees. The pollination phase typically takes about 1-2 weeks. 

5. Fruiting Stage

After successful pollination, the tiny flowers transform into small peppers that grow rapidly. You can see bell peppers growing bigger and bigger every day or two. In around 4 weeks, most pollinated flowers should finish transforming into fruits. It’s normal if some flowers fail to develop fruits. 

If you want to control the quality and size of bell peppers, consider removing some less-developed fruits so the plant can focus on growing bigger peppers. 

6. Bell Pepper Ripening Stage

Here we are, the final stage in a bell pepper’s growth – ripening, which occurs after 14 weeks or more. During this phase, peppers change their color, starting as green and progressing to yellow, orange, or red. Depending on the varieties and growing conditions, ripening can 30 days or longer. 

When to Harvest Bell Peppers

If you are an early bird person, you can start harvesting green bell peppers when they reach full size and firmness, around 120-160 days after planting the seeds. The standard size for most bell peppers should be about 3-4 inches in diameter. To be more precise, refer to the seed packet for specific size guidelines for the variety you are growing.

However, as bell peppers ripen to reach a mature red color, they become sweeter, softer, and even more nutritious with a higher concentration of vitamin C. That means you can also wait a bit longer to harvest red bell peppers. 

How Many Bell Peppers Per Plant

Depending on which variety you are growing, a healthy bell pepper plant can produce 5-10 peppers throughout its growing season. If you manage to provide it with the right care, including adequate lighting, necessary nutrients, consistent water, etc., it’s likely to produce more yields.