Growing Peppers In Utah

Peppers Grow Well In Utah!

Every good garden should have at least a few varieties of peppers.  From Sweet Bells to Jalapenos and Hot Habaneros, all kinds of peppers grow well in Utah.   Like all warm season vegetables, peppers should be planted after the average last frost date, which is around May 15 for the Wasatch Front.  Pepper plants like full sun (at least 4 hours of mid-day sun) and regular deep watering (2 or 3 times a week).  Most peppers have green fruits that turn red or yellow or purple as they ripen.  They are edible at any stage, but they often develop more sweetness and heat the longer they are left on the plant.

A good collection of peppers might include:

pasilla

bells, yellow, purple and green (which will turn red if left on the plant to ripen)

jalapeno

serano

thai hot

anaheim

habanero (too hot for me, but some folks like them!)

Fresh Salsa:

*chopped tomatoes (about 2 cups)

chopped onions     (about 2/3 cup)

chopped cilantro    (about 2/3 cup)

chopped jalapenos (about 1/2 cup)

fresh lime juice       (about 1/3 cup)

kosher salt              (about 1 teaspoon, or a little less and taste it)

*you can substitute chopped fresh pineapple for the tomatoes