Shishito peppers are a versatile hot pepper that is perfect in many different types of dishes. If you love these spicy peppers, you may want to grow them on your balcony for fresh, delicious peppers right from your own home balcony garden. The following guide will teach you how to grow shishito peppers right on your balcony.
Before Getting Started
The following is some essential information you need to know before growing shishito peppers on your balcony.
- Climate: Shishito peppers do not do well with extreme cold or extreme heat. They grow best in temperatures between 60 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Sunlight: Shishito peppers need full sunlight for most of the day. They will thrive the best with about 18 hours of sunlight per day in a sunny area, so that they get the most from the afternoon sun.
- Planter: You should use a large container or planter. If using a pot style planter, look for one that is at least 5 gallons. If using a square or rectangular planter, make sure it is at least 18″ in diameter or larger.
- Indoors or Outdoors? Shishito peppers do best outdoors, but they can be grown entirely indoors if you are willing to make sure they get enough warmth and sunlight; you may need artificial lights to get the best pepper yield.
What You’ll Need
To grow shishito peppers on a balcony, you’ll need the following items.
- Seeds
- Soil
- Container
- Fertilizer (with nitrogen and phosphorous)
Step by Step Instructions
The following are step by step instructions to get you started.
1. Prepare your container
You should first prepare your container by filling it with high quality soil. Make sure the soil is well-draining for best results.
2. Plant your seeds
Plant your seeds, just two or three per container. If you want more than one plant, purchase multiple containers. Plant them about 1/4 inch down in the soil.
3. Water and maintain
Water your shishito pepper plant every 4-5 days, unless it is exceptionally hot. When the peppers have formed, note the size: the smaller the pepper, the less spicy it will be. If you prefer less spicy peppers, harvest them while they are still on the smaller side. The peppers will turn eventually go from green to red as they ripen up.
Growing Notes
Keep the following growing notes in mind when growing your peppers on your balcony.
- Water: Shishito peppers need to be watered every 4 or 5 days in most regions. Let the soil dry in between waterings. In very hot summers, however, you may need to increase watering to every other day.
- Growth: It will take about 60 days for shishito peppers to go from seed to harvest-ready; you may want to wait longer if you would like the peppers to grow larger, which will increase the spiciness.
- Maintenance: Shishito peppers should be fertilized every month once your plant has a few leaves on it. Remember, the fertilizer needs to have nitrogen and phosphorous, as these are essential for the growth of the peppers.