I saved some seed from early bell peppers this year. I have dried them but am not sure that I should plant them this year. Is it prosperous to plant seeds from same year crop? I know my grandmother always kept her seeds for future use but don't remember how she stored them or in which season she planted them. How do I store the seeds for future use? Or-- do I not even attempt it?
If you live in an area where you have a full growing season ahead of you, there is no problem with planting the seeds now.
If you do not have a full growing season ahead right now, you can store the seeds for the next growing season by placing them in a paper envelop, which can be placed in a plastic bag or tupperware container and then this can be placed in the veggie drawer of your fridge. You can store them this way until you are ready to plant and pepper seeds remain viable for many years when stored this way.
Will my bell pepper trees from last season produce again this season?
No, they are considered annual plants and will not return season after season.
Do I need to dry the seeds of a red bell pepper before planting them?
While it is oftentimes a good idea to allow seeds to dry beforehand, you don't need to dry the seeds to grow them. You really only need to dry them if you plan on storing them. You can plant them as soon as they come out of the pepper.
My young bell pepper plants are not looking well. The bottom leaves are turning yellow (a yellow leaf on each plant) and they have holes in the middle of the other leaves. I cannot see any bugs, but it looks as though something is eating them. And I do not know how often to fertilize or if 7-8-10 is the right kind.
The following articles should be of some help to you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/common-pepper-plant-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pepper/growing-peppers.htm
What could cause my bell pepper plants to not grow as well as my other plants? Everything in my garden is healthy: tomatoes, eggplant, squash, and cucumbers. Everything but bell peppers. They seem to be weak and droopy. Thanks.
They may have wilt. Peppers are susceptible to the same wilts that tomatoes get. This article will have more about them:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/wilting-tomato-plants.htm
What is the life expectancy of a bell pepper?
While generally considered perennials (with overwintering in cold regions), bell peppers are generally grown and treated as annuals. In warmer locations that are frost free, it is possible, wtih pruning, to extend their lifespan, though doing so doesn't offer any special rewards. Generally, after 6 months, the plants begin to look ragged.
I live in south Texas, so we have a long growing season and don't have to deal much with freezing. I planted some red bell peppers about 6 weeks ago and I have yet to see any fruit set on the plants. The plants are growing and seem to be putting out a lot of leaves but with very little fruit setting. Also, I am growing these peppers in a garden box (square foot garden) and I don't know if that makes a difference. Have fertilized with liquid seaweed as a foliar and soil fertilizer as well as using a sea tea dilution. Any recommendations or thoughts?
Normally when you see lots of foliage and little flowers/fruit, this is an indicator of too much nitrogen and too little phosphorus. Use bone meal to add phosphorus. That should fix it. This article has other information:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htm