How to Stake Pepper Plants
Staking pepper plants is an effective way to protect them from wind, rain, and heavy fruit loads. Many pepper varieties become top-heavy as they grow, which can cause stems to bend or break without support.
To keep plants upright and healthy, staking is recommended whether peppers are grown in the ground or in containers. Below, we’ll explain why staking matters and share the best ways to stake pepper plants for strong, reliable support.
Why Staking Pepper Plants is Important
Staking is where you provide support for your plants with an upright object. Stakes are commonly pieces of wood, plastic, or metal. We recommend you add a stake next to your pepper plants in the early days of their growth journey. This will allow your seedlings to have support as their root systems develop.
If you have a top-heavy plant, the hardening-off process can be more challenging. Intense wind may cause your plant's stem to bend and possibly snap. This can be avoidable with staking. Staking also allows for improved airflow and easier harvesting!
In a single growing season, some plants may grow from 2 to 8 feet tall so staking is more beneficial for some varieties than others. For example, the Capsicum annum species commonly grows more bushy and lower to the ground. Due to this, the main stem may provide enough support for the whole plant.
Bell peppers are another story. The pepper pods are so heavy they commonly weigh down the plant causing it to break or fall over. For a large pepper variety, you would always want to provide a sturdy support system.
The Capsicum chinense peppers like Carolina Reapers, Ghost peppers, and Habanero peppers, grow to be much larger and bushier. These also produce many peppers that can weigh the plant down. These plants greatly benefit from a sturdy stake or cage that can be tethered to the plant.
Types of Stakes for Pepper Plants
Wood Skewers: When your seedling is small, a great option for a stake is wood skewers. These provide the minimal support that is needed at this stage. These are perfect for sliding into the soil without damaging the fragile roots. They are typically no more than a half-centimeter wide and pointed at the end.
Traditional Stakes: Traditional stakes are very common. They are straight pointed pieces of wood, bamboo, or metal. You will likely find these at your local garden center. These types of stakes should be driven into the ground 2-3″ from the base of your pepper plants. As your plants grow, you can attach them to different areas of your plant.
Metal Stakes: When it comes to larger pepper plants, metal stakes are excellent. They are commonly plastic-coated and come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses from 2 to 8 feet. A suitable size for most varieties is 3-4 feet.
Tomato Cages: Believe it or not, tomato cages are a fantastic option for supporting pepper plants, especially bushy varieties or types that produce heavy fruits. The circular supports surrounding the cage prop up the hanging branches. Capsicum chinense pepper varieties are typically branch heavy so they would definitely benefit from this staking option. Tomato cages are often around 4 feet in height above the surface of the soil. This option is not practical for small pepper varieties. A standard stake will get the job done.
How to Stake Peppers
Staking pepper plants is a pretty simple process. The main thing to be aware of is not damaging the roots during insertion into the soil.
- Identify what direction your plant is leaning. If it is leaning one way, you will want to insert the stake on the opposite side of the plant's base so it corrects the plant's position.
- Insert your stake at the base of your pepper plant, about 2-3 inches from the base of the stem. Push it down at least 6 inches or until the stake is sturdy. If you are growing peppers in pots, push the stake to the bottom of the container. Just make sure your stake is long enough. Ideally, you will add the stake to the soil before your plants have been transplanted to avoid penetrating the roots.
- Use twist ties, zip ties, or velcro to loosely tether the main stem of the plant to the stake about halfway up the plant. Secure the plant just above the node on the main stem. This will keep the tie from moving as the plant grows.
Staking pepper plants helps prevent damage, improves airflow, and makes harvesting easier, especially for larger or heavy-producing varieties. With the right support in place early, your plants can grow stronger and more productive throughout the season.
For more pepper-growing tips, explore our Grow With Joe video series and Gardening Tips & Guides.
