Growing bell peppers using aquaponics can be done best using the media bed approach. It is critical for you to monitor the amount of water your plants receive because this could make or break your yield come harvest time. This post is designed to help you grow aquaponics bell peppers properly.
Why grow bell peppers in aquaponics?
- Bell peppers need consistent watering. To achieve optimum plant growth, bell peppers should be well-watered. This requirement is an excellent reason why aquaponics is ideal for bell peppers.
- Bell peppers do not require ample space. One noteworthy feature of bell peppers that gardeners love is that they do not need much room to grow and thrive. Bell peppers are a common choice for urban gardeners, even those who live in condominiums because they grow well even if planted in small pots.
- Bell peppers possess high nutritional value. Vitamin K1, vitamin E, vitamin A, folate, and potassium are among the other vitamins and minerals found in bell peppers. Bell peppers are also packed in vitamin C, with one serving providing up to 169 percent of the RDI. The nutritional value of this vegetable is another excellent consideration why you should add it to your aquaponics garden.
- Bell peppers are reasonably easy to grow. In general, pepper plants are hardy and not overly demanding. However, you still need to monitor the amount of sunlight it receives as well as the proper temperature and pH range.
What are the different varieties of bell peppers?
Before we go further, it is essential to note the difference between a bell pepper and chili pepper. Their difference lies in their spice level. Bell peppers register 0 spice level, which is sweet to our taste. On the other hand, Chili pepper can give us a spice level of 100.
- Red bell peppers: This variety is the sweetest of all bell peppers, as they go through the entire ripening process, allowing natural sugars to enter the fruit and give it its trademark sweet and fruity flavor. Germination should take ten days if the soil is warm enough.
- Yellow bell peppers: This type reaches its maturity 70 to 80 days after planting to your aquaponics system. Its appearance is yellow, thick-walled, fruit which adds color and vitamins to fresh salads and is excellent for stuffing. The fruit obtains a size of four to five inches long.
- Orange bell peppers: The next group of bell peppers is those with orange hues. This pepper requires 70 days for it to be mature. When planting seeds of orange bell peppers, you must observe spacing of 18 to 24 inches apart.
- Green bell peppers: For this variety, I suggest planting them indoors first, suppose you are in a winter climate. Planting the seeds six to eight weeks indoors before the final frost is the ideal approach for green bell peppers.
- Banana bell peppers: Like most of its kinds, banana peppers are simple to grow in the right conditions. Because they require heat and a long growing season, banana pepper plants must be started indoors and transplanted after the last frost in colder climates.
Which variety is best for aquaponics?
All of the varieties I have outlined above are suitable for aquaponics. As long as you are able to provide the plants' necessities for growth, your aquaponics system can support bell peppers.
What aquaponics method is best for growing bell peppers?
Media bed aquaponics is best because you can control the amount of water the plant receives here. Even though pepper plants enjoy consistent watering, there is still the possibility of them being given too much or too little of it. When you utilize the media bed aquaponics in cultivating bell peppers, you can control the amount of water your plants receive.
In media bed aquaponics, a pump transports water from the fish tank to the grow bed. This will pump sufficient water into the grow beds to submerge nearly all of the growing media. The water will subsequently drain back into the fish tank with a siphon. The best part is you have complete control over how high you want this to be.
What factors should I consider to grow bell peppers in aquaponics?
Planting method
The standard method used for planting bell peppers is by transplanting. Fill a planting tray halfway with soil and plant your bell pepper seeds a quarter of an inch deep to germinate. Give them water and sunlight. You also need to keep them warm—if required, lay the seeds near a heating pad.
Your bell pepper seedlings should have sprouted and been ready for transplanting outside after one to three weeks of germination.
Your bell peppers are ready to transplant when the temperature in your grow bed aquaponics garden reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 degrees Celsius).
Growing media
To grow healthy peppers, you must select the correct media. Expanded shale or clay pebbles are the most acceptable media to utilize since they are pH neutral and provide enough support for the plants until they reach full maturity. Additionally, expanded shale's edges are slightly polished due to the heating process, so it's gentle on the touch and won't injure your plants' root system.
Water temperature
Peppers enjoy the water when it is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. But this can still can be as high as 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water temperature rises above 80°F, the peppers may become distorted.
pH range
The pH level is an essential aspect of aquaponics gardening. In an aquaponics environment, a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is ideal for bell peppers. The growing pepper plant will not efficiently absorb vital water minerals if this rate is either too low or too high. To maintain plant development at a consistent pace and optimum pH, make sure pH variations do not occur regularly.
Sunlight
Aquaponic peppers develop quickly under full sunlight and a warm environment of up to 80°F (27°C). Ensure that your plants receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. If you reside in a mild to cool area, you may need to keep your aquaponic garden warm by placing it inside a greenhouse.
Companion fish
Because peppers grow best at water temperatures above 60 degrees, you have various fish options to choose from in your aquaponics system. Tetras are recommended because they come in multiple colors and may thrive in water temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit; however, they are not edible.
How long do peppers take to grow in aquaponics?
Bell peppers typically need 60 - 90 days (average) to mature, while some varieties are ready to harvest by 70 - 80 days.
Conclusion
Bell peppers are a great kitchen ingredient to your unique dishes, and they are easily grown in the aquaponics method. Despite this truth, you still have to monitor specific growth requirements, ensuring they are within the required parameters. By using the information I provided here, growing bell peppers in aquaponics eliminates much gardening guesswork.
