Family: Solanaceae
Please don’t be put off by my photograph of sweet pepper ‘Panache’. I share this image to show you just how robust this sweet pepper variety is. This sweet pepper ‘Panache’ plant you can see in the image above was grown in a cut off water storage container filled with some lovely peat-free compost. The plant received attention from slugs and snails, yet despite this my ‘Panache’ sweet pepper plant was incredibly productive and produced an abundance of delicious sweet peppers! ‘Panache’ sweet peppers are large in size; they begin life as a green pepper and then ripen to red; as the peppers ripen they become sweeter in flavour. ‘Panache’ sweet peppers are large in size; they have a thick, meaty flesh, which can be used in a wide range of dishes.
Previously sold and marketed as ‘Stuff Enuff’, this sweet pepper is now available under the name ‘Panache’. Sweet pepper ‘Panache’ was bred by the vegetable specialists at Burpee Seeds.
Sow ‘Panache’ sweet pepper seeds from January to March. These plants thrive in peat-free compost. I have always grown sweet peppers in peat-free compost – this is the best way to grow these plants. Sweet pepper seeds need warm stable temperatures of around 18-27C (65-80F) for germination. When the seeds germinate, the plants need to be kept in a warm environment where the night time temperatures won’t ever fall below 15C (59F).
Sweet pepper ‘Panache’ plants are tender plants that are killed by frosts and low temperatures. ‘Panache’ sweet pepper plants thrive in warm growing conditions, and bright and sunny areas. When all risk of frost has passed, sweet pepper plants can be grown outside in the garden, but until then the seedlings need to be grown in a warm, protected environment; inside a greenhouse or conservatory is ideal. Sweet peppers can also be started off on a bright and sunny window sill. A window sill isn’t always blessed with the ideal light for growing, so if you’re raising sweet peppers from seed on a window sill, wait until February before sowing your seeds. In early summertime, sweet peppers can be grown in containers on a sunny patio or planted in a South-facing border, allotment, or raised bed. Alternatively, sweet peppers make superb glasshouse and conservatory plants and will be delighted to spend their entire lives growing inside a conservatory, glasshouse, or polytunnel.
Always water your ‘Panache’ seeds, seedlings, and young plants with tap water. Water butts contain fungi and pathogens that cause damping off disease, which can eliminate large numbers of seedlings in one go. Seedlings need a good source of light above, otherwise they quickly become thin and straggly. Avoid placing your ‘Panache’ seedlings or plants near direct or intense lighting, as this may scorch or damage your plants’ leaves.
Sweet pepper ‘Panache’ plants thrive in warm and sunny areas. These plants will absolutely adore living their entire lives growing inside a glasshouse, polytunnel, or conservatory! Alternatively, sweet peppers plants can start their lives inside a glasshouse, polytunnel, or conservatory, and then move outside when all risk of frost has passed. In the UK, the last frost dates vary according to location, but they tend to range from the end of May until the middle of June.
Before even considering moving your plants outside or planting them out at your garden or allotment, make sure your plants are hardened off properly, first. Every day, for a minimum of two weeks, (ideally longer) move the plants outside in the morning and then bring the plants back indoors in the evening. This may sound like unnecessary hassle, but I promise you that it is worth it – your plants will grow more strongly and they’ll be perfectly adjusted to their new environment. After being hardened off, sweet peppers can then be planted outside.
When planting your sweet peppers outdoors, position your plants in bright and sunny, warm and sheltered areas. Avoid exposed, windy sites and steer clear of ground that’s wet or prone to water-logging. If your ground is water-logged, plant your sweet peppers in raised beds or containers filled with peat-free compost. Gardening on a cold, exposed site? Consider planting sweet peppers in a protected environment; for example, alongside a sheltered wall or inside a glasshouse, polytunnel, or conservatory. I’ve got a mini greenhouse which is great for growing peppers; take a look at my mini greenhouse by clicking here.
For more information and articles about sweet peppers, please click here.
To see more of my vegetable plant pages and see photographs and information on growing a wide range of plants, please click here.
For more articles about edible gardening, please click here.
