How to Grow Small Sweet Banana Wax Peppers at 0 Heat Level

The term "peppers" covers a wide range of plants, including bell peppers, sweet peppers and hot peppers like cayennes. Banana peppers are mid-sized sweet peppers that work well as savory raw snacks or in salads and fried dishes. Banana peppers grow in both sweet and hot varieties, each with its own distinct heat and flavor. These varieties can cross pollinate, and growing conditions can change the taste of the sweet peppers themselves. To keep sweet banana peppers mild and tasty, keep them isolated and provide the moisture and nutrition they need.

• 1

  Plant sweet banana peppers in spring, when temperatures rise to over 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Planting too early may result in frost damage and stunted growth, and may also result in deformed or overly hot peppers. Plant the peppers in areas where they'll get full sunshine for eight hours every day, to promote blooming and full ripening. Peppers that don't get enough sun may not bloom, bear fruit or ripen.

• 2

  Isolate sweet banana peppers from hot banana peppers to restrict any cross pollination, which would result in hotter banana peppers. Keep hot banana peppers at least 10 feet away from sweet banana peppers from the start.

• 3

  Amend the soil before planting with a combination of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost to give banana peppers good nutrition and drainage from the start. Peppers that don't get enough nutrition or water produce small, very hot peppers. Maintain consistent soil and nutrition to keep your banana peppers sweet.

• 4

  Water banana peppers with at least 2 inches of water a week to keep the soil consistently moist, and keep the peppers sweet. Stake banana peppers with veggie cages to support the plants and maintain good air circulation. Staking also helps during ripening, by giving the peppers better access to sunshine.

• 5

  Fertilize banana peppers at the first pepper flush, or development, with 10-10-10 or organic fertilizer. This feeding encourages bigger pepper development, and gives the plants the resources they require to bear large, sweet peppers.

• 6

  Harvest banana peppers when they turn from green to yellow, to guarantee adequate ripening time. The longer you leave the peppers on the vine, the riper and sweeter they'll become. Picking the peppers too early will give you smaller, hotter peppers.