- 1). Combine 3 parts milled peat moss with 1 part perlite to create a soilless mix suitable for germinating Cubanelle pepper seeds. Mist the mixture with water until it is moist enough to bind slightly when squeezed. Fill a seedling tray with the mixture.
- 2). Place the pepper seeds in a bowl. Pour a mixture of 1 tsp. hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 cup of water over the seeds. Soak the seeds in the peroxide solution for approximately six hours, or until the seeds sink to the bottom of the bowl. Remove the seeds and allow them to drain for 10 to 15 minutes before sowing them.
- 3). Sow the seeds 2 inches apart at a 1/2-inch depth. Mist the surface of the soil until water begins to collect on the surface. Cover the seedling flat with its clear plastic lid, or stretch a sheet of plastic wrap over the container if your seedling flat does not have a lid.
- 4). Place the seedling flat in a warm greenhouse or near a south-facing window where it will receive at least five hours of sunlight per day. Keep temperatures between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the germination process. Place the flat on a propagation heat mat if the area where the seeds are kept is not sufficiently warm.
- 5). Mist the seeds every five days until the soil mixture is moist throughout its depth. Remove the plastic lid permanently when the seedlings reach 2 inches in height.
- 6). Prepare the permanent planting bed when outdoor temperatures steadily remain above 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
- 7). Choose a planting site that receives full, intense sunshine throughout the day. Some high, light shade is acceptable for part of the day. Avoid areas with poor drainage.
- 8). Cultivate the bed with a rotary tiller set to 10 inches deep. Make several passes over the bed until the soil is mostly free from clumps. Add a 2 to 4-inch layer of compost over the bed and work it in with the rotary tiller if your soil is especially heavy or comprised mostly of clay.
- 9). Bring the seedling flat out to the garden bed. Poke one 3-inch hole for each seedling using a dibble or your fingers. Space them 18 to 24 inches apart.
- 10
Remove the seedlings from the flat by carefully digging them out with your fingers. Place a seedling in each hole and push the soil in around their roots. Gently firm around the base of the seedlings. - 11
Water the plants to a depth of 7 inches every 10 days using a garden hose with an adjustable nozzle set to drip. Dripping the water at the base of the plant is best because it does not get water on the leaves. - 12
Feed Cubanelle pepper plants once a month during the growing season with 5-10-10 ratio fertilizer. Use the fertilizer in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. Water the plants thoroughly after fertilizing to distribute the nutrients throughout the soil. - 13
Harvest the peppers after 80 days, or when they achieve a solid red coloration.
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