Who doesn’t want large peppers? A common goal while gardening is to grow the largest fruit you can. Lucky for you, we have some useful tips that can help you grow bigger poblano peppers.
To make poblano peppers grow bigger, be sure to fertilize them correctly, put them in full sun, prune your plant, and use a big enough pot. The fertilizer should have an NPK value of 5-10-10. Poblanos need upwards of 10 hours of sun a day to reach their full potential, and pruning encourages growth. Lastly, pots need to be at least 5 gallons large.
Keep reading so you can grow epically large poblano peppers!
How big should poblanos get?
Poblano peppers are top-heavy with a relatively wide base, narrowing to a point. While the stem may resemble a classic bell pepper, it tapers to a pointed tip more reminiscent of an Anaheim pepper. As far as looks go, the poblano really is in a class by itself, but how big are they compared to these other peppers?
Poblano peppers should be 4-6 inches from base to tip when mature.
For comparison, a single bell pepper is typically 4-5 inches long and 2-3 inches wide while the skinny Anaheim pepper can grow to be 6-10 inches.
If your poblano peppers aren’t reaching their ideal size, there are several things you can do to encourage your peppers to grow larger.
How do you make poblano peppers bigger?
Most gardeners have several concerns when it comes to their crops, including overall yield and the size and quality of their harvest.
To make poblano peppers grow bigger:
- Fertilize correctly
- Put them in full sun
- Prune your plant
- Make sure the pot is big enough
When growing poblano peppers, larger peppers can be especially good for popular dishes such as stuffed peppers.
Fertilize correctly
Lazy gardeners (or inexperienced) often slack on fertilization, but it makes a huge difference.
To make poblano peppers grow bigger, the correct fertilizer is non-negotiable. Poblano peppers like 5-10-10 fertilizers. Fertilize them at ½ strength when you transplant them. After that, use a slow-release fertilizer so that nutrient levels stay consistent throughout the season. Spindly growth, end rot, and stunted growth are all signs that you need to fertilize.
There’s a lot to know about fertilizing your peppers!
Poblano peppers do best with fertilizers that have a 5-10-10 NPK value.
Fertilize your poblanos for the first time upon transplant at ½ strength so as not to shock them with excessive nutrients.
Poblano peppers do well with slow-release fertilizers because the nutrient levels will stay consistent throughout the season. Plus, you don’t have to remember to keep fertilizing them!
Some signs that you may need to fertilize include spindly growth, tip burn, end rot, yellow or brown leaves, and stunted growth. Different nutrient deficiencies will each present themselves with different symptoms, so it’s important to know your stuff!
Put them in full sun
Don’t underestimate the necessity of full sun!
To make poblano peppers grow bigger, make sure they’re getting enough sun. They need 6-8 hours of direct sun per day but do best with as much as 10 hours a day. Put your poblanos in the sunniest spot in your yard. Consider supplementing with artificial light if you’re growing your poblanos indoors.
Poblano pepper plants need 6-8 hours of direct sun at the very least. They thrive best with upwards of 10 hours per day.
Plan your garden in the sunniest spot in your yard. If you’re growing in pots or grow bags and notice that your plants aren’t getting enough sun, move them somewhere sunnier!
Some signs that your poblanos need more light include:
- Leggy stems
- Pale color
- Dropping leaves
- Low production of flowers
If you’re growing your poblanos indoors, place them by a sunny window. Consider supplementing with artificial light if any of the above signs appear!
Prune your plant
Pruning is another aspect of gardening that a lot of people skip. But it can completely change the course of your plant’s growth!
To make poblano peppers grow bigger, prune your plant. Pruning is one of the most effective ways to encourage fruit growth because it tells your plant to put more energy into the fruit. Pruning early in the season can also encourage a strong root system, which will pay off throughout the life of your plant!
Pruning your poblano pepper plant is one of the best ways to encourage large yields and big fruits. Pruning encourages your plant to put all of its energy into fruit production.
In addition, pruning early in the season can help your poblano grow a strong root system.
To prune your pepper plant:
- Sanitize your choice of shears
- Hold your pepper plant gently
- Keep your hands out of the way
- Prune where two baby leaves are being formed
- Compost the branch you pruned off
Make sure the pot is big enough
Since poblano pepper plants can grow to be so large, it’s vital to have a pot that can support such an extensive root system.
To make poblano peppers grow bigger, use a large enough pot that’s at least 5 gallons. Pots are a great way to grow poblano peppers because you can fully control the kind of soil you’re using and they have great drainage. Don’t rule out mulching your peppers to retain enough moisture.
Poblano pepper plant pots need to be at least 5 gallons.
Pots will dry out more quickly than in-ground gardens, so consider utilizing mulch in order to keep moisture in.
Pots are great because you have complete control over the soil you’re growing in. For example, poblanos prefer a pH of 6.5. When you’re growing in the ground, you may have to amend your soil a lot in order to reach that pH. In pots, you can specifically mix potting soil to be perfect for your peppers!
Why are my poblano peppers so small?
A small yield can be disappointing when you’re used to buying big, beautiful poblanos from the grocery store. Homegrown is supposed to be better, right?
Some reasons your poblano peppers are so small may include:
- Not getting enough sun
- Not getting enough water
- Growing in the wrong kind of soil
- Needing fertilizer
Let’s look at each of these and see what can be done to improve those peppers!
Not getting enough sun
Without enough sun, your poblanos won’t have the energy they need to produce large fruit.
Your poblano peppers may be so small because they’re not getting enough sun. Sun is the driving energy force behind all plant growth, so a lack of sun will always result in a stunted plant. If you don’t have the option of moving your poblano somewhere sunnier, be sure to nail the other aspects of plant growth – fertilization, watering, using the right soil, etc.
Sun is the driving force behind photosynthesis – aka, how plants produce energy and feed themselves.
Without enough sun, your poblanos won’t have adequate energy to grow large fruit.
If possible, move your poblano somewhere where it will get more sun. You may have to go so far as to change the location of your garden for the next growing season.
But if your poblano is already getting as much sun as it can in your yard, all you can do is really nail everything else (fertilization, water, soil) and work with what you’ve got.
Not getting enough water
We all know how important watering is!
Your poblano peppers may be so small because it’s not getting enough water. Plants are mostly made out of water! It’s also necessary for photosynthesis. Peppers require 1-2 inches of water each week as a general rule. This number may be higher depending on the weather and how quickly your soil drains.
Water is another necessary ingredient for photosynthesis. Plus, plants are mostly made of water!
The size of your peppers will definitely suffer without enough H2O.
Peppers need 1-2 inches of water each week. This number may even be higher depending on how hot it is and how quickly your soil drains.
Consider installing an irrigation system if you’re forgetful!
Growing in the wrong kind of soil
Soil is the lifeblood of all gardening.
Your poblano peppers may be so small because you’re growing in the wrong kind of soil. Poblanos need well-draining soil with a pH of 6.5. You should also have some organic amendments. A likely pitfall is having soil that’s too heavy. Add perlite to increase aeration and drainage.
Poblano peppers need well-draining soil with a pH of 6.5. Organic amendments are always good too!
The most common culprit is growing in heavy soil that retains too much moisture. Consider adding some perlite to your mix for extra aeration and drainage.
Needing fertilizer
As discussed earlier, fertilizer is a game-changer!
Your poblano peppers may be so small because the plant needs fertilization. Fertilize at ½ strength with a 5-10-10 fertilizer when you transplant your poblano. After that, use a slow-release fertilizer throughout the season. Stunted growth or signs of nutrient deficiencies are sure-fire signs that you need to fertilize.
Poblano peppers do best with a 5-10-10 slow-release fertilizer and a ½ strength fertilizer application upon transplant.
If growth seems stunted, consider fertilization. There are many different signs of nutrient deficiencies for you to look out for as well.
Why won’t my poblano peppers get big?
At the end of the day, you may be out of luck.
There are some reasons for small poblano peppers that can’t be remedied. If a transplant from the nursery germinated under the wrong conditions, that can permanently stunt the growth of the plant. Over-fertilization can cause irreversible tip burn on your roots. Lastly, some pests and diseases can reach a point of no return.
Unfortunately, there are some things that just can’t be fixed.
For example, you may buy a transplant from a germinated nursery under the wrong conditions.
Or maybe you over-fertilized and burned the tips of your plant’s roots.
Certain pests and diseases have no hope after a certain point.
