An argument could be made that the success of a garden relies almost entirely on the quality of its soil. We have tested and tinkered with many potting soils, soil amendments, and other products to dial in the perfect soil for pepper plants.
In this article, we’ll go through some of the best soils on the market for growing peppers (and other veggies). Whether you’re growing your plants in pots, in a raised bed, or an in-ground garden, we’ve got you covered.
We’ll also touch on compost and the important role it and other organic materials have in building great soil for your pepper plants. If your soil is not ideal, compost will help to improve it.
Keep in mind, this article can be used to find or create a good soil for more than just peppers. If you grow tomatoes, leafy greens, root veggies, or other common plants, these recommendations should help too!
Best Soil for Peppers in Pots
Head to your local nursery, and you’ll be faced with several potting soils to choose from. Some are cheap, others seem outrageous, but what are the best soils for growing peppers in pots?
We have grown hundreds of potted pepper plants over the years, so we have a good idea of what works well. If you’re looking for a one-stop general potting mix to use, look no further than these great options.
1. Fox Farm ‘Happy Frog’ – Buy on Amazon >
This bagged potting soil has been a dream come true for our pepper plants. After we sprout our pepper seeds in soilless seed starter mix, we move the seedlings into Happy Frog potting soil.
Happy Frog has everything a pepper plant needs to grow, from forest humus, to perlite for excellent drainage, natural slow-release nutrients, beneficial mycorrhizae, and more. As soon as you grab a handful of this soil, you know it is high quality.
Some key ingredients: Composted forest humus, earthworm castings, bat guano, dolomite lime, mycorrhizae, and beneficial bacteria.
One of the great additions to Happy Frog soil are mycorrhizal fungi. These species of fungus form a mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of your plants, enhancing root growth, plant health, and disease resistance.
Tip: Store Happy Frog soil in a cool, dark location to avoid killing the dormant mycorrhizal fungi spores.
We were also happy with the results using Fox Farm’s Ocean Forest, but not as much as Happy Frog. Ocean Forest lacks the mycorrhizal content that perhaps works well with Capsicum species. Plus, it is more expensive.
2. Miracle Gro ‘Performance Organics’ – Buy on Amazon >
Another, more affordable option for potting soil is Performance Organics from Miracle Gro. This bagged soil is often easier to find locally than Fox Farm products thanks to large-scale distribution.
This soil is good right out of the bag, containing all of the essentials to build a happy root system for peppers. It has slow-release nitrogen sources, compost, perlite, and peat moss.
One minor drawback is that this potting soil is not inoculated with beneficial bacteria or fungus. While these are not essential to a potting soil, it is always nice to give your potted plants as much life as possible from day 1.
We also highly recommend Miracle Gro’s line of organic fertilizers to provide pepper plants with adequate nutrition throughout the season.
Other good potting soils for peppers:
- Black Gold potting soils
- Pro Mix soils
Another excellent option is to simply make your own potting soil from raw ingredients. If you are growing many potted pepper plants, the savings can be significant. Spend the extra time and save some money while you’re at it.
Homemade Soil Mix for Peppers
If you have a local nursery, chances are you have access to the basic building blocks of good, homemade potting soil. Here in New England, peat moss, perlite, sand, and compost are all readily available to buy individually.
Basic Potting Soil Recipe for Peppers (Raised Bed or Containers)
Finding the golden ratio is going to depend on your climate, how often you can water your plants, and other environmental factors. However, we will share a simple, rough template to start with for a basic homemade pepper plant soil.
- 1/2 peat moss. Peat moss (or coco coir) is used to increase the soil’s ability to retain nutrients and moisture. We prefer peat moss as it does not compact over time like coco coir can. Peat decreases pH, so lime is often added as an amendment to counteract the acidity.
- 1/4 organic matter. This can be homemade compost, rotted manure, chicken manure pellets, etc. This should be as diverse as possible, adding from multiple sources if possible.
- 1/4 drainage. Perlite, vermiculite, or sand all work great for aiding in drainage. They also give the roots more channels to grow through and better access to oxygen.
This basic recipe is a good starting point, but we love to continue experimenting every year with our own soil combinations. Play with the ratios, along with additional amendments, and compare the results of each plant to hone in on your perfect recipe.
Some plants may need more organic matter, while others might need a looser soil for easier penetration. Peppers like a good balance of both, not too fluffy, but definitely not compact, allowing for easy drainage.
Now, let’s go deeper into each of the vital components of a healthy, quality soil.
Organic Material
Though the percentage of organic material required is somewhat low (5-10% for in-ground soil), it is the most essential part of top-performing soil. Compost, rotted manure, alfalfa, and other ingredients provide natural, slow-release nutrition for your peppers.
Nutrients are, of course, critical for healthy potted pepper plants. With organic material added to your soil before planting, the natural ingredients have time to break down into usable forms of the primary and secondary nutrients.
Nutrient and Water Retention
If your soil cannot hold onto nutrients, your plants will suffer. This is the main benefit of using peat moss or coco coir. These materials increase the cation exchange capacity (CEC), allowing for better nutrient uptake and fertilizer effectiveness.
Organic material is also helpful for increasing water retention and CEC, so we do not recommend using peat moss for in-ground beds. Instead, simply amend your garden soil with compost 2-3 weeks prior to planting in early spring.
Drainage
For healthy drainage, there are several options. Sand is usually the cheapest option, but it is heavy, so keep that in mind. If you are making soil for a raised bed, sand is a great option, as you won’t be lifting the soil later on. Topsoil is a more natural, cheap option for filling raised beds with good drainage material.
Two lighter ingredients that are common for drainage, particularly in potting soils, are perlite and vermiculite. These are easy to find at gardening centers and both drain very well. They also help retain moisture (which seems counterintuitive), but this makes them excellent additives for potting soil.
Perlite is an especially useful material that helps prevent compaction over time. This volcanic glass is extremely lightweight but holds a ton of water per cubic inch (20-50% by volume). It is dusty, so be sure to wear respiratory protection when handling dry perlite.
The benefit of mixing your own soil is cost savings over bagged soils. Additionally, if you get the materials delivered in bulk, you avoid using one-time-use plastic bags to transport the soil.
In-Ground Soil
If you are building a new in-ground garden bed, it is best to start with a soil test. Send away 1 or 2 samples from the planned growing area to learn exactly what is already in your ground soil.
From here, the best course of action is usually to apply a layer of compost to the surface and lightly loosen the ground soil. This will help aerate the ground, relieve compaction, and begin to enrich the soil for growing peppers and other vegetables.
Sand, Silt, and Clay
One of the things a soil test will tell you is the sand, silt, and clay content of your soil. These are the 3 primary components that make up natural soil. Some plants prefer denser, clay-rich soils, while most vegetables prefer well-draining, loamy soil.
There are many varieties of peppers, but most thrive in sandy, loamy soil. This means a soil made up of primarily sand and silt, with just a touch of clay.
Regardless of your soil’s composition, compost and other bulky organic materials will steer your soil in the right direction over time. Compost is not only rich in nutrients but also adds structure to the soil, improving aeration and the ability of the roots to grow freely.
Protecting Ground Soil
One of the most important things for growing plants in the ground is to keep the soil covered when it is not in use. Through the winter, into the rainy months, and in any walkways, be sure to provide some protection.
One method is to plant a “cover crop” in the late fall. This keeps the soil organisms alive and active while also helping to avoid erosion. Some crops, such as peas, can add nitrogen to the soil if harvested just before flowering.
Another option is to simply cover the soil with a tarp or a thick mulch when not in use. This can be ugly, but the goal is still achieved. We have used a heavy-duty tarp for our in-ground beds that are not actively growing crops.
Protecting the soil helps retain the micro-organisms that keep garden soil happy. It also helps prevent the good soil from washing away or from drying out and eroding in hot, dry weather.
Do Peppers Like Acidic Soil?
Perhaps as important as soil structure and nutrients is pH level. A soil test will also tell you the soil’s pH, a difficult thing to properly test for at home. With this knowledge, you’ll know what to add to reach a perfect pH for peppers.
Peppers grow best in soil with a slightly acidic pH, between 6.0-7.0. This is the ideal range for peppers and many other gardener’s favorites, but the plants will grow outside of it. If you are having trouble growing peppers, then perhaps a pH test can help get to the bottom of the issue.
Read Next:
- How to grow peppers from seed
- Fertilizing pepper plants
- Pepper plant growing tips
I hope this article has helped you find the best soil for growing your peppers. Whether you are growing in pots or in the ground, your first priority should always be the quality of your soil.