From picnic to bell peppers, sweet peppers are a colorful addition for the summer plate. They share the same genetic family as their more fiery counterparts, chilis, but don’t contain the capsaicin that makes hot sauce and pepper flakes so very spicy.
Growing Peppers in Michigan
Did you know that peppers are perennials, but are grown as annuals here in colder climates? As tropical plants, peppers do best in the garden during the hottest season in Michigan when the temperature is no cooler than 60 degrees at night. Start your peppers indoors, and transplant when the danger of frost has passed. Allow peppers to ripen on the plant, often turning orange, yellow, or red from green, for the sweetest taste.
Bell & Sweet Pepper Nutrition
Peppers are a great source of vitamin A, which promotes healthy eyesight, and vitamin C, which helps form collagen and digest iron in the body. Beyond that, peppers are a part of a fiber-rich, nutrient-dense diet, aiding your overall health.
Canning Sweet Peppers
Sweet peppers must be pressure canned for safety. For detailed instructions on pressure canning your peppers, we recommend this guide from MSU Extension.
If you’re interested in preserving your peppers but would like to avoid pressure canning, try freezing your sliced or diced blanched peppers in a single layer on a sheet pan, transferring them to a freezer-safe bag once completely frozen.
Is Paprika Made from Bell Peppers?
Paprika, the national spice of Hungary and used worldwide, is generally made from sweet peppers. The peppers are left on the vine to ripen to produce the signature red color.
Sweet Pepper Recipes
Try your sweet peppers in these great recipes! Cook them up in a classic Romesco sauce with greens and shrimp, use them as a colorful component to this Garden Fiesta Rice, or snack on them with our recipe for Cream Cheese-Stuffed Peppers.
How will you be enjoying local peppers this summer? Find your next pepper with our Find Food and Farms Directory!