Growing Capsicum, also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers

Capsicum annuum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
              S S S S  
                T T T  
              P P P P  

(Best months for growing Capsicum in South Africa - Semi-arid regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 18°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 50 cm apart
  • Harvest in 10-12 weeks. Cut fruit off with sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Egg plant (Aubergine), Nasturtiums, Basil, Parsley, Amaranth

Your comments and tips

07 Aug 17, Jennifer (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Kev, your post got me thinking I had the same problem with my capsicums, looked it up and it says that Thrips cause those brown scars.
10 Jun 17, Lyndal (Australia - temperate climate)
I have heaps of green capsicum in my garden which are long and thin. They don't appear to be growing any bigger or changing colour. I planted sweet mix capsicum and some are probably as long as 20cm but skinny and green. Are they ready to pick or how do I go about making them yellow and red. They have been in my garden for ages.
19 Jun 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
You have (probably) planted a kind of capsicum the grows long and thin - mixed sweet caps. You have not planted the normal caps - round caps. Google how to grow caps or peppers and read about the different varieties. The guide on this website will tell you how long they should take until ready to pick and eat - something like 10-12 weeks.
11 Jun 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lyndal, It's probably too late for your capsicums now. The only thing I would suggest is pick one or two that feel like they are almost ready, and leave them in a window sill to ripen. I did that with the last few capsicums from our crop this year, before pulling them up.
22 May 17, Maureen (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been harvesting my capsicum since early summer. They still have fruit and flowers. Should I pull up when I have picked the capsicums that are nearly ready. I want to start my winter garden and am not sure whether they just keep on being generous in their supply.
22 May 17, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate)
As the winter sets in capsicum yield will diminish and a good frost will kill the plants. Capsicums are a short-lived perennial but you would be best to harvest what you can and then pull the plants out giving you room to plant your winter garden. Fresh plants in a new spot next spring would be best.
21 May 17, Ezekiel Godwin Etim (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Good morning sir. place questions are . can I used one type of soils to plan this pepper. like green pepper. rad pepper and yellow pepper. am from Nigeria.
22 May 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
All peppers need the same soil. well manured soil and an even supply of water will give you a good crop. If you leave the green ones on the plant they will go red and the yellow ones will go orange.
17 May 17, Lynny (Australia - temperate climate)
My capsicum bush is loaded but the fruit is very bitter. How can I sweeten them up?
17 May 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
Adding Epsom Salts at the rate of 1 tbs - 2 litres of water will improve the flavour and sweetness of tomatoes so you could give that a try. They are both in the Solanacea family. All the best.
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