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

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02 Dec 14, John hrynko (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My fruit on my capsicum goes rotten before they can ripen, are they being stung or is there a disease in the ground? The bushes seem to be healthy, I have very little success in gating good or any fruit for that matter.
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23 Dec 14, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
I have the same issue in Victoria where we do not have any fruit fly as the possible reason. Do not know what the problem is as my tomatoes are going well with lots of fruit coming (cherry).
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08 Dec 14, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it fruit fly? I live in Southern Qld. A friend put me onto an easy fix for fruit fly a couple years age & it really works. I was sceptical & tested it a couple years ago on my tomatoes & no stung fruit. Put strips of fabric (about 1" wide & however long you want), dotted with Vicks Vapour Rub...has to be Vicks....no generics.... (about every 3 or 4 inches) & thread a couple through each plant. Refresh with the Vicks if it rains. I replenished every week through the summer as I was paranoid. Ended up with beautiful fruitfly free tomatoes & made tons of tom sauce, chutney etc.
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19 Nov 14, prue (Australia - temperate climate)
Do I need to pinch out capsicums for a more bushy plant?kp
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16 Nov 14, george (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you need more than one Capsicum plant to produce fruit.
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31 Dec 14, phil (Australia - temperate climate)
no george you don"t need more than one,i have one plant and it is packed with fruit.
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05 Nov 14, solomon wambugu (Australia - temperate climate)
Am planning to start the growth of capsicum plant yet i don.t know the conditions it requires:temperatures,altitude, soil type, soil PH and the season.also where can I get the seeds as they are not locally available from my area as I have come from the remotest area in the sub saharan country by the name Kenya, a place called Laikipia north which is uninhabited and most referred to as the driest part and I want to make it productive.
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30 Oct 14, Floyd (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have plant the green pepper in limpopo(Phalaborwa), My question its okay have a green house to protect the pepper because its hot in Phalaborwa. What must I do to maintain them so long
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24 Oct 14, anne (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown plants from store-bought capsicums very successfully & they are now about 12 inches tall but would like to know if they need to be staked & do I just feed then liquid seaweed fertiliser. Also how long before the fruit appears
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16 Oct 14, ken (Australia - temperate climate)
Do capsicum need to be staked
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