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              
        T T T          

(Best months for growing Capsicum in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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 64°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 20 inches 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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15 Oct 11, Diane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am living in Sub-Tropical, Coffs Harbour. I would like some helpful advise in growing Capsicums in this Region. I have tried planting in the ground and in pots but have not had any success. Any tips would be great. Di
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23 Nov 11, Max (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Di Don't give up you can do it. You don't say at what point things go wrong- but I suggest you start with a small red capsicum (sweet pepper) from a local outlet. The smaller fruited ones ripen quickly and don't get fruit fly for me. The smaller fruited ones are tougher and get going quicker. And this is the exactly time of the year to start. They also produce more abundantly. Cheers Max
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10 Oct 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes you can I have great results from organic ones only
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08 Oct 11, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
can I just plant seeds straight to garden?
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07 Oct 11, kelvan (Australia - temperate climate)
I really dont have a lot of produce from capsicums. Is Margaret River region W.A realy classed as temperate or cool mountain?
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11 Sep 11, Catherine (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I use the seeds from the capsicans that I have purchased from the super market?
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23 Oct 11, aif (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes u can, just dry the seeds first.
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01 Oct 11, Roberta (Australia - temperate climate)
You can, however if the variety is a hybrid, as most varieties grown for supermarkets are, it won't come true to type. This is OK for your own use but not if you are aiming to save seed of named varieties that you intend to donate, say, to a seed bank. If the variety was an open pollinated one then it should come out the same unless you have other varieties flowering nearby that will cross, even chillies!
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11 Sep 11, (Australia - arid climate)
I think you can. we have planted seeds from the ones we buy at the markets and they grow well.
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06 Sep 11, sarah (Australia - temperate climate)
I tried growing bell pepper capsicum from seeds, they were about 10cm big with about 2-3 sets of leaves and i tried to move them to a bigger container. i lost 3 out of 4 as they seem to wilt as soon as i moved them. i fertilised them and watered them in but what could i have done wrong, have i damaged the roots?
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Hi Barbara, I had the same thing happen last year, those plants somehow survived a very hot wet summer and through autumn produced masses of fruit and are also now producing masses of new fruit after I pruned them back hard and started applying a vegetable targeted liquid plant fertilizer with seaweed included. I also added lime around the plants and sprayed the leaves with a bit of epsom salts dissolved in water around the time I pruned them. Don't give up on these ones give them a prune at the end of winter and they will come back for you, if you live in a cooler area you may have to wait til spring but if you get no frost they will come back bigger and better when the weather warms up later this year, caps do last longer than one year and I find they produce much more in the second year than the first, when they put most effort into producing strong stem and branch to support the weight of the following years fruit. Honestly one plant that did this weird year long wait had about 11 fruit on it in March. Sometimes it's better when they start out slow, good luck mate.

- Alison McGregor

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