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              
      P P              

(Best months for growing Capsicum in USA - Zone 5a 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 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

13 Jun 13, Frank Mc Elroy (Australia - temperate climate)
My capsicum prodused banana in the first instance, now have both on the same bushes, is there any reason for this.
07 Apr 13, sean james (Australia - temperate climate)
there is a great deal of bull Large ants on & around my capsicum plant & the leaves are falling off, why. pls.
26 Mar 13, JamieG (Australia - temperate climate)
Space plants: 100 - 150 cm apart ! Surely that is a mistake. 50cm would be more than adequate. Plant them 1.5m apart and they would get downright lonely.
17 Apr 13, CelesteL (Australia - temperate climate)
Agree space seems excessive. My thrive about 50 to 70cm apart
08 Mar 13, Lee Pilgrim (Australia - temperate climate)
Are capsicums annual? ie do they just keep growing or will they die off? If the latter should I pull them up and plant seeds next Spring? The ones I have are taking over/overshadowing my other herbs/veg.
17 May 13, Alison McGregor (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lee, I strongly believe they last a few good years, having better fruit production in the second year after building up strong stem and branch material in the first year. As they get older the fruit seems to get smaller, but more of it. If they do this and the fruit are too small for your needs plant some seeds from those fruit and start again. My current cap plants are three years old and are producing loads of fruit, somewhat smaller than last year but much more of it. I find they almost go dormant during the colder months and then have a massive growth spurt when it warms up. Alison
16 Jan 13, Shani (Australia - tropical climate)
I have had this same issue Stan. I thought it might have been a rat, because I found a best of baby rats in my compost around Christmas 2011 and had seen an adult rat. The rats have since been eliminated. But it is still an ongoing issue. I have found a small burrow in my yard, and believe I have a small resident marsupial living here. I have wrapped alfoil around the base of my capsicum bush (its about 1mt in height), and my resident friend hasnt touched it since. Hope this helps!
10 Jan 13, Ferran (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have 5 capsicum plants in a 1 meter row i grew them from seed and after a month in seed mix they still only had their first set of leaves i planted them out thinking lack of nutrients may have been the cause. they all survived however have been growing rather slowly they are now 15-20 cm high they get at least 6h sun each day. i don't water them every day but i do keep the soil moist and they are mulched. the zucchini they were planted with have just come to the end of its life and it is in veggie soil mixed with compost from a trusted garden shop that has never had things grown in that bed before.i live between Sydney and Newcastle on the coast and have had a few 35c+ days recently. Am i just being impatient for caps? or is there such a thing as them being in the sun for too long?
10 Jan 13, DEdwards (Australia - temperate climate)
I am in a temperate region, and my capsicums are a late bloomers (planted them in October). Make sure you water them at the base, direct to the roots - an overhead sprinker hinders pollination. I had a few really late frosts in my area, I think this may have slowed down their growth as well. Be patient :)
16 Jan 13, Ferran (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
a friend who runs a garden shop told me that that it was a disease that her caps had got a few years ago as some of the leaves have turned golden and dry in some patches i think this may be the cause I am watching them carefully although perhaps having come to that conclusion i should pull them out. I planted some more of the same seeds in nutritious soil rather than seed mix (still in trays) and perhaps because of this or the warmer weather they are going relay well with thicker stems and wider greener leaves and the appearance of second leaves in week two (this is just healthy garden soil). hope fully these stronger pants will with stand disease. i am not afraid of frost where i am but will plant these new ones in a different patch of soil. thank you for your quick response.
Showing 251 - 260 of 428 comments

"Do I need bees for pollination? No, bees are not important for pollination. Although you may see plenty of bees in the patch, capsicumĀ is self-pollinated. Bush movement due to wind is sufficient for pollination". You probably have no wind inside the house. Also I have read caps need the temp above a certain temperature to pollinate. I wouldn't recommend growing anything inside - plants need sun - some more than others. Plants like caps and tomatoes need wind to pollinate. Others need bees.

- Mike

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