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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03 Dec 12, Stan (Australia - temperate climate)
i planted our capsicum seedlings 4 weeks ago and they were travelling quite well. then overnight something has come along and stripped every leaf off all plants and just left the stalk. What is the likely think that did this? also will they recover?
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19 Jan 13, Emily (Australia - temperate climate)
the same thing has happened to me overnight! I once had a healthy, about 40cm plant, and now all I have is stalk. I hope that it can recover... I am not sure who did this to it either! Also had by Chilli plant attacked, where all the chillis were taken off and half eaten - they havnt touched the leaves.
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19 Nov 12, Nat (Australia - temperate climate)
My capsicums are tiny, haven't grown much at all, but the leaves are all turning inward/curling up.... HELP!!!
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23 Nov 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
try appling wuxal you can buy it at all good nerserys
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16 Nov 12, sandra (Australia - temperate climate)
I have capsicums in my garden, they are very healthy looking, but the fruit is small - maybe 4-5cm and start to ripen. the skin is very thin and full of seeds. what am I doing wrong?
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20 Oct 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
can u grow marigold around them?
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01 Oct 12, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi All, Can someone please tell me when planting capsicums in the garden do they reqiure full sun or can they be planted in part shade. Cheers
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02 Oct 12, alice (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, on the ticket that came with my capsicum plant it says full sun for at least six hours per day.
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01 Oct 12, Meagan (Australia - temperate climate)
My plant has been in the garden for about 6 months and has grown quite big. It did prduce some proper, edible fruit, but it's had lots of really little fruit on it for months now which just won't get bigger or go red. Should I trim, pull out or leave?
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23 Jun 17, Linda Botha (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Good evening. We live in Port Elizabeth in Broadwood/Charlo area. Grow Chillies successfully. I would like to know if I can trim my 2 meter bushes before spring to be able to yield in September. Enjoy your web site thank you.
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Showing 271 - 280 of 430 comments
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Could be a number of reasons ... A common ailment with capsicum is blossom-end rot. This condition just effects the fruit and not the plant blossom or flower. The condition gets its name because the symptoms appear at the ‘blossom end’ of the fruit. The first sign of blossom-end rot is that the end of the fruit becomes off-whitish to brown in colour and takes on a ‘sunken in’ appearance. As the fruit matures, these symptoms become more pronounced and the colour of the rot becomes dark brown to almost black. Blossom-end rot is caused by insufficient calcium supply. However, the most common cause is from irregular watering during the critical growing period of the young fruit. Even when calcium levels in the soil are sufficient, a plant receiving insufficient or irregular water will have difficulty absorbing and delivering calcium to the fruit. To control blossom-end rot. Boost the soil with calcium by adding lime, dolomite, gypsum or composted animal manures before planting the seedlings. Water regularly. Most capsicum crops continue to flower and bear fruit for prolonged periods of time, so ensure the soil around their roots is kept moist. Avoid fertilisers with a high nitrogen content. Nitrogen fertilisers will promote leaf growth at the expense of fruit, allocating calcium to the leaves instead of to the fruit.

- ej

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