Growing Capsicum, also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers

Capsicum annuum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Feb	Mar	Apr	May
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

16 Sep 12, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have had a capsicum plant growing for >12months, regularly flowering and producing fruit (not heaps at the same time, but constantly has one or two on the go).
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12 Jun 12, Raymond Rodrigues (Australia - temperate climate): If i cut a capsicum and grow the seeds will it grow
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20 Jun 12, James (Australia - temperate climate): Signs point to yes. Although hybrids may not produce well when seed is saved, the capsicum in the shops is most likely a hybrid. Genetically modified seeds won't sprout, but I doubt they will be GM. I would buy my own seeds.
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17 Apr 12, Ray (Australia - temperate climate): I have one capsicum bush in a small planter box it grew with about 8 small fruits (green) and not real large before they look as if they were starting to burn. After picking the fruit I wish to know will more fruit bloom from the one plant. Ray in suburban WA.
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01 Sep 12, Dean (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Ray, Read comments from the 28th from Kay, sound like the same problem. Will change colour the longer you leave them on the plant. I find the red ones a little bit sweeter. I am no expert but i have found capsicum one of the most easy vegetables to grow. Plant will not reproduce more capsicums.
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19 Mar 12, rae (Australia - temperate climate): my capsicums are bitter raw and cooked any one know why
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09 Mar 12, Llane (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have some capsicum plants and one of them has 2 fruits already and growing well. This morning I discovered that the new fruit fall down on the ground and then I check the big one but it is detached from the plant. Why this happened? We live in Capalaba,Brisbane... any help, thank you.
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07 Mar 12, simone (Australia - temperate climate): I live in the northern suburb of perth wa and i am growing 3 capsicum plants in an old water tank. I purchased proper vegetable soil and fertilise weekly with seasol and npk every 2 weeks and water nearly every day, due to the hot weather we have at the moment. I have lots of healthy fruit, but have noticed that the leaves on one of the plants have turned yellow, what could be making them turn yellow?
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09 Mar 20, Alan (Australia - tropical climate): Hi Simone, the yellowing of leaves generally indicate that the plant is not getting enough oxygen, perhaps due to too much water. I find that with my rose plants. I shall assume that this maybe the same in your case. Please ask anybody else if my theory is correct. Good luck.
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27 Aug 12, Barry (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hi, If you live in Perth and are using tap water then the water is way way to alkaline. Some times in Perth the water reads PH 8.00 and above. When the water is that high they will not up take nutrients. I would suggest getting a container and adjusting the ph. before watering the plants. Regards, Barry.
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Replying to:

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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Growing Capsicum, also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers

Capsicum annuum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Capsicum, also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers

Capsicum annuum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

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