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 S S
T T               T T T

(Best months for growing Capsicum in Australia - sub-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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09 Feb 17, Tony Mnisi (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I'm based in Pretoria. I want to know as to where can I buy bell peppers in my area?
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09 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Capsicum or Bell Pepper seed should be easy to get at Nurseries and Garden Centres in Pretoria. If not there are 2 or 3 Online (Internet) Seed Companies in South Africa. Trust this helps.
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17 Jan 16, Hazel (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
My green peppers takes long to produce fruit and the leaves looks wilted all the time .
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17 Mar 16, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
The soil may be nitrogen rich and lack phosphorus. Add aged compost to the planting bed. Alternatively, add some blood or bone meal.
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14 Jan 16, (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
My green peppers take so long to produce veg . The leaves stays wilted . I water them and ferterlizers them on time .
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07 Feb 15, wale (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Can I plant red bell pepper seeds directly into the ground without transplantation from the beginning In Nigeria, West Africa and how long can a red pepper plant produce continuously?
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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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04 Apr 14, Theresa (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
My bell peppers battled to maintain good leaf development and would look like they are wilting. The fruit was small and eventually also wilted. What was the issue. My garden gets irrigated every 2nd day and the soil is well composted. Would you know what the problem was?
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04 Nov 13, Dennis (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I am interested in Capsicum farming in Congo Brazzaville Which specie of capsicum will favorably grow here?
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30 Aug 13, humble (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
could you advice me how to prepare best soil for growing bigger capsicum fruit.
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Showing 11 - 20 of 22 comments
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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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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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