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  
                  T T  

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

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings

August: Sow in pots

  • 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 18°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 50 cm 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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12 Mar 09, travis (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
you should pick it by the bottom of the capsicum
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04 Mar 09, Mary Ann (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Crocodile Manure, I have a friend who gets it for me from a reserve at Airlie Beach. It is not commercially available yet, but we are planning to market it soon. I will keep you all posted. In the interim you could do a search of the above mentioned farm, (which I cannot name for obvious reasons), on Google. There are also other reserves in Australia. Snap to it!
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03 Mar 09, nancy (Australia - temperate climate)
fruit fly attack on capsicum we need to know can we cover the plant or will this stop pollination?
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03 Mar 09, Hannah (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a problem that sounds similar to some others... the plant will produce one flower begin to grow a capsicum and then it just falls off. Sometimes the flower bud doesn't even open and drops off. How can I stop this from happening? The plant is about 6 months old.
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16 Feb 09, Jeannette (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What makes capsicums turn brown and rot just around the stem??
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31 Jan 09, Louisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a problem with capsicums that fall off when small and green. i can eat them like this, but would like to have the choice and get some bigger and / or red ones too. could an animal be knocking them off the bush? the plant seems quite delicate?
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21 Jan 09, sarju (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi i am a farmer son. i want to know how to grow capsicum,and what type of a fertilizer should i use...and at wat time i have to plant .andfrom where should i get seeds of capsicum......
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19 Jan 09, cal (Australia - temperate climate)
We have had our capsicums for a couple of years now and they still produce crop every season if they are not let too dry out
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12 Jan 09, Aaron (Australia - temperate climate)
My capsicum plants seem to get flower buds before their actually tall enough to get normal size fruit,should i just keep picking the flower buds out from the middle growing tip until the plants are tall enough to produce a normal size fruit?
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05 Jan 09, Liz (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Robyn, Rob and Diane, it seems likely that your capsicums are being attacked by a bacterial disease. You should be able to get some advice and assistance about treatment from your local plant shop.
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Showing 401 - 410 of 430 comments
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Hi Sarah Your timing seems OK, size wise and leaves etc. It’s hard to know what you did without being there, but here's a few transplanting tips to help you figure it out: - a week before you transplant, harden them off a bit by moving them out, especially if you've been raising the seedlings in a protected place i.e. shade house. Maybe also boost them with a light liquid feed first, not too much nitrogen - water them first so the soil or potting mix is moist, otherwise all the soil will just fall way, exposing and disturbing the roots - wait for the soil to be moist, not too wet, when you take them out, and tease the roots out gently, disturbing them as little as possible. It’s the fine root hairs at the ends of the roots that take up water so if they break off they can’t take up water - the hole you plant them in should be big enough to accommodate the roots without scrunching them in - after planting, don't fertilise until they've settled in, say a week or so. You can water them in with seaweed solution as this helps them settle. Protect them from wind and direct sun for a few days until they adjust - basically it's all about reducing transplant shock as much as possible Roberta

- Roberta

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