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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31 Jan 15, Neville Graham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Capsicum ,small variety,falling off bush before ripening. Bush is healthy. Any clues why this is happening
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08 Apr 15, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are they stung by fruit fly? I loose quite a lot during the warm weather but when it cools off and there are no fruit fly around I don't loose any.
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30 Jan 15, David (Australia - temperate climate)
The rotten spot could be sun scald (whitish) ...but, if it is rotten on the bottom end of the fruit it is most likely bottom end rot and the plant needs calcium.
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24 Jan 15, Deb (Australia - temperate climate)
This is my second year of growing capsicums, I just pruned it at the end of season last year. Noticed the capsicums this year are more red in colour than the common green last year. But my question is can I prune them again this year ready for next year or will I be wasting my time. I have had a good return although they are not massive in size. Thanks. Deb
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30 Jan 15, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Capsicums are bi-annual...if they are 2 seasons old pull them out. I think most people would plant new each year. Red Capsicums start green, and turn red as they ripen, but you can eat them at any stage.
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19 Jan 15, Saidimu (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi, I was just wondering how often you harvest and how many times before you should clear for new crop?
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08 Jan 15, frances (Australia - temperate climate)
we sowed some capsicum seedlings which were - mixed capsicum - some of them have come on with narrow yellow fruit that look like chili rather than capsicum. we have never seen them before. could you tell us what to do with them and how to cook them please
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13 Jan 15, Roy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Frances, I looked up Capsicum, in some places they're called Bell Peppers and there is a variety that looks like chili. Cooking them, alongside potatoes, carrots and other vegies in a roast dish, being thin skinned they do dry out quickly so later in the cooking time is best. Chopped coarse and added to a stew type dish or as I did today as part of a salad. I'm not a culinary whiz but do like cooking.
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16 Jan 15, Kyle (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have the same capsicums, what's the best way to tell if they are ripe?
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07 Jan 15, Stephen Zielke (Australia - tropical climate)
I have capsicum that grow to half their size and go rotten in a patch (25%).AND if the don't go rotten they fall off the bush when only half their size. Am I watering too much (Every Day)..Fruit fly???Bundaberg Qld..
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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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