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

01 Dec 19, Dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a very healthy capsicum plant with many flowers and a half a dozen fruit coming along.Just spotted 3 capsicum with brown softish marks on them.(I picked them and cut the brown out) I almost cried when I saw them.They looked so healthy from a distance. We have had extremely hot conditions exceeding 35 degrees. and no rain.I have been watering them,but the ground around the property is starting to 'crack open'.Maybe the water isn't fully getting to the roots..I don't know.Any advice would be appreciated.Thanks
02 Dec 19, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have the same thing happening with my caps. I had a few develop nice and big but now that the weather is so hot the skin is being burnt by the sun. I think with this near extreme hot weather it is near impossible to grow certain crops, caps being one of them. I live near Bundy and we have just had Nov aver max temp of 30.9, 2.5 above average. Today is 35 and the rest of the week is 34-36. These kind of temps are normally the hottest of days in mid summer not the start. You need to be watering a lot and even trying to shade the plants some how. I don't normally grow things this time of the year and I'm quickly winding down my crops - too hot to work.
03 Dec 19, Jason (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I had the same thing last year (on the coast south of Sydney), particularly getting burned on the west-facing side, from the hot afternoon sun. The UV seemed to be particularly strong last summer. My cucumber vines all got fried before producing any fruit, unlike the year before which had a good crop. Shade cloth might be the way to go
19 Dec 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can buy 30% shade cloth.
10 Nov 19, Beth (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought some tall leggy capsicum seedlings. Can I plant the deep into the soil like tomatoes or should the soil be at the same level?
11 Nov 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You probably could. Don't buy leggy seedlings.
14 Nov 19, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Tomatoes planted deep produce more roots up the stem that is in the soil. Caps probably don't meaning the root system is 4-6-8
15 Nov 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
the root system is 4-6-8
18 Nov 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When planting the roots deep remember you have to be able to get water down that far when watering.
28 Aug 19, Blake Stanvic (Australia - temperate climate)
What colour is my capsicum meant to be, it is pink. I don't know if thats normal.
Showing 31 - 40 of 430 comments

Ive had capsicums and chillies over winter and they usually come good once it warms up. I prune them back and when it gets warmer you should find new leaves starting to emerge. Give it a good feed. The old leaves will eventually drop off. I had a chilli plant live for several years in a pot.

- Corinna Wildenauer

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