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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03 May 09, Michelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, advice anyone? My capsicum plants won't turn red. They are still green and have black streaks, although they are almost at the right size. Is it because it's too cold for them now (May in Melb)? They are the red sort, one did start turning red and then stopped after all the heat and fires we had in Feb.
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05 Jul 10, Claire Watkinson (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi- I am in Adelaide and experiencing exactly the same problem. My capsicums are a lovely size and most of them went a purply black colour and then started to go red but then the cool weather hit. They are still going red but ever so slowly- I think I wll harvest as it is getting too cold. Unless anyone has other suggestions??
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05 Jul 10, Don Holmes (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We are still geeting ripe(Red) Capsicums in July 2010 off a bush planted in November 2010. Our secret is a temp plastic hot house over the plant+ its planted near a north facing brick wall i fullsun ( if any shines).
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30 Apr 09, John (Australia - tropical climate)
I have a problem with capsicums they only get to a small size then turn orange/yellow then start to rot.
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27 Mar 09, Shireen (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a problem with capsicums that fall off when small.And zucchini (rough skinned) dries out when it is 10 cm long.
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23 Mar 09, craig mcleod (Australia - temperate climate)
I have lost a few capsicums this year, a spot develops on the upper side of the fruit just before it is ripe. possibly similar to the other comments regarding a soft spot. if left, this develops into a hole, and the fruit rots around the hole. the rest of the fruit seems ok though, and there do not appear to be any maggots or grubs. Any ideas?
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16 Mar 09, Emma May (Australia - tropical climate)
I live in yeppoon and not sure if its just because the soil is good but I just threw my capsicum scraps into my flower bed about 3 months ago and now I have just noticed little capsicum plants in the flower bed and there is green capsicums on the plants (they're not ready to picked yet) I'm wondering could I move them? worried something will eat them... I have an above ground veggie enclosure and was thinking of moving them into there.
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15 Mar 09, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i'd like to know how to tell when a purple capsicum is ready for picking?
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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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Just bought an orange lunchbox capsicum. Should I pinch out the top leaves to promote a more bushy plant?

- Helen

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