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

Not recommended for growing in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • 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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18 Jun 16, Andrea (Australia - temperate climate)
I relive that it's probably cheaper to buy them at the shops but just wanting to try my hand a growing capsicums, and a lot of my veggies for that matter. Do capsicums need to be grown on a trellis similar to beans or are they more like a tomato bush? Sorry for the weird question. I just want to make sure that I prepare the garden properly.
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18 Aug 16, Glenn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I only grow vegetables that are cheaper to grow than to buy - capsicum is amongst them.
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01 Jul 16, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
they are a bush type, they don't need a trellis.
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15 Jun 16, Wendy (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes capsicums continue to ripen after being picked. Small fruit and or not ripening use potash liquid once a week. Only water at the base of the plant. It the flowers aren't turning to fruit then plant flowers near to attrack bees eg marigolds, lavender etc
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12 Jun 16, angyelile benson mwalongo (Canada - Zone 6a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
To join and to know how to grow capsurm and to be helped
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08 Jun 16, ray (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Do Capsicum in to be pull out or just cut back
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28 May 16, Di (Australia - tropical climate)
I have one capsicum plant (came up from scraps thrown out), but grew beautifully and gave us two lovely sized capsicums. Will it refruit? or is that it's lifespan over?
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29 May 16, Kevin OBryan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Di, Like chillies, if you cut it back gently it will refruit if you are in a frost free area, But you are far better to plant new seedlings every year in spring. I am still picking lots of capsicums from bushes planted last October but they are now much smaller and take a long time to turn red. I should have pruned the flowers from January on wards . I will pick all the remaining green fruit and pickle them. They grow very easily from seed treat just like you would tomatoes. Happy vegy gardening.
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25 May 16, kim (Australia - tropical climate)
hi i am having trouble with my capsicum being eaten by bugs what should i do
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08 May 16, Mohd (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I transplant capsicum at this season that is May ?
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