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 64°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 20 inches 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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19 Mar 12, rae (Australia - temperate climate)
my capsicums are bitter raw and cooked any one know why
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09 Mar 12, Llane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have some capsicum plants and one of them has 2 fruits already and growing well. This morning I discovered that the new fruit fall down on the ground and then I check the big one but it is detached from the plant. Why this happened? We live in Capalaba,Brisbane... any help, thank you.
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07 Mar 12, simone (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in the northern suburb of perth wa and i am growing 3 capsicum plants in an old water tank. I purchased proper vegetable soil and fertilise weekly with seasol and npk every 2 weeks and water nearly every day, due to the hot weather we have at the moment. I have lots of healthy fruit, but have noticed that the leaves on one of the plants have turned yellow, what could be making them turn yellow?
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09 Mar 20, Alan (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Simone, the yellowing of leaves generally indicate that the plant is not getting enough oxygen, perhaps due to too much water. I find that with my rose plants. I shall assume that this maybe the same in your case. Please ask anybody else if my theory is correct. Good luck.
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27 Aug 12, Barry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, If you live in Perth and are using tap water then the water is way way to alkaline. Some times in Perth the water reads PH 8.00 and above. When the water is that high they will not up take nutrients. I would suggest getting a container and adjusting the ph. before watering the plants. Regards, Barry.
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26 Feb 12, tonya (Australia - temperate climate)
i have 2 capsicum plants supported by trelis's. they're both about a metre high. they produce small-medium green to yellow chilli shape fruit, but if i let them get to yellow, they go rotten and soggy. dearly after red capsicum - any hints? many thanks :)
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03 Feb 12, Angela (Australia - arid climate)
Probably blossom end rot. Add some garden lime to your soil.
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17 Jan 12, Kay (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have 4 capsicum plants outside in my garden, 2 have green fruit on them, but now one has started to show black coloration on the bottom of the fruit, still seems very firm and still growing, I just am wondering what to do, as if it is diseased I don't want to infect my other plants.
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28 Jan 12, Tassy Michele (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hiya Kay .... Don't stress as this is part of the ripening process. The darkish bottom is a sign that the fruit is chaniging from green and ripening into the red capsicum like those you buy at the supermarket ....not unlike an apple that is green and turns to red when ripened. Hope this helps. Cheers Michele
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15 Jan 12, Hans (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi! I have 3 capsicum plants and I am getting fruit on them but they do not grow large; one is a purple and 2 green; the fruit on the green plant start to rot before ripening. I give them plenty of water and fertilizer. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong??
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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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