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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15 Jul 11, tropicalgal (Australia - tropical climate)
Not really sure but some people say Potash makes fruits tatse better?
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20 May 11, Tina (Australia - temperate climate)
The fruits of my bell capsicum plants are very small I don't know what I'm doing wrong as the fruit on my pointed capsicum grow quite large, they are treated the same. The leaves are dropping off now, should I prune the plants back?I'm south of Adelaide.
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11 Apr 11, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A contributing factor could be tomato plants, which are not meant to be planted anywhere near capsicums.
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07 Apr 11, Sara Boeyen (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Last summer I planted four green capsicum seedlings and they have been prolific producers and are still flowering now. However the capsicums have been very bitter, only the very large ones are edible. This is the first time I have grown capsicum, could the soil nutrients be to blame? I think next year I will try a coloured capsicum so at least I know I won't be harvesting them too early.
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21 Mar 11, caroline potter (Australia - tropical climate)
I have brown worms with stripes on my my capsicum leaves, hundreds off them, what do I use to get rid of them Thank you
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06 Mar 11, Gen (Australia - temperate climate)
My capsicum plant has produced a lot of fruit, however it is always being eaten / turning rotten before I can pick anything. What bugs are attracted to capsicum and how do I get rid of them. Cheers
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22 Jun 11, Sandy (Australia - temperate climate)
Caterpillars do the most damage to my capsicums. Either army worms or cut worms. One of the bacterial treatments are best - Success (Yates) or Dipel. Unfortunately if the little suckers get inside the fruit they are pretty hard to control. I have problems with eggplant as well - so this year I am going to get some mosquito netting and put it over the plant.
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28 Feb 11, jane callen (Australia - temperate climate)
I grew capsicums for the first time but none have turned red. How long does this take?
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09 Mar 11, jade (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
think it depends on the temperature - mine turn red over a couple of days, first see a patch of red and next day mostly all red. But still smallish 10cm.... guess that red means ready though
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27 Jan 11, Da (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you know when they are ready to be harvest?
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Showing 391 - 400 of 518 comments
See comments for all plants

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

- Jason

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