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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09 May 17, Ty Buchanan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I got no germination at all from capsicum in packets bought from Bunnings. Then I decided to buy a fresh capsicum and planted the seeds with the flesh, sliced like you would a tomato. I had hundreds of seedlings shoot up in the tray. Planted them in the garden and we are away! Ty
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10 Dec 09, Clare (Australia - temperate climate)
I was wondering if anyone could help me-I have two small plants in a medium sized pot and they started off growing so well and fast inside during the end of Winter but now they seem to have stopped growing. They are about 25cm high and when I put them outside they wilt but inside they seem to not grow at all. Any advice? Thank you!
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13 Nov 09, Michelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, first time growing caps. I planted seedlings about 6 weeks ago. While they are growing, it seems to be quite slow. How fast and how big do the plants get?
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31 Oct 09, mark (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello All. Can anyone tell me whats the best way to plant capsicum in the ground. I am new to this and want to learn the proper way to do it. Any advice will be most welcome. thank you.
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26 Oct 09, Andy James (Australia - temperate climate)
You can use the seeds from commercial capsicums but these varieties have been developed to be grown under very specific conditions and require low pH and lots of fertiliser etc. I get much better results from bought seed (heirloom varieties) here in Perth, as they seem to be more suited to the general vegie bed conditions. Unless you have a specific spot for them and can be bothered messing about with the pH...
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18 Oct 09, the Sear family (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We are first time veg growers and we need some advise! We have had some success with our other vegies but the no such luck with our capsicum seedlings. Can you use the seeds out of the supermarket brought capsicum.
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01 Oct 09, Tamara (Australia - temperate climate)
For Annalisa: Capsicums are actually perennials, able to grow for years, but most people treat them as annuals as they're badly effected by frosts. You can always cheat a little if you live in a cold climate. Pot them up and bringing them indoors during winter, and transplant them back out in spring.
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12 Sep 09, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a young capsicum plant approx 17cm. It got really damaged in high winds and rain and all the leaves are wilted. The stalk is still strong and green. Is it likely to come back to life or should I just start again?
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16 Aug 09, Rod Cullen (Australia - tropical climate)
Hello I tried growing capsicum, the leaves get eating by insects & they die. Can you tell me a good repellent please. Cheers Rod
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25 Jul 09, Annalisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Capsicum is a small plant, not a vine. If you want to grow capsicum from a store bought plant, make sure you chose one that is high quality ie. one that tastes great - judge a tree by it's fruit. Why use seed from an average capsicum? It's so easy though. Just stick it in the ground, it'll grow. Capsicum LOVE humidity, so wait to plant until mid-late spring, it'll fruit during the summer. My question is this: My capsicum plants from last year are still in the ground, leaves looking quite happy for the moment. Should they fruit again, or should I rip them out and start again, or wait and see? I have some new plants just in case, but it would be nice to get someone who knows if they'll fruit again. Thanks!
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Hi Barbara, I had the same thing happen last year, those plants somehow survived a very hot wet summer and through autumn produced masses of fruit and are also now producing masses of new fruit after I pruned them back hard and started applying a vegetable targeted liquid plant fertilizer with seaweed included. I also added lime around the plants and sprayed the leaves with a bit of epsom salts dissolved in water around the time I pruned them. Don't give up on these ones give them a prune at the end of winter and they will come back for you, if you live in a cooler area you may have to wait til spring but if you get no frost they will come back bigger and better when the weather warms up later this year, caps do last longer than one year and I find they produce much more in the second year than the first, when they put most effort into producing strong stem and branch to support the weight of the following years fruit. Honestly one plant that did this weird year long wait had about 11 fruit on it in March. Sometimes it's better when they start out slow, good luck mate.

- Alison McGregor

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