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 Dec 18, Robert (Australia - temperate climate)
Will a single Capsicum plant bear fruit or do I need to plant multiple plants ?
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10 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Can plant single but 2-3 might be better. Might be better to plant at end of summer than now in the hot and wet season.
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11 Nov 18, Scott (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you need to stake them or can they grow up a frame work?
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12 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Stake or use a frame - but tie them to it.
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18 Oct 18, Helen (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Just bought an orange lunchbox capsicum. Should I pinch out the top leaves to promote a more bushy plant?
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23 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
I don't know. If you had several plants you could try it on one. Fertilise and watering well should produce a good bushy plant.
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11 Oct 18, Katherine (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Other than basil is there anything else i can plant with capsicum like lettace and radishes, spring onion? As they are going to be in raised gardens im trying to maximise space
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12 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just give them some area to grow - they could shade other plants which could stunt them a bit. Yep go ahead with your suggestions. If you can find shallot bulbs try them - quick and easy to grow. Or just try a succession of the smaller plants you are talking about. i try and plant taller plants in one end of my garden and smaller in the other end - swap next time I plant.
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25 May 18, Sean (Australia - temperate climate)
Can capsicum be frozen for future use?
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29 May 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Yes, capsicum freezes quite well. Cut it into strips, ready to use and freeze on a tray before bagging up. It loses a bit of flavour but the colour stays well.
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Showing 71 - 80 of 518 comments
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I have the same thing happening with my caps. I had a few develop nice and big but now that the weather is so hot the skin is being burnt by the sun. I think with this near extreme hot weather it is near impossible to grow certain crops, caps being one of them. I live near Bundy and we have just had Nov aver max temp of 30.9, 2.5 above average. Today is 35 and the rest of the week is 34-36. These kind of temps are normally the hottest of days in mid summer not the start. You need to be watering a lot and even trying to shade the plants some how. I don't normally grow things this time of the year and I'm quickly winding down my crops - too hot to work.

- Another gardener

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