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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21 Sep 08, Lucy Dobinson (New Zealand - temperate climate)
do capsicum plants grow well in big pots? Because I have just planted some seedlings in a big pot, and I am wondering if they will still produce fruit.
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18 Feb 13, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You can grow Capsicum in pots quite successfully, keep the soil moist not too wet and feed with nitrogenous fertilizer when fruit are starting to set Tom in Hawkes Bay
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28 Aug 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Diane, you will be able grow capsicums if you start them early under cover so that they have a long growing time.
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03 Aug 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Rebecca, in a temperate zone you can only expect capsicums to be annuals. Remove the plants as they die down and grow new ones for next summer.
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Showing 31 - 34 of 34 comments
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I germinated capsicum seed as I do tomato, (the old school way) I take them from the tomato or capsicum (I do not dry them out), I use a flat, round face cleanser cotton pad, place seeds on that in old plastic container with constant water no higher than the side of the wool pad as not to drown the seeds, place lid over top for a little air and place in the sun, I generally get all seed germination, then once they are approx. 3 to 5 cm or show at least 4 leaves, ( slowly pull seedling from pad as not to pull on the root that has threaded its way through the wool ) and transplant to seedling pots of wet seedling mix, I use a skewer to pierce hole in mix and place seedling root into the soil very gently and allow to grow until they are at a decent size to transplant into ground or pots....

- Donna

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