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Growing Capsicum, also Bell pepper, Sweet pepper

(Capsicum anuum)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P						S	S	T	T	P

(Best months for planting Capsicum in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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: 100 - 150 cm apart
Harvest in 10-12 weeks. Cut fruit off with sharp knife.
Compatible with: Egg plant (Aubergine), Nasturtiums, Basil, Parsley, Amaranth

'Banana' capsicum
A yellow capsicum

Small bushy plant about 40cm high The seeds are reluctant to start germinating if temperatures drop at night. These are best sown in small trays in a warm, sheltered place: a small greenhouse if possible. Then plant out when about 10 -12cm (4-5in) tall.

They are from the same family as chilli but are not hot and spicy. The seeds are bitter.

Capsicums are frost tender and need warmth to ripen the fruit to the brilliant reds and yellows of commercial ones. They can be used green but are not as sweet.

There are a number of colours available, chocolate, black, yellow, orange as well as red. They all start off green and change as they ripen.

In cool, wet weather cover with a cloche or frost fleece.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Capsicum

Can be sliced and seeded and used raw in salads.
Will freeze successfully without blanching if seeded and sliced.

Or brush with olive oil, roast at a high temperature until the skin changes colour
then put in a covered dish until cool and rub off the skin and remove seeds.

Your comments and tips

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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12 Jan 12, (Australia - temperate climate): I have three mini capsicums, each in its own pot, purchased from a very reputable source. The red one produced one minute and one tiny capsicum - and they were on the plant when I bought it. The brown one has a single tiny capsicum. (They are supposed to be 5cm across.) The yellow one has only tiny blossoms. I put them into new potting mix, added a little chook poo, new pots, watered with seaweed solution, good sunny spot. I live in northern part of Sydney. I have dealt with white flies by spraying with Natrasoap which has finally worked.
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09 Dec 11, alison (Australia - temperate climate): Hi, I'm growning capsicum in Perth. The flowers keep dropping off and I'm wondering why?? Any ideas? Thanks
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13 Dec 11, Tracey (Australia - temperate climate): Blossom drop is common early in the season. The number one cause is that temperatures are not yet quite right. Like tomatoes, if it is too cool or too hot fruit will not set. Capsicums like night time temps to be above about 16 C for fruit set. Also if daytime temps are too high (above about 35) fruit will not set. There is probably minor variation among varieties in the actual optimal temperature range, but you get the idea...Generally patience is the only remedy required. Other possible causes are not enough airflow (capsicums are primarily wind pollinated), too much nitrogen, not enough water, too much water...
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20 Nov 11, susan (Australia - temperate climate): hi, dose any one know why my capsicums are getting black patches on them and have a sogy mush inside behind the black patch, we are in geraldton WA (400ks nrth of Perth). thank you for your help.
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22 Nov 11, Alex (Australia - temperate climate): could be "Blossom End Rot" ?
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16 Oct 11, lily (Australia - temperate climate): I have a capscicum plant that is 20cm high with 4 flowers at the very top. Should I chop them to allow the plant to grow more, I have read that I should have chopped the central stalk when it was 15cm tall to allow the side stems to produce more fruit?
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28 Oct 11, Bruce (Australia - temperate climate): It will just grow by itself something like a tomato plant and doesnt need to be chopped to produce nice fruit when it is ready. It may benefit from some staking the same as a tomato bush.
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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