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
  S S                  
      T T              
      P P              

(Best months for growing Capsicum in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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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02 Dec 19, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
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.
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03 Dec 19, Jason (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
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
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19 Dec 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can buy 30% shade cloth.
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10 Nov 19, Beth (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought some tall leggy capsicum seedlings. Can I plant the deep into the soil like tomatoes or should the soil be at the same level?
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11 Nov 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You probably could. Don't buy leggy seedlings.
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14 Nov 19, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Tomatoes planted deep produce more roots up the stem that is in the soil. Caps probably don't meaning the root system is 4-6-8
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15 Nov 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
the root system is 4-6-8
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18 Nov 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When planting the roots deep remember you have to be able to get water down that far when watering.
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28 Aug 19, Blake Stanvic (Australia - temperate climate)
What colour is my capsicum meant to be, it is pink. I don't know if thats normal.
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29 Aug 19, DLS (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Hi, what variety is it? Was there a picture on the seed or plant you bought?
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Showing 51 - 60 of 517 comments
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my capsican plants were looking great and producing heaps of fruit, but did not finish off well. The problem that came up was the fruit started getting dry brown lines through them. I cannot find any information on this problem. Any feed back would be helpful.

- Kev

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