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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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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29 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try the internet - probably not.
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13 May 18, Diane (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I would like to know if you can chop plant off when finished and it will regrow or do you need new plants each year?
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17 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
They are perennial but more so in semi tropical areas. They do not like the cold. Google and read up about it.
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02 Jul 18, Cathrine (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I’m curious about this too, Diane. I grew capsicum and chilli outdoors in Wellington this last summer, a bit of a surprise that they fruited. I decided to leave the well established bushes in the ground, after pruning, as they looked healthy and still had growth. It’s early July now and they are still thriving, though the coldest months are too come, but, leads me to thinking that maybe the bushes are somewhat perennial? I’ve check all my gardening books but nothing there. Does anyone else have any experience that might lend to this?
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26 Jul 18, Julie Baker (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Only one of my chili plants lasted through the winter in the glass house last year. This year they have all died off, even those outside under a cloche. I think I may have been lucky last year!
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30 Apr 18, Sagie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have recently retaired and want to grow bell peppers please help me
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23 Apr 18, Erika kluge (Australia - temperate climate)
How do i know to take out the capsicum plant after a rather successful season..
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Showing 81 - 90 of 521 comments
See comments for all plants

Depends on what type of capsium you are looking for. For ordinary bell peppers try California Wonder. They grow quite easily. I don't know how well you know the cycle of the pepper, but yellow peppers actually come from the same plant as green and red. All peppers start out green - hence the name "green pepper". This is also the time to start picking them. However, if you leave them on the plant, the green pepper will turn yellow. If left longer it will turn orange, then red and finally purple. There's just one snag: your plant will produce more peppers if they are picked green than left to turn yellow, orange, red and purple which is probably why green peppers are so much cheaper then their brothers. I always found it difficult to grow peppers from seeds gotten from fruits bought in stores. Rather buy a dried, treated seed like Stykes and Ayres. There's a wonderful seller on Bid or Buy called Seeds for Africa. They sell all matter of seeds and have quite a variety of capsium seeds from peppers to chillies. You might want to check them out.

- Micky Brand

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