Growing Capsicum, also Bell pepper, Sweet pepper
Best months for planting Capsicum in Australia – sub-tropical regions:
August – March
Harvest in 70-90 days
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.
Space plants: 100-150cm
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.
