How to Grow Capsicum

Originally from South and Central America, capsicums or bell peppers as they are commonly known, is the only member of the pepper family that doesn’t produce capsaicin (the chemical that makes peppers burn your tongue/mouth/skin). A vitamin C powerhouse, they actually contain more of it than an orange with a large red capsicum providing 300% of your daily requirement! They don’t stop their either, they also contain vitamins B6, K1, E and A as well as potassium and folate. This means they are great for eye health, cardiovascular health, shortening the duration of the common cold and even preventing cancer and supporting cancer treatment. They are a fantastic addition to any garden but especially those in warmer climates.

When to grow capsicum

Capsicum likes soil temperatures of 22-35°C or 71–95°F to germinate from seed and thrives in warmer climates. For this reason, if you live in the tropics or warmer areas, you may be able to grow capsicum all year round. For colder climates, planting after the last frost when temperatures are starting to increase will ensure you get a nice long growing season.

Capsicum varieties

There are somewhere between 20 and 30 varieties of capsicum around the world. Some of the more common varieties include:

· Yolo Wonder – your classic large red F1 variety that typically comes treated

· Californian Wonder – similar to yolo wonder – comes in red or golden varieties

· Snack – small capsicums perfect for lunch boxes and snacking – comes in red, yellow or orange

· Chocolate Beauty – a large black/purple/chocolate brown variety

· Red Cherry – Small heart shaped fruits that are wonderful for stuffing or pickling

· Sweet Banana – Elongated yellow fruits resembling a chilli pepper that are great for grilling

· Hungarian Sweet Paprika – large red elongated fruits that when dried and ground make paprika

How to grow capsicum from seeds

Capsicums lend themselves really well to being grown in seedling trays or pots and then transplanted but you can absolutely direct sow if you prefer.

Sow the seeds around 5mm or around quarter of an inch deep and keep the soil moist but not wet. If you are in a cooler climate and want to get a jump on the capsicum season, you may want to use a heat mat for your seedlings to promote germination and protect them from the cold.

Seedlings will begin to emerge around 7-21 days after planting.

How to grow capsicum from seedlings

When the seedling have their first true leaves and are around 5-10 cm or 2-5 inches tall, you are ready to plant them out.

Raised garden beds are perfect for growing capsicums in – it ensures good drainage, and you can fill them with quality soil. Birdies garden beds [LINK to discount codes] are Mark’s raised beds of choice.

Be sure to choose a location that gets plenty of direct sun as capsicums are warmth loving plants that need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day to thrive.

Plant out each seedling around 40cm or 15 inches apart for best results. Lightly water the seedling in with a seaweed solution such as the Plant Doctor’s Seaweed Secrets (use SSME10 for 10% off your order) to minimise transplant shock.

Be sure to keep up the water to your capsicum plants – they might be a warm climate plant but they need water to create plump fruit.

If you see leaves looking wilted and flat, that is a sign that they need more water. It can happen quickly so as soon as you notice it, be sure to give your capsicums a good watering and they will soon perk back up. Provided this isn’t happening too often, the wilting won’t harm the plant long term.

As they grow, you may need to stake your plants to avoid them falling over with the weight of the fruit. Fruit that is resting on the soil will likely rot and be more susceptible to pest infestation.

How long does capsicum take to grow?

Most varieties of capsicum will take around 60-100 days to reach full maturity but look at the individual varieties that you choose to grow as some can grow faster.

When to harvest capsicum

Capsicum can be eaten at any stage of growth, including while still green however, the real flavour develops when the fruit is ripe. You are looking for a plump fruit that has turned the colour it is supposed to be and has a glossy appearance. If you have some pest pressure, you can harvest the fruit as soon as it begins to change colour and allow it to ripen on the bench inside. The more you harvest, the more fruit will grow.

Capsicum pests and diseases and how to control them organically

Aphids

Aphids can be a gardener’s nightmare for a huge range of plants. These small insects can be found on the stems and undersides of leaves of your plant and can be a range of different colours depending on what they are eating. Left untreated, aphids can swell to proportions that risk your plant developing diseases and becoming unhealthy. The most natural way to avoid aphids is to attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs that eat the aphids. Other natural remedies include organic neem oil, diatomaceous earth sprinkled on top of the aphids to dehydrate and kill them, strong spray of water to dislodge the aphids, or a spray of soapy water which suffocates the aphids (be sure to hose off any soap later).

Spider Mites

Spider mites are tiny insects that live in on the undersides of leaves where they feed off plant cells and spin fine protective silk webs. They can be very difficult to see as they are so small and will likely spot the damage they are doing to your plant first. Look for yellowing foliage or leaves with yellow spotting. Controlling your infestation could be as simple as using a high-pressure hose nozzle and spraying them off the plant and keep spraying your mint leaves regularly as spider mites like hot, dry environments. There are a number of different home remedies that you can try too including soapy water with cooking oil, lemon juice and water, alcohol and water, or pepper spray with garlic and onion. A quick google search will give you the ratios you’ll need for each one. Alternatively, neem oil is another option to help rid your plants of spider mites.

Cutworms

Cutworms are another pest that can affect your capsicum plants while they are young. These caterpillars are mostly active at night and will chomp through the stems of your seedlings cutting off the top foliage at the soil level. You can head out to the garden at night with a torch and pick off the cutworms one by one to help get rid of them, you can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your seedlings which will dehydrate the worms, you can create a “collar” to protect the seedling with toilet rolls/cardboard/paper, or you can even sprinkle cornmeal or coffee grounds around the base of the plants as the cutworms cannot digest it. Alternatively, BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a bacteria that kills caterpillars which can be sprayed on the plants (known as Yates Nature’s Way Caterpillar Killer in Australia).

Blossom End Rot

Just as in eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and melons, blossom end rot is identifiable by sunken black spots that appear on the end of the fruit. It’s caused by a calcium deficiency that is made worse with irregular watering.

If you catch it early, adding calcium to the soil with lime or even ground up eggshells and consistently watering, may be enough to counteract the problem.

Mark’s top tips for growing capsicum

If you want to extend the life of your capsicum plant, when it starts to die back a little as the weather gets colder, give it a good prune to remove any dead or dying branches as this will stimulate plant growth naturally even at the wrong time of year. Also topdress the soil a good feed of organic compost or well composted cow manure. You may also want to check out Mark’s video “How to grow chilli peppers all year round” for more tips.

Do you have any tips or questions about growing capsicum? Mark and the Self Sufficient Me team love hearing about your growing success so why not join our forum to let us know how you went growing capsicum?

If you had some trouble growing capsicum or simply want to pick Mark’s brain about your self-sufficiency goals or projects, you may want to consider becoming a patreon for exclusive content and email access for less than a restaurant meal each month!