Bell Pepper
Capsicum annuum
Family: Solanaceae · Genus: Capsicum
Bell pepper is a cultivar group of the species Capsicum annuum. Peppers are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. The fruit can come in green, red, yellow, or orange colors.
Soil Temperature
18°C – 35°C
Spacing
20 – 50 cm
Harvest
10–12 weeks
Sowing
Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks.
Growing Schedule Zone 8b
Companions
Growing Notes
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. 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 and white flesh 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
Can be sliced and seeded and used raw in salads. Will freeze successfully without blanching if seeded and sliced. 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.