Growing Capsicum: How to Plant, Feed, and Care for Productive Plants

Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) is a warm-season fruiting vegetable grown for its colourful, vitamin-rich pods. It’s known by many names—capsicum, bell pepper, sweet pepper—and is one of the most rewarding crops for Australian home gardeners. Capsicum plants thrive in full sun, need a long growing season, and benefit greatly from proper fertiliser application at each stage.

Botanical Structure & Growth Habits

Leaves: Broad, glossy leaves arranged alternately, supporting photosynthesis during fruit development
Flowers: Small white flowers form in leaf axils, each producing one fruit
Fruits: Green when immature, turning red, yellow, orange, or purple when ripe
Growth Cycle: Seed to harvest typically takes 14–18 weeks in warm weather

Popular Capsicum Varieties in Australia

California Wonder: Classic red capsicum, sweet and crisp
Yolo Wonder: Early red bell type, reliable for home gardens
Golden Summer: Yellow fruit, milder taste, great for salads
Mini Bells: Small-fruited, container-friendly plants with fast maturity

Capsicum plants prefer daytime temperatures between 20–28°C and night temperatures above 12°C. Too much cold will stunt growth, while extreme heat can cause flower drop.

How to Plant Capsicum: From Seed or Seedling

Starting from Seed

Sow Indoors: 6–8 weeks before last frost, in trays or small pots
Depth: 0.5–1 cm deep in warm, moist seed-raising mix
Germination: 7–14 days at 22–28°C
Transplant: When seedlings are 10–15 cm tall with 4+ true leaves

Planting in the Ground or Containers

Spacing: 40–50 cm apart in rows 60 cm wide
Pots: Minimum 30 cm wide and deep per plant
Soil: Loose, rich loam or potting mix with pH 6.0–6.8

Best Time to Plant Capsicum in Australia

Temperate zones: Sept–Nov (spring)
Subtropical: Aug–Dec or Feb–March
Tropical: Dry season only (May–Aug)

Capsicum thrives in warm weather. Transplant outdoors only after soil reaches 18°C and risk of frost is gone.

Best Fertiliser for Capsicum Plants: Stage-by-Stage Guide

1. Seedling to Early Vegetative (Weeks 1–4)

Fertiliser: NPK 20-20-20 Liquid
Rate: 5 mL per litre, applied every 7–10 days
Why: Promotes balanced root and leaf growth during early development

2. Flowering & Fruiting (Weeks 5–12+)

Fertiliser: NPK 4-18-38 + CaMg
Rate: 5–6 g per 10 litres of water, applied weekly
Why: High potassium improves fruit size, firmness, flavour, and disease resistance; calcium prevents blossom-end rot

3. Container Plants & Heavy Feeders

Container-grown capsicum depletes nutrients faster—feed every 5–7 days
Flush pots with plain water once a month to avoid salt buildup

Common Nutrient Deficiencies:

Blossom-end rot: Caused by calcium deficiency or erratic watering
Pale leaves & slow growth: Lack of nitrogen in early stages
Flower drop or no fruit: Too much nitrogen during flowering; shift to high potassium feed