Sweet pepper

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Sweet pepper
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Red, yellow and green sweet bell peppers
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Capsicum
Synonyms

Capsicum
Pepper

Plant Data
Min germination temp: 18°C (64°F)
Max germination temp: 32°C (90°F)
Germination time: 10 days
Time to transplanting: +22 days
Time to harvesting: +81 days
Mature height: 55cm (21½in)
Mature spread: 30cm (12in)
Soil type: Loam
Ideal pH range: 5.5 - 7.5
Sow depth: ½cm (¼in)
Sow spacing: 2½cm (1in)
Growing plant spacing: 45cm (18in)
References: [1][2]
Hardiness Zones
Ideal Hardiness Zones
· · · · 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ·

Sweet pepper is a cultivar group of the species Capsicum annuum. Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow and orange. The fruit is also frequently consumed in its unripe form, when the fruit is still green. Peppers are native to Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Pepper seeds were later carried to Spain in 1493 and from there spread to other European, African and Asian countries. Today, Mexico remains one of the major pepper producers in the world.

Planner[edit | edit source]

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Sow (indoors for greenhouse crop)
Transplant (greenhouse)
Sow (indoors for outdoor crop)
Transplant (outdoors, under glass)
Harvest

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Growing[edit | edit source]

Location[edit | edit source]

Outdoors

Choose a sunny, sheltered site with well-drained, fertile soil.

Soil[edit | edit source]

Outdoors

Add a general-purpose fertiliser before planting.

Greenhouse

Grow in 23cm (9in) pots filled with compost or in grow bags with a maximum of 3 per bag.

Sowing[edit | edit source]

Raise seedlings under glass at 15-21°C (60-70°F). Sow two seeds in a compost-filled peat pot - remove the weaker seedling once they have both emerged.[2] Plants may need to be re-potted in several stages before transplanting.

Outdoors

Harden plants off outdoors before transplanting.

Transplanting[edit | edit source]

Outdoors

Cover soil with a cloche two weeks before planting to warm the soil.

Upturn pots and retain the root ball. Transplant into pre-made holes the size of the pots and cover and firm the roots with soil. Leave 48cm (18in) between plants. Cover with cloches.

Aftercare[edit | edit source]

Mist plants to keep down red spider mite and encourage fruit to set.

Support once the stems grow tall enough.

Do not pinch out the growing tip as with cordon tomatoes.

Harvesting[edit | edit source]

Pick as required. Pepeprs will usually change colour as they ripen.

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Troubles[edit | edit source]

Full troubles list: Pepper troubles

References[edit | edit source]

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This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
  1. Sweet pepper. myfolia.com. Retrieved: 2010-09-01.
  2. a b Hessayon, D.G. (2009). The Vegetable & Herb Expert. Transworld Publishers, London. p. 39. ISBN 9780903505468