|
Plant Height
|
Up
to 60cm/ 2ft |
|
Time between sowing
and harvesting
|
About
18 weeks (Capsicums)
About 24 weeks (Chillies)
|
|
Sowing time
|
March
- April - temperature 16-21C/60-70F |
|
Where to Sow
|
Indoors
in small pots 7.5cm/3" diameter filled with compost. |
|
How to Sow
|
2
seeds per pot - 6mm/1/4-inch deep. Germination takes up to 21 days |
|
After Germination
|
Remove
the weakest seedling |
|
Growing on -
in Pots
|
Harden off
plants which have been raised indoors and finally move
outdoors once all danger of frost has passed. As the plants get bigger, pot up into
larger pots in stages ending with one plant per 20cm/8" container
or 3 per growbag. Place in a hot sheltered sunny position. |
|
Growing on -
in
open ground
|
As
above but plant in beds or borders 45cm/ 18"
apart. |
|
Aftercare
|
Water regularly, but do
not keep the compost very wet. Limit to 6-10 fruits per plant. Feed with
tomato food once the fruit start to swell each time you water.
|
|
Harvesting
|
Capsicums - Start
picking
fruit when they are green once they have reached the size of a tennis ball
and the skin is smooth and glossy (probably at the beginning of August).
This will ensure continuing new fruit production. Capsicums will
turn red (or whatever colour) at the end of the season but remember
leaving peppers to fully ripen will halt new fruit production. Crops over
about 8 weeks.
Chillies - Pick when the desired size has been reached. Mature Chillies will
turn red (or whatever colour) towards the end of the season. Crops over
about 8 weeks. |
