Capsicum Plant: How To Grow It Indoors, Harvest & Take Care of It?

Capsicums are the sweet, mild members of the chili family. This pepper add crunch, color and nutrients to many dishes including salads, casseroles, stir fries and roasts. Capsicums like to grow in conditions similar to their relatives, chilies, tomatoes and eggplants. The capsicum plant, while a single species, comes in many forms and hues, including red, yellow, green, purple and even black. Read about the growing and caring method below.

Grow from Seed

Start capsicum seeds in a propagating tray. Seeds can be direct sown in your garden or pots if you live in the tropics or subtropics. Capsicum seeds should sow 5mm deep into punnets filled with Scotts Performance Naturals Premium Organic Based Potting Mix. Seeds will take 2-3 weeks to germinate. Small varieties are usually self-supporting. Capsicum also grows well in pots. Seeds can be sown directly in tropical and sub-tropical climates.

Harvesting

As they mature the color and taste of capsicums change, so they can be picked for the flavor required and eaten cooked or raw. Cut capsicums off the plants when they are ready. Don’t pull them off the vine as they will often rip and won’t keep as long without the stem. Once you’ve harvested your capsicums, try our Courgette & Capsicum Relish recipe to enjoy your bumper crop.

Care for Capsicum

Regular watering is essential to good fruit development and plant growth. Water once or twice a week during hot dry weather or more regularly in pots or sandy soils. Mulch to conserve soil moisture and avoid wetting the foliage. In improved soils, capsicum requires very little additional fertilizer. A fortnightly application of seaweed solution during fruiting or a monthly application of decomposed manure on the soil surface will help to keep plants healthy and productive. After few weeks you will enjoy your own capsicums.

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