| Other names: |
Capsicum annuum |
| Appearance/taste: |
Bell-shaped and green in colour when immature but changes to red,
yellow, orange or purple when ripe; tastes succulent with sweetness
varying according to colour |
| Popular varieties: |
Gourmet AGM & Gypsy AGM |
| Interesting fact: |
The name “pepper” was given by the famous explorer
Christopher Columbus who brought the vegetable to Europe |
| Nutritional value: |
Vitamin A and C; Antioxidants (vitamin E) |
| When to grow: |
Seed
into pots
in late winter to early spring; transfer to larger pots as the roots
grow and then into tubs or growbags; plant out in early summer into
the ground when late spring frosts have passed |
| Likes: |
Sunny site, shelter and high temperatures achieved by a polytunnel
or large protective frame; needs a well drained and moisture retentive
soil; well rotted organic matter dug into ground before planting;
general feed
fertiliser when growing; fleece
to keep plants warm and protected from pests |
| Dislikes: |
Cool conditions and wet soil; humid air in greenhouses; red
spidermite; aphids |
| Watch out for: |
Lack of air in greenhouses where high humidity leads to rot and
promotes activity from pests |
| Harvest time: |
Mid to late summer; pick when immature or leave to change colour
that will affect their flavour |
| Cooking tips: |
Crisp and refreshing when ate raw on its own or in salads; can
be roasted and stuffed; used to add flavour in sauces, stews, relishes
and casseroles. |
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Choose your seeds with care. There are different types
- sweet
peppers are large fruits. Chilli
peppers are smaller and much hotter. Sweet peppers can be picked
when they are green or they can be left to turn red. |
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Peppers are easy to grow, especially in pots. They need a sunny
site. If you are using grow bags push them against a sunny wall to
provide extra warmth. |
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The stems will need supporting from canes or wires. Growing tips
do not have to be pinched out like cordon tomatoes. |
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Seed must be sown indoors using pots
or trays. In late winter, sow the seed about 1-2cm (0.5”-1”)
deep, and cover lightly with soil. They will have to be left in a
warm spot where the temperature reaches around
70°F, 21°C. |
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When the seedlings appear they can be left to grow in a temperature
of between 12-15°C, 55-60°F. The seedlings should be separated
into individual pots when they are about 5cm (2”) high. Gradually
lower the temperature around the plants, getting them used to outdoor
temperatures. They can be planted in a permanent position in the vegetable
plot when the first flowers appear. |
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Alternatively, keep moving them into increasingly larger pots. Do
not put more than three plants in a grow bag. Fruits can be picked
in late summer and through into the autumn. |
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Plants need to be kept supplied with water
and fed regularly if growing in pots. When the plants are about 38cm
high, gently take off the growing tips of each plant. This will encourage
it to stay a manageable size, and increase its production of fruit. |
