Pepper, Bell
Capsicum annuum
Bell pepper is a frost-tender solanum grown from transplants set out two to four weeks after the last spring frost. Thick-walled fruits need a long frost-free season of about 60–90 days from transplanting, and cool setbacks after planting can delay flowering for weeks even when days look sunny and warm.
Plant family Solanaceae · Also called sweet pepper, capsicum
Explore this profile
Jump directly to the growing detail you need.
Start indoors for a warm transplant.
Start seed indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost about 0.6 cm deep. Germination may take 7–21 days. Transplant outdoors two to four weeks after the frost.
Tender classification means protection from late cold. Optional staking helps heavy fruit loads on brittle branches.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Hold plants until nights stay mild.
Allow 45–60 cm between plants and 75 cm between rows. Bush plants sprawl as fruits load; airflow reduces foliar disease.
Containers need 30 cm depth and about 20 litres. Dark containers warm soil, which can help if paired with adequate water.
Core measurements
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.
Install support early when it is required or useful.
Balance sun with even watering.
Eight hours of direct sun is preferred for sweet pepper color and size. Insufficient light yields small, pale fruit.
Moderate water at 25–35 mm weekly with pH 6.0–7.0. The key tip warns that cool soil after transplanting delays growth.
Sunlight
Full sun preferred (8+ direct-sun hours/day)
Soil pH
A suitable acidity range for general growth.
Weekly water
Moderate water need.
Aim for even moisture and water deeply when the upper 2-3 cm of soil begins to dry.
Harvest green or fully colored fruit.
Count 60–90 days from transplanting. Green bells can be picked earlier; full color develops later on the same fruit.
Plants continue producing until frost if harvested regularly. No succession interval is listed for this long-season transplant crop.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Set plants out only after nights warm; cool soil can delay growth for weeks.
Pepper, Bell growing questions
Can bell peppers stay green at harvest?
Yes. Fruits are edible green; full mature color develops later if left on the plant.
Why wait after the last frost to transplant?
Nights must warm. Outdoor timing is two to four weeks after the last spring frost.
How long do bell pepper seeds take to sprout indoors?
Germination is listed as 7–21 days at about 0.6 cm depth.
Is support required for bell peppers?
Support is optional but can help branches bearing large fruit.
Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.
Explore another crop
Compare pepper, bell with other vegetables, herbs, and fruits in Crop Brief.
Browse all 50 crops