🌶️
Bell Pepper
California Wonder
NightshadesTransplant
☀️
Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 3 days
🌱
Germination
12 days
🕐
Days to harvest
75 days
📏
Planting depth
0.25 inches deep
↔️
Row spacing
24 inches
When to Plant
Start indoors 8–10 wks before last frost
Growing Guide
Soil: rich, well-drained, warm · pH 6.0–6.8
Peppers need warm, very well-drained soil with good fertility. Work in 2–3 inches of compost. Black plastic mulch dramatically improves yield in short-season climates by warming the soil. Peppers are slow to start and need every advantage in zone 5.
- Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost — the earliest of all vegetables
- Peppers germinate best at 80–85°F soil temperature — use a heat mat
- Transplant 3 weeks after last frost when nighttime temps reliably stay above 55°F
- Space 18 inches apart; peppers in warm soil with good light are more productive than crowded plants
- Peppers turn from green to their final color (red, yellow, orange) as they ripen — green is simply unripe red/yellow/orange
Care
💧 Water every 3 days
🌿 Fertilize every 14 days
📐 Spacing: 18 inches apart · 24 inches between rows
Harvest & Storage
Ready in 75 days with a harvest window of 30 days.
- Harvest green for firmness and a grassier flavor, or leave to full color for sweetness
- Use scissors or a sharp knife — snapping peppers off damages the plant
- The more you harvest, the more the plant produces — don't wait for the perfect moment
- At season end, harvest all remaining peppers before first frost — green ones will ripen on the counter
Storage
Store at room temperature for a few days or refrigerate for 1–2 weeks. Roast and freeze for long-term storage. Excellent for freezing raw (slice, spread on tray, freeze, then bag).
Companion Planting
Grows well with:
basilcarrottomato
Keep away from:
fennelbrassica
Essential Tools
- Heat mat (germination)
- Row cover or Wall-o-Water (early season)
- Scissors (harvesting)
Pests & Diseases
- Blossom drop: flowers fall without setting fruit — caused by temperature extremes (too hot or too cold at night) — use row covers in cool spells
- Bacterial spot: dark water-soaked lesions on leaves and fruit — copper spray; avoid overhead watering
- Aphids: curling new growth — insecticidal soap spray