When to Plant Capsicum (Bell Pepper) in Perth, Mediterranean Guide
Sow July to January. Right now in October you can sow.
Grow Capsicum in your space
Also called bell pepper, sweet pepper.
- Planting window
- Raise seedlings under cover from July and plant out from late September in Perth or October in Adelaide. January plantings suit only the...
- Days to harvest
- about 11 weeks
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). Fruit colour development requires good light.
- Water needs
- Consistent, even moisture is critical. Irregular watering causes blossom end rot and...
- Spacing
- 45cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Soil pH
- 6.0-6.8
Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
This Capsicum (Bell Pepper) guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Capsicums are warm-season Solanaceae closely related to chillies, tomatoes and eggplant. They need a long, warm growing season to produce well. The coloured varieties (red, yellow, orange) are simply mature green capsicums left on the plant longer. A staple of Australian home gardens in warm and temperate zones.
See what grows now in your own postcode
Planting Calendar for Mediterranean
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T | - | - | - | - | - | S | S | S/T | S/T | S/T | T |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 15.6°C (optimal range: 18–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Perth), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like
In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.
How to Grow Capsicum (Bell Pepper) in Mediterranean Australia
When to Plant
Raise seedlings under cover from July and plant out from late September in Perth or October in Adelaide. January plantings suit only the warm Perth coast.
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with generous compost. Slightly acidic preferred.
- pH Range
- 6.0-6.8
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). Fruit colour development requires good light.
- Spacing
- 45cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Consistent, even moisture is critical. Irregular watering causes blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Deep water 2-3 times per week. Drip irrigation ideal. Avoid wetting foliage.
Companion plants: Basil, Carrot, Marigold, Parsley, Oregano
Avoid planting near: Fennel, Brassicas, Other Solanaceae (same bed rotation issues)
Grow before, grow after
Capsicum belongs with the nightshades, the fruiting crops turn of a four turn bed rotation.
- Grow before it
- Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
- Grow after it
- Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)
Give the bed 3 turns before nightshades go back in. Tomato, capsicum, eggplant and potato share wilts and blights that live on in the soil.
Mediterranean Growing Tips for Capsicum (Bell Pepper)
Recommended Varieties
- California Wonder
- Yolo Wonder
- Marconi Red
- Sweet Banana
- Colour Salad Mix
Key Challenges
- Summer drought requires irrigation
- Occasional heatwave flower drop
Pro Tips
- Mediterranean climate is excellent for capsicums. Warm dry conditions suit them perfectly
- Coloured varieties ripen reliably in the long, warm Perth/Adelaide summers
- Install drip irrigation. Summer rainfall is insufficient
Harvesting Capsicum (Bell Pepper)
When ready: Green capsicums: full-sized, firm, glossy skin. Coloured capsicums: leave on plant 2-3 weeks past green stage until fully coloured (red, yellow, orange depending on variety). Coloured fruit is sweeter with higher vitamin C.
How to harvest: Cut with sharp secateurs leaving a short stem. Do not pull. This damages the plant. Harvest in morning when firm and cool.
Preserving: pressure canning
2 tested pressure-canning recipes for Capsicum: 2 where it is the crop being canned. Each one comes from published home canning guidelines. The conversion to Australian units is ours, with psi beside every kPa. Always follow your pressure canner's manual.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join GardenBuddy.auCommon Questions About Capsicum (Bell Pepper)
When do you plant capsicum in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Feb to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Apr, Aug to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Aug to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Jul to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan, Jul to Dec
Does capsicum grow all year round in Perth?
No. In the Mediterranean zone the planting months are Jan, Jul to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
What else is capsicum called?
Capsicum is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it bell pepper, sweet pepper. Same plant, same growing advice.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.