Very sweet thin-skinned fruits up to 10in/25cm long. Good for eating raw.
Peppers are a vital part of the cooking for so many dishes. Best crops will be achieved in a greenhouse, but smaller, later crops can be produced when grown in a sunny sheltered location outdoors. Some dwarf varieties are ideal for growing in pots on the patio.
Sow & Grow:
For greenhouse crops, sow indoors, February-April. A warm kitchen windowsill is all you need for starting these seeds. Sow thinly, 0.5cm (¼") deep, in a tray of compost. Water well and place in a warm position. A temperature of 15-20°C (60-68°F) is ideal. Keep moist.
Seedlings usually appear in 7-21 days. Transplant to individual pots when large enough to handle. Grow on in cooler, but not cold conditions.
Plant out May-June, to large pots, growing bags or into warm, well-drained soil in the greenhouse border.
For outdoor crops: delay indoor sowing until March or April. Gradually accustom plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts), before planting out 40cm (16") apart, when frosts are over. Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered spot.
Outdoor crops will be smaller and later than those grown in a greenhouse.
Harvest: July-October.
Hints & Tips:
Gently spray flowers with tepid water to encourage fruit to set. Feed regularly once flowers have formed.