Sweet pepper
Capsicum annuum
Botanical family: Solanaceae
A sweet, mild nightshade at maturity. Sow in the warmth (February-March), plant out after the Ice Saints, full sun. Fruits harvested green or coloured (red, yellow, orange), sweeter at full ripeness. Thick, crunchy flesh.
Full sun
Rich, well-drained
Regular without waterlogging
Frost-tender: a perennial in warm climates, grown as an annual in ours; it needs nights above 12 °C
Frost-tender in your zone
Mostly self-pollinating; insects sometimes cross the flowers
One plant is enough for a crop
Role in permaculture
A fruiting nightshade, hungry for both warmth and fertility: it calls for rich soil and a well-exposed bed among the summer crops. Basil, a classic companion to both tomato and pepper, is reputed to keep certain pests away through its aromatic compounds, while the French marigold, in a dedicated, dense planting, reduces soil nematodes (see its own entry) and draws in beneficial insects. Its flowers are visited by bees and by hoverflies, whose larvae devour aphids. Like any nightshade, it belongs in a rotation that avoids following tomato or potato, so as not to concentrate the family's shared soil diseases (verticillium wilt, for instance). Finally, it is kept away from fennel, reputed to hinder its neighbours.
Good companions
Fix nitrogen from the air (legumes)
Suppress some soil nematodes (dense planting, before the crop)
Traditional companion planting (benefit not demonstrated)
Poor companions
Allelopathy, reputed or observed: may slow some neighbours
Insects attracted or useful
Known pests & diseases
Pests and diseases that commonly affect this plant, tap to learn how to recognise and manage them.
Seasons & availability
Sweet peppers and chillies: July to October.
Available: July, August, September, October.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- RHS, « How to Grow Sweet peppers » (rhs.org.uk/vegetables/peppers/grow-your-own)
- Le Biau Germe, « Poivrons - Piments » (biaugerme.com/semences/potageres/legumes-fruit/poivrons-piments)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Hot chillies can irritate mucous membranes and digestion.
Family behaviour: Solanaceae
In general, Solanaceae are very hungry for nitrogen and prone to blight (Phytophthora infestans). They like heat, sun and a rich soil.
Understanding families means learning one rule per family rather than every pairing one by one. Learn more →
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.