Jamie Oliver grows his own capsicums—so why do yours keep wilting in week two?

June 19, 2025

Grow perfect capsicums, even if you’ve never touched a garden fork

Red, green, or golden – these garden gems bring colour, crunch, and satisfaction to your plate

Jamie Oliver swears by homegrown capsicums – and honestly, once you’ve tasted your own, it’s hard to go back. If you’ve ever stood in front of seed packets thinking “will this even work here?” – stick with me. If you’ve felt the sting of a limp plant after weeks of care, this is going to change how you grow forever. Here’s the not-so-secret sauce to growing stunning, sweet, glossy capsicums in your own backyard, even if you’ve never grown more than a pothos before.

Capsicums love heat, hate stress, and reward patience with crunchy, colourful brilliance.

Before: dry soil, stunted plants, no fruit. After: thriving bushes packed with peppers.

Capsicums aren’t hard, but they are particular. The good news? Growing these beauties in South Australian conditions is not only doable – it’s deliciously satisfying. You just need the right setup from the start. Here's how to avoid the guesswork.

Step 1: Start with the sunniest spot you’ve got

Capsicums are sun-chasers. At least 6–8 hours of full sun each day is non-negotiable. Less than that? You’ll get leggy plants wondering why they even bothered.

Choose a spot that faces north or northwest.
Protected from strong winds, but gets good airflow.
Keep them where you’ll see them – capsicums love attention, and so will you once they start fruiting.

Step 2: Healthy soil = happy peppers

This part matters more than people think. Capsicums get grumpy in poor soil – they sulk, slow down, and stay green when they should be blushing red.

Here’s what works well locally:

Free-draining soil with compost added for fluffiness and nutrients.
A handful of pelletised fertiliser (like Neutrog’s Seamungus) at planting.
Cover with pea straw mulch to lock in warmth and moisture.

"You can’t fake good soil – it’s like trying to bake a cake without flour,” says local garden pro Candeece.

Step 3: Timing is everything

Don’t plant out capsicum seedlings too early, or they’ll sit there shivering like tourists at Horseshoe Bay in winter.

In our region, mid-to-late October is usually safe – after frosts are done and the soil’s warmed up. You’ll know they’re ready when:

Nights consistently stay above 12°C.
You’re not reaching for jumpers after 5PM.

Step 4: Water smart, not just often

Capsicums are thirsty but not keen on wet feet. Translation? Deep, even watering a few times a week – not a daily sprinkle. Use a watering wand or soaker hose in the morning so leaves dry out by evening (less chance of fungal issues).

Step 5: Give them the right support – literally

They grow bushy, but once the fruit kicks in, things get heavy. Stake plants early to avoid sad, sideways capsicums and broken branches.

Step 6: Feed like you mean it

Liquid feed every 2–3 weeks during fruiting with something balanced (think liquid seaweed or fish emulsion).
Give them a dose after flowering to help convert those blooms into full-sized fruit.

Bonus Tip: Want sweeter capsicums? Let them fully ripen on the bush rather than picking them early. Yes, they go from green to red, yellow, or orange naturally – and the flavour payoff is massive.

Common issues – and how to dodge them

Flowers dropping? Probably too cold or too dry early on. Baby them through until it warms up.
Tiny black bugs? Aphids – treat with a gentle neem oil spray or bring in ladybugs (seriously!).
Capsicums turning soft at the bottom? Blossom end rot – usually a calcium uptake issue. Keep watering consistent and don’t let the soil dry out between drinks.

Homegrown bragging rights taste even sweeter

Crisp, juicy, and brightly coloured – there’s something wildly satisfying about watching your plant go from tiny start to fruit-packed bush.

Your garden doesn’t have to be perfect, just loved – and that’s enough to grow something beautiful.

Growing capsicums isn’t reserved for “proper gardeners” with knee pads and Latin plant names. Honestly, it’s for anyone with a bit of sunshine, curiosity, and a watering can. Next time you slice into one of your homegrown beauties, just pause for a second – because that feeling? That’s you, nailing it.

Happy gardening,

Candeece

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