When to plant Sweet Peppers in London

Fill seed trays with peat-free seed compost and sow seeds about 0.5 cm deep around 4th January - 24th January. Cover lightly and water gently from below. Keep in a heated propagator or on a warm windowsill at 18–21 °C.

Once seedlings have their first true leaves, carefully transplant them into individual 7.5 cm pots filled with peat-free compost. Handle by the leaves to avoid damaging the stems, and firm in gently. Keep in bright light at 16 °C or above and water regularly.

When roots start to show through the drainage holes, move the plants into larger 13 cm pots with multi-purpose compost. This gives them room to grow stronger before final planting.

Plant out into the greenhouse border or large 30 cm pots when night temperatures are reliably above 10 °C. Space plants 45 cm apart and provide supports like canes for taller varieties.

Once plants reach about 30 cm tall, pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushy growth and more side shoots for better fruiting.

As soon as the first flowers appear, start feeding weekly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser like tomato feed to promote healthy fruit development. Keep the compost evenly moist but not waterlogged.

Pick peppers when they reach full size, starting green for a crisper taste or leaving to ripen to red or yellow for sweeter flavour. Regular harvesting encourages more fruits to form.