When to plant Sweet Peppers in the UK

Capsicum annuum

Sweet Pepper
Sweet Pepper · Capsicum annuum

Sweet peppers are tender annuals that produce crisp, colourful fruits with a mild flavour. Native to Central and South America, they thrive in warm, sunny positions and are commonly grown under glass in the UK to ensure reliable cropping, though they can succeed outdoors in sheltered spots during particularly warm summers.

75 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water

Add to garden
Sow indoors February, plant out May, harvest July to October.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow indoorsNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Plant outNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesYesNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Step by step guide to growing sweet peppers in a greenhouse or under cover.

  1. 01

    Sow Seeds Indoors

    early February to late February UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Fill seed trays with peat-free seed compost and sow seeds about deep around early February to late February. Cover lightly and water gently from below. Keep in a heated propagator or on a warm windowsill at .

  2. 02

    Prick Out Seedlings

    mid-February to late March UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

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

  3. 03

    Pot On

    early March to mid-April UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

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

  4. 04

    Transplant to Greenhouse

    early May to late May UK average · set your town for your exact dates

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

  5. 05

    Pinch Out Growing Tips

    early May to early June UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

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

  6. 06

    Fertilise

    late May to late September UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    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.

  7. 07

    Harvest

    late July to late October UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    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.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Sweet Pepper to consider

California Wonder

A classic blocky bell pepper with thick, crisp flesh and a sweet flavour. It's a reliable cropper in UK greenhouses and also does well in a sunny, sheltered spot outdoors.

Gypsy

An early-maturing sweet pepper with elongated, pointed fruits that ripen from pale green to red. It's productive in cooler summers and is well-suited to growing in pots on a patio or in a greenhouse.

King of the North

A heritage variety bred for short, cool seasons, producing blocky fruits that ripen to a deep red. It copes with variable UK weather better than many bell peppers, making it a good choice for outdoor growing.

Marconi

An Italian-style sweet pepper with long, tapering fruits that are sweet and juicy. It's vigorous and heavy-cropping, and the thin walls cook down quickly, though it's also good eaten fresh in salads.

Ariane

A modern orange bell pepper that ripens early and consistently, even in cooler conditions. The fruits are sweet and crunchy, and the plants stay compact, so they suit smaller greenhouses or large containers.