Pepper California Wonder

Pepper California Wonder is a popular bell pepper variety known for its sweet flavor and crisp texture. Growing your own peppers allows you to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce and ensures a bountiful harvest for culinary use.

Preparing for Growing:

1. Selecting a planting location: Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Peppers thrive in warm, sunny conditions.
2. Soil preparation: Prepare the soil by incorporating organic matter such as compost or aged manure to improve fertility and drainage.
3. Purchasing or preparing containers/pots: If space is limited or soil quality is poor, peppers can be grown in containers filled with potting mix.

Starting from Seeds Indoors:

1. Seed preparation: Pepper seeds do not require any special preparation.
2. Choosing suitable pots/containers: Use seed trays or small pots filled with seed-starting mix.
3. Sowing and caring for seeds indoors: Plant seeds ¼ inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist. Provide warmth and light for germination.
4. Transplanting to larger containers if necessary: Once seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, transplant them into larger containers to prevent root crowding.

Starting from Seeds Outdoors:

1. Soil preparation: Prepare a fine seedbed by removing weeds and debris.
2. Selecting appropriate timing and method for outdoor sowing: Wait until after the last frost date to sow seeds directly into the garden. Soil temperature should be at least 60°F.
3. Caring for seeds outdoors: Keep the soil evenly moist until seeds germinate, which usually takes 7-14 days.

Growing in Containers/Pots:

1. Selecting suitable plants for containers: Choose compact pepper varieties suitable for container growing, such as California Wonder.
2. Container and soil preparation: Ensure containers have drainage holes and fill them with a well-draining potting mix.
3. Sowing or transplanting plants into containers: Plant seeds or transplant seedlings into containers, spacing them according to package instructions.
4. Caring for container plants: Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.

Transplanting to Garden:

1. Soil and planting site preparation: Prepare the garden bed by amending the soil with compost and ensuring proper drainage.
2. Correct timing and method for transplanting: Transplant pepper seedlings when they have 4-6 true leaves, spacing them 18-24 inches apart in rows spaced 24-36 inches apart.
3. Post-transplant care: Provide support for tall varieties with stakes or cages. Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Plant Care:

1. Watering: Peppers require consistent moisture, especially during flowering and fruiting. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
2. Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost tea every 3-4 weeks to promote healthy growth and fruit development.
3. Weeding: Keep the area around pepper plants free of weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
4. Pest and disease management: Monitor for pests such as aphids and hornworms, and diseases like blossom end rot and bacterial spot. Use row covers, organic insecticides, or fungicides as needed.

Harvesting:

1. Determining when plants are ready for harvest: Harvest peppers when they reach mature size and color. For California Wonder, this is typically when they turn from green to red or yellow.
2. Harvesting and storage guidelines: Use scissors or pruners to cut peppers from the plant, leaving a short stem attached. Store harvested peppers in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

When to Start from Seeds by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones:

• USDA Zones 4-7: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date for transplanting outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
• USDA Zones 8-10: Peppers can be started indoors or sown directly outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.

Fast Facts:

• Planting depth: ¼ inch
• Seed spacing: 1 inch
• Plant spacing: 18-24 inches
• Number of seeds per pot/container: 2-3 seeds per pot, thinning to the strongest seedling
• Water preferences: Evenly moist soil
• Sun preferences: Full sun
• Soil type and other important factors: Well-draining loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8
• Companion Planting: Peppers grow well with basil, onions, and garlic, but avoid planting them near fennel or kohlrabi.
• Temperature Preference: Warm-season crop, prefers temperatures between 70-85°F.
• Days to Germination: 7-14 days
• Days to Harvest: 60-90 days after transplanting, depending on the variety and growing conditions.