Discover the reliable and productive California Wonder peppers from West Coast Seeds. This 0.25g pack produces big, blocky sweet peppers that mature from green to bright fire engine red. The four-lobed fruits are heavy with perfectly smooth skins, growing nearly 13cm (5") long and 10cm (4") wide on robust plants that reach up to 65cm (28") tall. Ideal for greenhouses, open fields, or backyard gardens, California Wonder peppers thrive in fertile soil with consistent moisture, rewarding you with abundant, flavorful fruits.
Key Features:
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Heavy, Smooth-Skinned Fruits: Perfect for fresh eating and cooking.
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Thick-Walled, Blocky Peppers: Ideal size and shape for bell peppers.
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High-Yield Variety: Produces abundant fruits with excellent flavor.
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Open-Pollinated Seeds: Reliable and easy to grow.
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Matures in 65-75 Days: Quick and productive harvest.
Growing Instructions:
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Difficulty: Moderately difficult
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Season: Warm season
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Exposure: Full sun
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Timing: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Grow under bright lights and transplant outdoors only when night temperatures are consistently above 12°C (55°F). Seeds should sprout in 10-21 days with soil temperature at 25-29°C (78-85°F).
Starting:
Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½") deep in warm soil. Use seedling heating mats to speed germination. Maintain daytime temperatures at 18-24°C (64-75°F) and nighttime temperatures at 16-18°C (61-64°F). Transplant seedlings into 8cm (3") pots before they become root-bound. For optimal flower set, keep at 12°C (55°F) for 4 weeks, then transplant into 15cm (6") pots and move to a warm room at night.
Growing Conditions:
Ensure soil is rich in phosphorus and calcium by adding lime and compost at least three weeks before transplanting. Mix ½ cup of balanced organic fertilizer beneath each plant. Keep soil moist but well-drained. Harden off seedlings before planting out 30-60cm (12-24") apart. Five-gallon containers with good drainage work well. Use plastic mulch and a cloche to increase temperature. Pinch back growing tips to promote leaf production, shading fruits from sun-scald.
Harvesting:
Harvest when fruit is firm and reaches the desired size. Sweetness increases as the fruit ripens. Picking young/green peppers encourages more fruit production. For late-season peppers, pull out the entire bush before the first frost and hang it upside down in a warm, dry place to ripen.
Seed Info:
In optimal conditions, at least 65% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life is 2 years.
Diseases & Pests:
Prevent rot and wilt by planting in well-drained soils and rotating crops every 4 years. Use paper collars at the base to prevent cutworms. To prevent Tobacco Mosaic Virus, wash hands after handling tobacco. Control aphids to reduce disease spread.
Companion Planting:
Ideal companions include asparagus, basil, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, oregano, parsley, rosemary, squash, Swiss chard, and tomatoes. Avoid planting near beans, Brassicas, or fennel.
Grow your own California Wonder peppers with West Coast Seeds and enjoy their sweet flavor and high yield. Perfect for gardeners of all levels, these peppers are a delicious and practical addition to your garden.
