Capsicum annuum var. annuum (Grossum Group) 'Gypsy'

RHS Plant Profile

sweet pepper 'Gypsy'

RHS

Fruit Edible Annual Biennial

A branching annual to 50cm tall, producing a good crop of conical, pale green fruit becoming bright red when ripe. Early cropping but needs warm conditions to do well

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Capsicum are annual or perennial plants, with simple, alternate leaves, and tubular or bell-shaped flowers. They are grown for their glossy, many-seeded edible fruits, including chilli and bell peppers, and as indoor ornamental plants
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grow inside on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse, but can be grown outside once all danger of frost has passed; select a sunny, sheltered position and grow in containers, peat-free growing bags or in open ground. Water regularly and feed with a high potassium liquid fertiliser once the first fruit has set. May need support. See Peppers (Grow Your Own)

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pinch out growing tips when plants are about 20cm tall to encourage branching

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to blossom end rot