Capsicum annuum

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Sweet Purple Bell, often listed as Purple Beauty, is a compact and vibrant variety that brings brilliant colour and satisfying crunch to the garden. Bred for both container and in-ground cultivation, this heirloom variety grows to a tidy 45 to 60 centimetres tall and bursts with glossy, blocky fruit that ripens from green to a stunning deep purple, and finally to red if left to mature fully. It is highly productive and a firm favourite among home growers for its ornamental charm and flavour.

The fruit is thick-walled and crisp with a sweet, clean taste that makes it ideal for fresh eating. At the purple stage, the flesh is particularly mild and juicy, perfect for raw dishes, lunchbox snacks, and garden salads. While cooking tends to mute the vibrant exterior, the flavour remains tender and bright.

Start seeds indoors eight weeks before your last expected frost. Sow seeds 5 millimetres deep in a warm, moist medium, maintaining soil temperatures between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius for best germination. After germination, reduce to 18 to 21 degrees Celsius and provide ample light. Harden off before transplanting outdoors.

Transplant into full sun once nighttime temperatures stay above 15 degrees Celsius. Space plants 30 to 45 centimetres apart in well-drained, compost-rich soil. Maintain consistent watering and mulch around the base to preserve soil moisture. First harvests of purple peppers begin around 70 days after transplant, with full red ripeness by 80 days.

This variety thrives in South African summer conditions, offering a cheerful crop of sweet, colourful peppers that are as pleasing in the kitchen as they are in the garden. Its small footprint and reliable yields make Sweet Purple Bell a delightful addition to any growing space.

Standard packet contains approx. 25 seeds

Petite packet contains approx. 10 seeds