Photo: "Bell Pepper cultivar California Wonder" by Rob Duval
· CC BY-SA 4.0
Pepper · Bell
California Wonder Peppers
Open-pollinated · Solanaceae
The standard bell pepper since 1928. Thick-walled, blocky 4-lobed fruit, 6-8 oz. Green-to-red transition takes 20-28 additional days beyond green harvest. TMV resistance in some strains but NO bacterial leaf spot resistance — risky in humid Southeast. Open-pollinated.
At a Glance
Days to Maturity
72–75 days
Sun
6+ hours
8-10 hours full sun
Spacing
18–24 "
Seed Start
8–10 weeks
before transplant
Container
Yes
5+ gallon pot
Height
2–2.5 ft
Zone Planting Guide
Growing Guide
Germination
Germination Time7–14 days
Optimal Temp85°F
Seed Depth0.25"
Transplanting
Min Soil Temp65°F
Harden Off10 days
Watering
Weekly Water1–2 "
NeedsConsistent
MethodDrip irrigation or hand-water at base. More frequent, smaller amounts than tomatoes.
Soil
pH Range6–6.8
Soil TypeWell-draining, fertile. Standing water = root rot. Peppers are more susceptible to root rot than tomatoes.
Resilience
Heat: ModerateCold: Very-lowDrought: Low
Disease Resistance
TMV
Common Problems
bacterial-leaf-spot
Cause: Xanthomonas spp. Small dark water-soaked spots on leaves; raised scab-like fruit lesions. Spread by rain splash.
Prevention: Copper-based sprays (preventive only — not curative). Avoid overhead watering. Crop rotation. Consider King Arthur instead.
blossom-drop
Cause: Temperature outside 60-75°F night / 70-90°F day window. Narrower viable window than tomatoes. Night temp floor is 60°F (vs 50°F for tomatoes).
Prevention: Shade cloth in zones 8a+. Cover on cool nights in zones 4a-6a. Cannot be 'fixed' — plant resumes when temps normalize.
sunscald
Cause: Bell peppers face upward with large surface area exposed. Loss of leaf canopy from disease or over-pruning exposes fruit.
Prevention: Maintain leaf canopy — do NOT prune. If defoliated by disease, light shade cloth (30%). Harvest exposed fruit early.
blossom-end-rot
Cause: Same mechanism as tomatoes but less common in peppers. Most likely in large-fruited bells with inconsistent watering.
Prevention: Consistent watering, Cal-Mag during fruiting, mulch.
anthracnose
Cause: Colletotrichum spp. Sunken dark circular lesions on ripe (colored) fruit. Devastating in humid zones.
Prevention: Harvest promptly. Fungicide. Remove infected fruit immediately. Crop rotation 2-3 years.
Green harvest: full-size (4x4 inches), firm, glossy. Red harvest: uniform deep red, slightly softer than green. Can harvest at breaker (turning) stage and ripen indoors at room temp.
Expected Yield2–4 lbs/plant
Storage
10 days — Unwashed in plastic bag in refrigerator crisper. Green: 1-2 weeks. Colored: 1 week. Do NOT store below 45°F — peppers develop pitting/soft spots from chill injury.
Planting dates for California Wonder Peppers vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.
