{"product_id":"californian-wonder-capsicum","title":"Californian Wonder Capsicum","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy I grow it\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSometimes you don't need a vegetable to be unusual — you just need it to be really useful. Californian Wonder is the classic blocky capsicum: thick-walled, sweet and crunchy, with fruit that can be picked green or left to ripen to a rich red. It's the sort of plant that earns its space because there are so many ways to use the harvest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt a glance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sweet capsicum \/ bell pepper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeat:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e None\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFruit:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Large, blocky and thick-walled; green ripening to red\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePosition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Full sun, warm and sheltered\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowth:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Bushy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest for:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fresh eating, stuffing, roasting and cooking\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the kitchen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePick the fruit green when it's crisp with that distinctive fresh capsicum flavour, or leave it on the plant to ripen red when it becomes sweeter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUse it raw in salads and sandwiches, throw it into stir-fries, curries and pasta dishes, roast it until soft and sweet, or take advantage of those substantial hollow fruits and stuff the whole thing with whatever happens to need using up for dinner.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the garden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCalifornian Wonder forms a bushy plant producing substantial block-shaped fruit. Like all capsicums, it appreciates warmth, so give it a sunny, sheltered position in the garden, greenhouse or a generous container.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe fruit can be harvested green, but leaving some on the plant longer allows them to develop their mature red colour and sweeter flavour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJo's growing tip\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI like planting chillies and capsicums in pairs. Although their flowers are self-fertile, I've found plants grown together perform particularly well — they create a sheltered little growing pocket, physically support one another as they fill out, and give visiting pollinators plenty of flowers to move between.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCare\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrow in fertile, well-drained soil and water consistently, particularly once the plant begins flowering and setting fruit. Feed regularly during fruit production. Plants are naturally bushy but may appreciate some support once they're carrying a heavy crop. Protect from frost.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eWhat you'll receive\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne healthy, established seedling grown here at \u003cem\u003eA Garden Between\u003c\/em\u003e. Plants naturally vary in size and shape and may be supplied in reused nursery pots or growing bags — perfectly useful plastic doesn't need replacing simply because it doesn't match.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Garden Between","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67839454937311,"sku":null,"price":7.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/8279\/7023\/files\/Screenshot2026-10-04at8.52.51AM.png?v=1791057234","url":"https:\/\/agardenbetween.com\/products\/californian-wonder-capsicum","provider":"A Garden Between","version":"1.0","type":"link"}