Bell Pepper 'California Wonder'
Capsicum annuum 'California Wonder'
The gold standard for sweet bell peppers, California Wonder has been America's favorite home garden variety since the 1920s. These thick-walled, blocky peppers start green and can ripen to brilliant red, offering exceptional sweetness and crunch. Reliable, productive, and perfect for beginners, it's the pepper that built America's love affair with home-grown sweet peppers.
Harvest
75-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Bell Pepper 'California Wonder' in USDA Zone 7
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Bell Pepper 'California Wonder' · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Water: KAP-sih-kum AN-yoo-um. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 8 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Fruits are a non-pulpy berry and vary considerably across cultivars. Some are long, thin, bright red, and spicy; others are thick, large, and sweet-tasting; others still are small and in ornamental shapes and colors, grown as decoration.
Color: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Type: Berry. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh California Wonder peppers keep best in the refrigerator's crisper drawer, stored unwashed in perforated plastic bags. Green peppers maintain quality for 1-2 weeks, while fully ripened red peppers last 7-10 days due to their higher sugar content.
For longer storage, wash and core peppers, then freeze whole or chopped in freezer bags. Frozen peppers work excellently for cooking but lose their crisp texture. Blanching isn't necessary – the thick walls of California Wonder hold up well to direct freezing.
Roast and peel peppers before freezing for ready-to-use additions to soups and stews. These peppers also excel for stuffing and freezing whole – just blanch for 3 minutes, cool, stuff with your favorite mixture, and freeze. California Wonder's sturdy walls hold their shape beautifully through the preservation process.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical North and South America
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Drought, Heat
- +Attracts: Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Birds are immune to the capsaicin in peppers and can safely eat the fruits with no ill effects. Therefore, these plants may attract birds. Host plant for Potato Tuber Moth.
- +Edible: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving pepper flavor
Tomatoes
Share similar growing conditions and can help confuse pests through companion diversity
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Oregano
Deters cucumber beetles and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Carrots
Help break up soil around pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Onions
Repel aphids, thrips, and other pests with their sulfur compounds
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing them away from peppers
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pepper pests
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Produce juglone toxin that inhibits pepper growth and can cause wilting
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of peppers and most vegetables
Brassicas
Compete heavily for nutrients and can inhibit pepper growth through root competition
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2258588)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to tobacco mosaic virus
Common Pests
Aphids, pepper weevil, flea beetles, hornworms
Diseases
Bacterial spot, anthracnose, blossom end rot, pepper mosaic virus