Pepper, California Wonder Bell

Grow sweet, thick-fleshed California Wonder bells for stuffing, salads, or everyday cooking.

A classic bell for stuffing

California Wonder produces large bell peppers with sweet flavor and thick, crisp flesh. The broad shape is handy for stuffing, while firm walls hold up when chopped for salads, soups, or skillet meals. Plants reach maturity in about 75 days. This variety is also resistant to Tobacco Mosaic Virus. The full-sized green fruits are useful in the kitchen, and you can leave some on the plant longer to ripen red for a sweeter, fully colored pepper.

Plant when the bed is warm

Bell peppers need warmth and cannot take frost. Start seed indoors or plant transplants once the soil has warmed and nights stay above chilly temperatures. Set plants in full sun, about 18 to 24 inches apart, in fertile, well-drained soil. Water during dry weather to keep fruit developing steadily. If the garden stays wet after rain, use a raised or well-drained bed. Mulch helps hold moisture and reduces the need to water every day.

Cut fruit cleanly from the plant

Pick green bells once they are full-sized and firm, or wait for selected fruit to turn red on the plant. Use a knife or pruners instead of pulling, which can break branches. Check under leaves as fruit grows; peppers can be hidden until they are ready. Keep plants watered during the harvest period. Uneven moisture can lead to poor fruit development, especially in hot weather. Refrigerate the harvest and wash it just before preparing. Pick through the plant every few days so a hidden pepper does not stay past the stage you want.

Put the thick walls to work

Halve large peppers, remove the seeds, and fill the cavity with rice, beans, or a meat mixture for baking. Chop smaller pieces into salads or simmer them with onions for a quick pan sauce. The thick crisp flesh stays substantial in cooked dishes and gives fresh salads a clean crunch. When several peppers ripen together, slice and freeze them for soups and casseroles. This is a useful bell to keep in the garden rotation.