Growing Chilli peppers, also Hot peppers

Capsicum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S S            
        T T T          

(Best months for growing Chilli peppers in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 64°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 20 inches apart
  • Harvest in 9-11 weeks. Wear gloves to pick 'hot' chillies.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Best grown in a separate bed as chillies need plenty of light and air circulation.

Your comments and tips

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24 Jan 19, Scott (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I have chilli plants and capsicum plants all around the house. (As well as tomatoes, basil ,herbs etc) All of the shoots and new flowers on 95% of the plants are eaten to the stem. There is no sign of any pests?
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23 Dec 18, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Do you need to take off laterals? Or just let them grow up as they wish??
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29 Dec 18, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I would leave them on to provide protection for the fruit.
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30 Nov 18, Jezza boruch (Australia - temperate climate)
I've found that wildfire chilli's in WA is a great and prompt chilli seed seller, great variety and delivered within 5 days
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23 Nov 18, emilia kreti (Australia - temperate climate)
in Melbourne where can i buy the hottest chillis
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14 Jul 19, Angelo (Australia - temperate climate)
Bulleen Art & Garden Nursery sell them!
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25 Nov 18, milke (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ask around at grocers.
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18 Nov 18, emilia kreti (Australia - temperate climate)
i like to grow my very hot peppers in a pot where do i find seeds & what its name
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18 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Contact Boondie seeds and ask them on the internet.
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19 Oct 18, wayne rub (Australia - tropical climate)
is there any chilli plants that take full sun all day better than others
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Showing 101 - 110 of 434 comments
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Hi. I have my own chilli breeding program going on, and am planning to use a combination of Thai chilli, birdseye chilli, Chilli Diablo, some stock chilli (generic, little spice, huge fruit, and Habanero. All these plants are growing in a full-sun position in neutral soil with some compost and old manure mixed in, making it slightly more acidic, but they seem to love it. I have noticed growth of up to an inch a week if Worm Castings and seasol are mixed with some water and sprayed onto the leaves of the stock chilli and diablo. As the leaves of these two are very large, foliar feeding goes down a treat. The birdseye and thai chillies have smaller leaves, so I just add it into the irrigation water, with equal results. The habanero I have left alone, as a bit of an experiment to see how maintenance-free this part of the veg garden is. All the plants (apart from the diablo) were started from seed in the middle of winter, indoors, and the Thai chilli and Birdseye chillies have been topped as half the crop from them will go into our special family chilli sauce. All plants have abundant flowers, some of which are ready to open, and average about 60cm tall. I hope this helps and inspires some peopleto get into chillies.

- Mick

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