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 18°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 50 cm 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

19 Jul 20, Astrid (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Don't be in a rush to get the seeds out. This year we've got a cold winter, so if you are sowing directly into the ground I would not sow earlier than mid September in Jhb North just to be safe. If you can start the seeds indoors you could sow early August, and plant out mid September. Plant in full sun at least 50cm apart. Make sure your plants don't dry out or your harvest will be affected. The best way to do this is to mulch well with organic matter around the plants (leaves, compost etc) to prevent moisture loss / keep moisture levels constant, but you will still need to water. When you see flowers develop, feed with a small handful (per plant) of Vita Veg Fruit & Flower - don't dig it in, just sprinkle around the plant. Leave your bushes to overwinter, they might survive!
16 Jul 20, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Check the chilli page for your climate zone and read it, it has when to plant. Then google how to grow chilli in south Africa.
10 Jul 20, Anver (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
i am going plant my chili seeds in tray an can i leave them indoor till it start to grow
13 Jul 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
It says plant seeds in Sept. Probably for soil temperature reasons. You could start inside in August but would have to provide warmth for them to germinate. Put them outside as soon as they germinate otherwise the might grow leggy, very tall and thin, looking for sunlight.
27 May 20, Retief (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I've sown my chilli seeds in may.. & they are now 30mm high I'm in the garden route where we have mild winters & sun .. do I plant them out or not risk the labour. I want to pot them for summer sales.
28 May 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Why did you plant in MAY, read when to plant them.
11 May 20, Gavin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I bought a chilli plant, very small, and it grew into a lovely plant, heaps and heaps of chilis. My question, will it flower again each year and produce new fruit each year? Or do I throw it away, and plant a new one?
07 Nov 20, carol (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I try to take my chillie plants through the winter by protecting from frost and the ones that survive do really well, better than new plants, so I would try to keepit going
22 Oct 20, villybang (New Zealand - temperate climate)
i have a jelopeno plant that is 5 years old (in a large pot ) It still produces chillies ..loads of them Its a small tree if you google it. produces mostly smaller fruit but . it does yield a few large ones ( probably more then a younger plant will ) pruning it back, sometimes pulling off the new buds, will transfer the energy back into the plant. of course using the right fertilizer, minerals and Nutrients will also help the plant survive overwintering looks like its dead. But it is survivable if done right
12 May 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Best to google it and read up. Can be annual or perennial.
Showing 51 - 60 of 434 comments

Well, I'm not really in Australia; I'm in Thailand, but I was not allowed to put that in. Anyway, I have the exactly the same situation you describe. I cut open several and found some kind of grub or maggot inside. A couple of the peppers had small holes, but on many, I could find no holes or anyway these things could have gotten inside. I do not know what they are, but would like to find out what to do about them. It's pretty disappointing to have a nice crop going, then all of a sudden, they look like they are rotting form the inside and drop off. They are similar to the pepper maggot in the US. But as far as I know, those have never made it to this part of the world.

- John Robertson

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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