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 S  
                  T T  

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

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings

August: sow in pots

  • 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

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06 Sep 10, Sylvia Borg (Australia - arid climate)
I have a shrub of hot chillies I was wondering if I can trimming down?
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30 Jun 10, KAiki (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I grow chilli in a pot inside the house in winter?
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05 Jul 10, Bill44 (Australia - temperate climate)
If you want to use chilli's during the winter months it's best to pickle some of the crop before they finish. This is what I do and have year round supply.
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12 Apr 10, fiona (Australia - tropical climate)
The best way to get rid of the burning of chilli, on your fingers or mouth is milk, either drink or soak fingers in the milk its works for me!
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06 Apr 10, Wendy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have something eating my chilli plant too. When I look at the underside of the leaves there are lots of tiny pale green creatures, I think they might be aphids? I'm trying pyrethrum to get rid of them, fingers crossed.
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23 Feb 10, Alison Smith (Australia - temperate climate)
Feb 10 - We've planted a black pearl capsicum - stunning black foliage & fruit. Just harvested and deseeded the ripe fruit (red). I will try my hand at growing some more from seed. I make the mistake of not handling them with gloves, so my hands are still stinging. The brother in law's a chilli fan, but these'll blow his head off!
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13 Feb 10, Beverley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My Birds Eye chillie plants are now approx. 5 ft high covered in tons of little chillies - do you prune chillie plants? - first time chillie grower!!!.
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22 Jun 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am not sure how to pick chillies,do you cut the stem or pull off from the base of chilli
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16 May 11, Dennis (Australia - temperate climate)
leave the whole stem on the chillie.
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25 Jun 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
In the supermarket they all seem to have a bit of stem still attached, so they've been cut off. I normally cut them, as if they are ripe then pulling them will split the fruit and cover your hands with chilli juice.
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Showing 191 - 200 of 272 comments
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It will grow in the ground but most likely die in frost. You can plant in the ground then pot up in around the end of April. Keep it out of frost. Then in mid August to September you can plant in your garden again after the last expected frost. If you have a north facing window with good sunlight you can leave it in the pot for now then bring it inside for winter next to the window. I would now save the ground planting until next spring. The height depends on species/variety. Almost all chillies will grow bigger in the ground though.

- Nate.

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