Growing Chilli peppers, also Hot peppers

Capsicum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Mar	May	Jun
S
	T	T
	P	P

(Best months for growing Chilli peppers in USA - Zone 5a regions)

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

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

26 Jun 16, Julie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I have Bischops Crown, Jalapeño, Hungarian Hot Wax and Zim Birds Eye chilies growing in my veggie garden. They grow well and bear a lot of chilies, however the birds seems to love nipping at all of them except the Birds Eyes. Is there anything I can do to deter them, they take a bite out of every chili and leave the bushes looking terrible.
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17 Jul 16, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Birds, the feathered variety, are a big problem in my area of Centurion. I brought the winter surviving plants into the north facing patio and in pots this year and the birds are waiting at the front door already in mid-July as I begin to plant out the August plantings, but this year, I am blesseed with glass houses. Last season,, when birds became a major nuisance, I found some old CD discs and hung these up on strings from the surrounding trees just above the vegetable garden. It worked just as well as shade/ frost cloth that I removed. Secondly, my wife and I adopted a cat, this worked even better!. Good luck!
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21 Jun 16, Annie (Australia - sub-tropical climate): What type of soil do chillies prefer?
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03 Jun 16, Robert cooper (Australia - sub-tropical climate): When do I prune my chilli plant What do I feed my chilli plant. Thank you
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18 May 16, David (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I am in Harare Zimbabwe and wonder if there are any local suppliers of Hot Chilli seeds?
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02 Jul 16, Nestor (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): contact me for more details on hot chiilli seeds supplier in South Africa. Thanks
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28 Jul 16, David (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Hi Nestor, Can you assist me with contacts for Hot chilli seeds? Seeds for Africa do ship to Zimbabwe but are there others?
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17 Apr 16, Louisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have a birds eye chilli bush that a friend gave me half grown that was in a pot. My husband transplanted it in backyard with commercial potting mix. My problem is the bush has plenty of flowers but no fruit. What can we do so as the bush will yeild chillies. I live in Townsville, Nq. Any help would be most appreciated.
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14 Oct 16, Adam (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I know the teply is late but try a bit of potash to up the potassium and avoid nitrogen heavy fertilizers during the flowering season.
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31 Mar 16, James L (Australia - temperate climate): Its probably a little late to plant out in the garden BUT you can grow them in minature greenhouses year round that can be bought from bunnings or masters .
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Snails love small chilli plants so when you plant put some snail pallets around. Chilli doesn't grow well in small cup size plastic pots so don't use them or if you buy a chilli plant in one transplant to a large ceramic pot immediately. Grow from seed in a sandy garden bed seems to work very well to germinate, when the plants are as tall as your finger transplant them into a largish ceramic pot 2 litre minimum and don't be scared of leaving them in a large pot as they grow well in pots. Use a reasonable quality potting mix and water every day, mornings best, Full sun is best so find a spot where the chilli gets the maximum sun possible. The potting mix will have enough fertiliser for the next growth stage so don't add any fertiliser for the next month. Then add blood and bone and watch them grow quickly and start to flower. I've had really good results with blood and bone so have not needed to try alternative fertilisers like manure. The beauty of blood and bone is it is almost impossible to burn or kill your plants. Finally add potash fertiliser a month after the blood and bone to ensure the chilli bush has plenty of fruit. The chilli's ive grown in big pots grow jjust as good as the ones in the garden beds if not better. L put that down to the warm soil and potting mix. I live in Perth too so I hope you have luck with your chilli's

- Peter

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Growing Chilli peppers, also Hot peppers

Capsicum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Chilli peppers, also Hot peppers

Capsicum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

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