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                  
        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

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01 Jun 14, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Chili plants don't need lots of water, sounds as if you might be overwatering.
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28 May 14, Amanda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I recently bought cucamelon seeds. I'm just wondering where and when it would be best to sow these seeds.
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05 May 14, wal (Australia - arid climate)
My chillies pods are being invaded by white grubs therefore causing chillies to rot.What can I do to prevent this?
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04 May 14, Avajatar (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you start growing in May, and let it grow from then on?
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11 May 14, Travis Edwards (Australia - temperate climate)
no not in the southern states anyway if they get frosted they will die. best to start your seeds indoors in august and wean them outside after the last frosts.
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01 Apr 14, Alex (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi I am based in the Karroo and would like to know what advise you could give me in regards to soil tipes ?? What is a better tipe of soil to plant in and as the Karroo is extremely hot would I be able to plant chillis outside or would they be more suited to a green house or tunnels. Any help would be apreciated... Thank you
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21 Oct 14, frans (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I m in upington and most of my chilli plants came up. Not giving it to much water.
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18 Mar 14, Margie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have just planted my Chillies plant outside in my courtyard in East London Eastern Cape. It can get quite windy - will that harm the plants - should I rather put it in a pot
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02 Mar 14, willem (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I plant chillies now?
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12 Feb 14, Emile Marais (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Hi. I am looking for contact numbers for suppliers or buyers for chillies. I am from Namibia and need prices on wet and dried chillies in order to market my product.
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Absolutely, the purpose of the grow bag is to weep the moisture from the ground. If you have the bags on a different surface than bare soil/(non-permeable) you're not using them the way they were intended to be used. You could actually use a bathroom scale and weigh the bag filled with soil/ and planting before watering. Get them all around the same weight, remember or record. Totally saturate the bags, wait until all water dissipates from around them/ excess water drains out and weigh them again, record. You will know exactly how much moisture/medium they hold (8lb/1gal). Over the course of the next days/weeks depending on your conditions, if you go so far as to monitor the weight via the scale or just pick them up to see how heavy they feel you will learn when they (??)

- Elder

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