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 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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30 May 17, Allen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I've planted a row of chillo's all bar one are small bushes producing limited fruit but my healthyist plant is a good size but just keeps flowering with no fruit at all. Any ideas what's wrong.
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14 Feb 17, Neville Tonkin (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I obtain large numbers of chilli and pepper seedlings ?
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15 Jul 17, mick (Australia - temperate climate)
Why would you waste money when you can buy some chilies let them dry off for maybe a week and then put into water for a day. After that rub through a sieve to separate seeds, let them dry in a shady spot and a couple of weeks later plant out in a seed tray with a sandy mix. When 5 cm high plant in the garden in a sunny spot and mulch well. Start the process in mid winter and I'm sure you'll get a heap of chilies late summer. Be warned though the plants die in prolonged cold conditions from my experience so choose an appropriate spot which gets sun all year around if possible as the plants will produce like mad in the second year if you can nurse them through the winter. Good luck.
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15 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Around Melbourne and in some regional areas of Victoria there are commercial seedling growers who grow seedlings in trays of about 200 per tray. These growers will often sell trays of seedlings from the nursery as a cash sale. Look up 'seedling nurseries' on the internet or send me an email and I will help you. Trust this helps.
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23 Nov 16, gordon bates (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
how long will fruit begin to grow after flowering
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29 Oct 16, Vanessa (Australia - temperate climate)
Can i plant cayenne pepper seeds direct in the garden bed now that its a bit warmer?
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18 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes. That is what would happen naturally. Don't cover the seeds too deeply and mke sure they do not dry out.
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18 Sep 16, jordan (Australia - tropical climate)
My bigger chillies going well but just the small ones 4inch chilli leaves curling upwards especially tips which grow tiny so I pull off and then lower leaves grow regrowth but top repeated itself tops are tiny and curled live in cairns queensland
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24 Sep 16, Bob Dobbs (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Your chillies probably have an attack of 'Broad Mite'. I grow a lot of chillies and frequently have to spray for these mite. The small leaves curl up and stop growing. Ask your local nursery what they recommend as a spray and make sure that you spray the under side of the leaves, as that is where they will be. I do not use organic sprays but prefer not to recommend anything in writing. Bob
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02 Jul 16, Gordon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Best time to prune and what type of fertiliser
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Showing 61 - 70 of 272 comments
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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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