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 S S S
T T T             T T T

(Best months for growing Chilli peppers in Australia - sub-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 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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06 May 21, Bob (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I'm in Ft. Lauderdale Florida (10B). I have the same issue. I've got a plethora of differing varietals that I germinated outdoors in Solo cups beginning in March. Some plants are 6"-8" tall while others are just starting to sprout. My Thai Chili Peppers are growing exceptionally well while the bell peppers are taking there "sweet" time getting here. The struggle is real.
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15 Apr 19, Sylvia (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Do you use a plant heat mat. It can be bought online or may be found at garden centers like Lowes or Home Depot. Peppers like heat for good propagation
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17 Jul 17, Eric Nelson (Australia - tropical climate)
I'm actually in Thailand but your site doesn't list that. Having a hard time growing chilies here and looking for any hints. Soil has plenty of nutrients but does not dry out due to the rains and clay underlayer. At this point I'm thinking of adding sand to the soil to aid in drainage. I've dug a hole in the garden down to the clay layer and filled it with water. It drained within 5 minutes so it's really about my topsoil quality. Thanks!
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16 Apr 19, Sylvia (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Sand would be too heavy. You need to add compost or other organic matter into the soil when planting. To loosen soilup. Chilies/peppers do better in soil pH 6.5 to 7.0. Helpful info link https://bonnieplants.com/how-to-grow/growing-peppers/
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Showing 21 - 24 of 24 comments
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I'm growing Trinidad scorpion Butch T and Moruga. seeing they are the worlds record holder for hottest Chillies Well why not give them ago. My first crop have now got fruit and I have a few friends who love hot food so when they found out I had some of the worlds hottest chillies they could not wait to try them. I warned them that they were hotter then anything they have ever tried in their life but this did not stop one mate who thought how bad could it be I said if you are going to eat one you have to eat and swollow the whole thing not just nibble on it. So he popped it in his mouth and begain to chew he wanted to show how tough he was so he kept chewing I could see the pain in his eyes he then tried to swollow it but choked on the hottness he tried milk and icecream but it was just to hot and ended having to go to hospital for a check up. no real harm done but for a good 45 minutes he wished he was dead. I've scraped the seeds out of one and eatten it and I love hot food but I was in so so much pain. In north QLD chillies grow all year round except when it floods and your chillies are a few feet under water that seems to kill them off.

- Ryan

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