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 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

06 Feb 16, Bert (Australia - temperate climate)
Compare it to its relative, tomato bush. Depends on the type of chilli. You will have lots of fruit probably and my wife reports they seem to even get hotter when left in the freezer.
06 Feb 16, Nate. (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
25 Jan 16, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have planted chilli plant . But the chillies turn to ripe without growing big. They are in good size pot and i water them daily. The plant seems very healthy and have lots of flowers.What can i do to make chillies to grow full capacity
15 Sep 17, Poida (Australia - temperate climate)
Stop watering them daily. Once a week is ok, every 2-3 days in summer.
18 Jan 16, Doug (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted about 10 chili plants of different varieties in October. Only 1 variety has produced chilies. The other bushes are big and green and have been full of flowers for about a month, but no chilies. They are all in the same section of the garden. Do you have any thoughts on how I can get them to produce? Thanks.
22 Jan 16, Jono (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Chillis love nutrients! Give them a dose of liquid fertilizer ( I use Go-Go Juice or Charlie Carp) both available from Bunnings/Masters. Once they do fruit....the more you pick, the more chillis will fruit! If you have flowers you will get chillis....just give them time and lots of water in the hot season.
30 Dec 15, Stuart (Australia - temperate climate)
First time gardener here! I planted young 15cm jalapeno plants almost two months ago. There were four stems all together in a small rectangular pot, so I planted them as they were. I assumed the instructions meant space them apart from other plants at x distance, but was I supposed to separate each stem and plant them apart? They're just budding little fruits now but I'm worried they'll fail eventually. Any advice?
02 Jan 16, tastyvish (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Stuart, Ideally it should have been separated at the time when they were young,This would have given each punnet to grow and you could have enjoyed more fruits but don't worry if pot size is good they could be grown together.The best pot size for chill from my experience is 40 cms.You can always re pot and separate them during autumn,
11 Dec 15, Donna (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Perth WA. I planted 6 chilli plants in separate pots,four have died,another one is dying and the last one only has leaves at the top,flowers start but never actually flower and there are no shoots growing on the stem,it looks like something is eating them,but I can't see anything on the leaves or stem.i used chicken manour to plant,can anyone one advise,every thing I plants dies.
15 Sep 17, Poida (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Donna, Take the chilli out of the pot, check the soil. You most likely find grubs residing under there or those rolly grub. We got rid of them by hands, feed them to the chicken. No chemical needed. You chilli will recovered if not too damaged.
Showing 91 - 100 of 271 comments

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Chilli peppers

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.