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

23 Mar 13, Sharonpkr (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been growing chillies each year for over a decade now - I have planted my chillies within 20cm of my brick wall and they have been producing abundantly now for 4 years. Each November I simply cut off any dead wood and cut down to a node and the tree comes back to life and produces chillies much earlier than new chilli plants do. I have jalapeƱo's, long red and yellow banana. I fertilise with dynamic lifter and blood and bone
03 Mar 13, Ryan (Australia - tropical climate)
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.
10 Feb 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
Do chillies need ferterliser
27 Jan 13, Willie (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in the Barossa Valley, i have planted Chilli's, the plant looks really healthy however the fruit starts green then red then falls of. the fruits also look dry/brown on the bottom half , help
10 Mar 13, Dana Teahan (Australia - temperate climate)
Are in direct sun? According to Gardening Australia the sun in S.A. Is too fierce and they need to be in shade/under a tree.
03 Nov 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
Pick your chillies and put them in a lunch bag in the freezer. You will be amazed at how hot they become when you thaw them and want to use them
17 Sep 12, Doug Henderson (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm in South east Queensland,Australia I read that Sept is the best time to plant the seeds daytime temp av 24, nighttime temp is about 14 Is it ok to leave the seeds out in damp soil in small pot over night ? and how often do you water them. ? how big should they be to re-pot them ? Thanks Doug.
19 Sep 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It's no problem leaving damp seedlings out overnight at those temps - I water in the morning just to be sure. Water daily, though if you miss one here and there it's ok. Once you've got seedlings big enough to handle should be fine to plant - roughly 2 inch tall.
28 Jul 12, Christine Houweling (Australia - temperate climate)
i am on very alkaline soil, can't get pH lower than 7 no matter how much i try. I live in Port Lincoln at the tip of Eyre Peninsula. it would be nice to see pH preferences for plants in your guide. I think your service is fabulous.
27 Jul 12, wayne (Australia - temperate climate)
sounds like sooty mould.???
Showing 151 - 160 of 271 comments

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