Chili Peppers: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How to sow chillies successfully under cover?
Sow your chillies in warmth under cover in late winter or early spring, depending on the variety and your equipment. Allow a long growing season. Use seed compost in containers with drainage and sow about 0.5 cm deep, following the packet.
Keep a steady temperature around 21 °C or as required by the variety, with light moisture without soaking the compost. After germination, provide plenty of light and gradually ventilate the propagator.
Once plants have a few true leaves, transplant gently into larger pots and keep them protected from cold. Gradually acclimatise them before outdoor planting, after frost and once nights are mild enough.
Label each batch to keep track of varieties whose germination times may differ. After emergence, a bright position at around 16 to 18 °C is suitable for further growth, without keeping seedlings inside a closed propagator. When pricking out, support each seedling by a leaf and its root ball instead of pinching the fragile stem. Once roots begin to show through the drainage holes, move to a slightly larger pot rather than leaving the roots cramped for a long period.
How do you plant chillies?
Choose a warm, sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil. In cool climates, a greenhouse or a large pot in a sheltered position can help. Gradually acclimatise your indoor-raised plants.
Plant outdoors after frost, once night temperatures stay at least around 12 °C. Water the root ball and plant at the same depth as in the pot. Allow about 40 to 45 cm between plants, adjusting to the variety's growth.
Water after planting, then maintain consistent moisture without standing water. Stake tall varieties and mulch once the soil has warmed, keeping the crown clear.
In containers, plant one chilli per pot; around 22 cm across is a useful guide for many compact types, but give vigorous varieties more root space. Check drainage holes and avoid water standing in a saucer. For planting in the ground, covering the site with a cloche beforehand can help warm the soil. During establishment under cover, ventilate when sunshine raises the temperature: excessive heat is no substitute for gradual acclimatisation. Keep checking the forecast before removing temporary protection altogether.
How to care for this plant
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Install plant supports
For a tall variety, heavy fruit or a windy spot, fit a stake when planting. Tie the stem loosely with soft material. Check ties later and support branches that bend under the fruit.
How can you harvest chillies efficiently?
Harvest your chillies when they reach the size you want and are still firm. Pick them green or wait for the variety's ripe colour. Cut the fruit stalk with clean scissors without pulling on the branches.
Wear gloves when handling hot chillies. Avoid touching your eyes and wash your hands afterwards. Pick regularly while plants are producing.
Keep sound fruits in the fridge and use them promptly. Check their condition and discard any that become mouldy. Wash the fruits before preparing them.
Check the label for the expected final colour: depending on the variety, this may be red, yellow, orange or another shade. Colour alone does not tell you how hot a chilli is, as heat also depends on variety and growing conditions. Support the branch while cutting to avoid breaking the sometimes brittle stems. As cold weather approaches, potted plants can move to a warm, bright place to allow the remaining fruits to develop. If you freeze part of the harvest, prepare portions labelled by variety so you can adjust the quantities you use in cooking.
Chili Peppers
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Fruiting vegetables
- Botanical Family : Solanaceae
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
- Cultivation Difficulty : Challenging
- Mature height : 60 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse crops : Unheated greenhouse
- Greenhouse Growing : Recommended
- Sowing Depth : 0.5 cm
- Plant Spacing : 50 cm
- Row Spacing : 60 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : High
Other characteristics
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing