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Growing Chilli, also Hot peppers

(Capsicum sp.)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
							S	S	T	T	P

(Best months for planting Chilli in Australia - temperate regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

August: sow in pots

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' chilies.
Compatible with: Best grown in a separate bed as chillis need plenty of light and air circulation.

Small, hot, chilli

Small bushy plants. Dark green ovate leaves.

Chilli need warm frost free weather, so protect with glass or plastic covers if planting outside in cooler areas.

Most varieties need a long growing period to produce many fruit.

There are many types of chilli. Some are more fiery than others. As a general rule, the smaller the pod the hotter the taste.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Chilli

Chillis freeze very well. Wash, dry, and free whole. Use them direct from the freezer (no need to defrost).
Wear plastic gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after handling and cutting to avoid accidentally rubbing chilli juice onto your mouth or eyes!

Your comments and tips

23 Jan 12, wayne (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Ive grown many a differant chilli in the bundaberg region and with great success. Just keep them well watered. Full sun. Pinch off earliest blossoms for a bigger harvest. Good luck farmer joe
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23 Jan 12, Lynne (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I've grown chillis many years but in another country. I'm now in a sub-tropical area of Australia and not having any luck with any type of chilli plant. I've bought seedlings, seeds and even been given grown producing plants. They never seem to develop much beyond whatever stage they were in when given to me. What am I doing wrong? Are they more difficult to grow in the sub-tropics? Could it be a soil issue? Thanks for any suggestions or help.
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10 Jan 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate): There is the pellets you can get which are made from iron chelates, and nothing else. Safe for everything including humans. The Multiguard people make them, $3.75 at Burnings. Not a sales pitch, just in case you want to not put poison on your veggies.
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09 Jan 12, Dave (Australia - temperate climate): Thanks for the tip I have put down pellets for the slugs and snails. Its funny I have no trouble with the chillies I have grown them for years. Anyone growing them my advice is if they are strong and healthy they will survive winter just put some grass cuttings around the base to keep the roots warm and you will chillies growing in the spring again.
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05 Jan 12, (Australia - temperate climate): hi I am growing chillies this is there second season in the ground, bush is full of them but some are getting holes in them never happened before looked inside but nothing there, anyone got any ideas what it ccould be.
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05 Jan 12, (Australia - temperate climate): I have same experience. The holes on the chili were caused by slug. I put snail & slug pellet around the plants. In the morning after that, found died slugs.
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17 Dec 11, Tania (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I planted some chilli's from packet seed directly into the tub where they would grow. They only grew about 2 cm high and then nothing. Anyone know what the problem was/is? I am not a gardener and often grow things by mistake.
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17 Jul 11, Barb (Australia - temperate climate): What is the best way of preparing the seeds from last years chilli crop before planting them this year. Do you need to soak them before planting?
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09 Jul 11, Stephen (Australia - temperate climate): My chilli plants got frosted in the last few days, is it worth pruning them back a little and cover them or do I just start again in spring with new plants? Now, what to do with 2.5kg of chillies???
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01 Aug 11, Chrys (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Stephen New to the gardening world - but I pickled my excess chillies this year and they worked out great! Pickle in Vinegar and pickling spice and Store for a min of a month. That way you have chillies you can use all year round. Chrys
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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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.

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