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                  
        T T            
        P P            

(Best months for growing Chilli peppers in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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

10 Jan 22, Keith (Australia - temperate climate)
I am currently growing Carolina reaper plants. I also have ordered Scotch bonnet Ghost and chili x seeds. I live in warmer climes most of the year in Queensland.
06 Nov 21, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i live on the gold coast my chillies are flowering now and have chillies .my chilli plants self seeded around august .i pickle my chillies .easy to do and has not got the zing as a fresh one ,yet nice to taste .
10 Nov 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You chop up your chilli or quick blend and fill jar with olive oil.
27 Sep 21, Peter Goodchild (Australia - temperate climate)
I want to grow some Biquinho Peppers. Can you suggest where I can buy some plants and/or seeds please and what is the optimum planting month. Tks and Rgds Peter
28 Sep 21, (Australia - tropical climate)
Boondie seeds sells them but are out of stock. Contact them and see when they might have them back in stock. Or try others on the internet.
27 Aug 21, Marie Blonde Jennings Paul (USA - Zone 13b climate)
Last year I had a great crop of Scotch bonnet peppers from a plant that was given to me and I saved some of the seeds. How do I start making seedlings and when do I start planting them for this year?
01 Sep 21, (USA - Zone 13b climate)
Go by the planting guide here when to plant and read the planting instructions.
04 Jul 21, Prakash Chandra (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
To get many fruit from chili plant you need to plant a new plant every year. Last years plant have excessive leaves and very less good sized fruit. In tropical climate chili plant produce fruits up to three or four years.
05 Aug 22, Anthony (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I agree .best to plant a new one each year, fruit is bigger. Ive done lots of growing experiments with chillies in Auckland i had a jalapeno plant kept for 4 years in a pot which was babied the whole of its life .. only occasionally did it produce several good size fruit the smaller fruit i used in making sauce`s or cooking Another factor i found is dont grow different varieties close to one another as they can cross pollinate, If you are collecting seeds from the fruit for the next season. You may get smaller fruit
29 May 21, Tammy (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Have you considered the Carolina reaper? You may have to order plants but it is a very hot pepper..supposedly hotter than ghost
Showing 21 - 30 of 430 comments

Thanks for sharing!! I have had huge trunks before on ours as well because we planted them in front of our hen house [bedding was tossed out in that garden area all year] and they were HUGE by October and loaded to the point of cracking a few "branches" from the weight... LOL! I think the same thing... They just like a lot of sun and nitrogen and water at least once every week or two.... Didn't seem to matter much about spacing and the closer they were the less breakage it seemed to have. :-)

- Melinda Schwab

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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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