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

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14 May 21, Trevor (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I transplant a chilli plant after a few months of growth? Approx 6 inches high. It is in a crowded box
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02 Mar 21, George Hupp (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I live in San Pedro in zone 10b. My vegetables include, tomatoes, snap peas, green beans (not pole), radishes, green onions and cucumbers. Except for tomatoes and jalapeño, serano and pan lamp are grown by seed. I am attempting to grow exotic hot peppers of many varieties. What hot peppers grow well here from store bought plants (very limited ) and seeds? Not interested in bells. Jalapeño, habanero, shishto, ghost, pequins and chiltepins are my main focus. Thanks for any advice and suggestions.
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04 Mar 21, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Any hot pepper you want to grow will do fine in San Pedro assuming you're not RIGHT on the beach as the fog and salty air could pose a challenge. But since you're able to grow all those other veggies you mentioned, you should be fine. I love hot peppers too and find the selection at nurseries disappointing. Seed catalogs and seed swaps are the way to go. I like Baker Creek because they have free shipping no matter how small the order, though sometimes they're out of stock a lot. My favorites to grow are shishito, which isn't hot but is VERY productive, scorpion, cajun belle, kimchi, and Chinese 5 color. The biggest thing I wish I knew when I started growing hot peppers in SoCal is that they NEED shade cloth during the hottest months, or else the plants will get sun scorched and the flowers won't set fruit. If the plants are in
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04 Mar 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I suggest you will have to buy seeds and germinate them.
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04 Dec 20, Isaiah ramaphala (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I plant chisa Chillies at Brits on the 15 th of December
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08 Dec 20, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Check the planting guide here. Seedling maybe - seeds probably not.
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08 Nov 20, Claire (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I live in East London. Can i plant chilies ini pots as in flower pots or do you advise directly in the garden?
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09 Nov 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
You can grow in a pot, make sure it is a big pot. If chilli is going to grow 50cm make the pot that wide also.
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14 Oct 20, taylah (Australia - temperate climate)
this information is very helpful;,
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01 Aug 20, Constance (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I stay in Botswana.When can I start to plant chillies?
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Well, I'm not really in Australia; I'm in Thailand, but I was not allowed to put that in. Anyway, I have the exactly the same situation you describe. I cut open several and found some kind of grub or maggot inside. A couple of the peppers had small holes, but on many, I could find no holes or anyway these things could have gotten inside. I do not know what they are, but would like to find out what to do about them. It's pretty disappointing to have a nice crop going, then all of a sudden, they look like they are rotting form the inside and drop off. They are similar to the pepper maggot in the US. But as far as I know, those have never made it to this part of the world.

- John Robertson

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