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

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04 Nov 15, Egbert (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Is it safe to plant chilli seedlings when the surface is dry or must I wait for the rain to fall first,because I'm in Limpopo and it hasn't rained in ages and I would like to start planting my chilli seedlings.so am a bit panicking because of the dry season but I have a borehole.please advise me on what to do.
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17 Jul 15, Kabo Maswabi (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can i get safe, treated chillies seeds which will be able to thrive in the hot arid conditions
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10 Aug 15, Pam (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Try the online shops: Organic Seeds and Living Seeds
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10 Oct 14, Dudley Randa;; (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi. My chilli plants growing shoots are all withering and curling up. Can someone help me with a treatment. Spider mite spray doesn't seem to help
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06 Jul 14, Dries (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What is the general life span of a chilli plant?
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20 Aug 14, Danie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Some of my inchanga chilli plants are now in their third year and still going strong. My red savina habaneros are now going into their second year and also very strong
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27 Jun 14, greg (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What soil is best for chilli seeds.
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31 May 14, Kate (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I Have a beautiful rainbow chilli in a large pot in full sun. It's turning yellow and wilting. Am I over or under watering it ?
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01 Jun 14, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Chili plants don't need lots of water, sounds as if you might be overwatering.
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01 Apr 14, Alex (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi I am based in the Karroo and would like to know what advise you could give me in regards to soil tipes ?? What is a better tipe of soil to plant in and as the Karroo is extremely hot would I be able to plant chillis outside or would they be more suited to a green house or tunnels. Any help would be apreciated... Thank you
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Showing 61 - 70 of 90 comments
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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.

- Ryan

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