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    
                T T T  

(Best months for growing Chilli peppers in South Africa - Summer rainfall 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

01 Aug 13, Jordan (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi there. It depends on where you live, if you get frost in your area you will probably have to replant every year, if not then there is a good chance that your plants could keep producing chillies for a few years. You can also keep them in pots and overwinter them indoors, this will keep them alive even if you get frost in your area.
10 May 13, Hannes Stoltz (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
We re looking chillie growers around the Rustenburg area to contact Many questions to ask. Tel No required
24 Sep 13, Corrie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am in Rustenburg area, summer rainfall, good soil, plenty water, want to grow chillies in larger quantities, would like to get in touch with Hannes, tel nr available
18 Jul 13, Pete van Diepen (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am a grower in the Delmas area. Call me on 083 4500 618
25 Mar 13, Heidi (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What types of chillies are found in South Africa?
23 Mar 13, dale allan (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
where can I buy the seeds for the Trinidad scorpion chill and are these seeds available in south Africa at all. also looking for seeds for the jalokia bhut chili ( ghost pepper)
11 May 13, Harr de Kock (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Dale Try, www.livingseeds.co.za They have a range of chilli seeds including the Bhut Jolokia.
25 Mar 13, Pat Martin (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have just ordered from Livingseeds, they're local and have a large stock of various chilli seeds, Including Bhut, Trinidad scorpion and 7 pot. www.livingseeds.co.za Hope this helps
07 Jan 13, nkosinathi (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
question can I plant chilli pepper from now January? or can I plant chilli pepper twice a year?
19 Nov 12, thendo (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
what is the right season to plant chillies, what type of soil its best for it to be fruitful
Showing 81 - 90 of 90 comments

I don't mean to be rude, but would like to clarify a few things that have been said here, and give a bit of information. The Bhut Jolokia is supposed to be ~1.5 million Scoville units in heat and is realistically about 1 million, compared to a Habanero, which is usually ~300,000 Scoville units. The habanero is too hot for most, and the Bhut Jolokia is only for the diehard Chilliheads. Scotch Bonnets, Habaneros, and Bhut Jolokias are all Capsicum Chinense, whereas the standard chillies (pointy-ended ones) are Capsicum Annuum, and are usually alot more mild. Sweet Bell Peppers (Capsicums) are C. Annuum, and can cross-pollinate with other Chillies. Kate - Chillies are usually fairly slow-growing plants compared to things like Tomatoes etc. Right now, it may be too cold for them to be in full swing. The flowers are self-fertile, so will pollinate themselves, but you need to help them along by sticking pollen to the Pistil using a cotton bud or similar. Swirling your finger around gently inside the flower works too. When the fruit is pollinated, the flower will go brown, and drop off, and the fruit should start growing. Flowers browning and dropping could also be due to a poor feeding regime. On most (all?) fertiliser bottles you will see a NPK number set. N=Nitrogen, P=Potassium, K=Phosphorus. General vegetative growth (leaves/stems) is encouraged by high-N analysis fertilisers, and flowering is encouraged by high P/K analysis fertilisers. At this time of year, I have my chillies inside on shelves in front of a large west-facing window. Usually, I find that if the overnight low temperature drops below about 5 degrees C then they will stop growing/flowering. I would try and be patient with your Capsicums and Chillies. As they are already established, you should get a good head start this season. Good luck!

- Buzz Killington

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