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 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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01 Sep 08, julie (Australia - tropical climate)
Do chilli's need full sun to grow or just morning? I am just getting ready to put in a vege patch.
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22 Aug 08, gareth (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
do u plant chillis from punnets or straight into the beds =) =(
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09 Aug 08, Megan Darling (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I was just wondering, my chili's are very small and not very hot. Is there a way to encourage them to grow bigger? It's only 10 months old. Thanks
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21 Jun 08, Tammi (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you so very much for the Slater advice. I will try the orange.
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Showing 271 - 274 of 274 comments
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Hot chillies need a long growing season, so as early as possible in spring would be good, although soil temperature may be too cool still for them to germinate. So best, I think, is to start them indoors, in seed trays, at the very start of spring, using heating if possible to get them going and then planting outside as soon as they are strong enough and it is warm enough. You can sow seeds later during the growing season also if you have a plan to pull them through winter, because they're perennial and that way you'll have strong plants that can start producing asap when the next growing season starts.

- May

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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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