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 Australia - 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

25 Feb 09, Ty (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a few small worms/grubs eating my chillies from the inside. Any advice on how to send them packing? - Sydney
27 Feb 09, Athrael (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lucy, All my chilli plants are grown in pots which makes it easier to bring them inside during winter. So yours should be alright by the sounds of it. Only problem is you would need to repot them once the plants get too big :)
05 Mar 09, Buddy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi My birds eye chilies grow very well but they dont fruit , only a few chilies, then nothing till they die off ...any ideas that may help ???
08 Mar 09, Mick (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You may need to give them an extra helping hand in pollination. use a dry toothpick or similar, and gently brush it around in all the flowers, and see if that helps. I have African Birdseye x Thai chillies that did the same for a month or so. After that (mid-summer) they fruited just fine. If that doesn't work, then try adding in a little extra fertiliser, but don't go overboard. Also, water kills pollen, so try not to spray the plants with a shower from the hose, so much as a slow soak from the ground.
14 Mar 09, Daniel (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a few Naga Jolokia plants growing, they are flowering, but not producing any fruit, any ideas how I can get them to produce fruit? Also how do I go about collecting seed to grow more at a later date?
16 Mar 09, Clff (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi all, new to this growing lark. We have a couple of Chilli plants that are fruiting well with lots of unripe chillis they are grown in raised beds and purchased from a well known DIY hardware store, my only concern is I have noticed that one chilli appears to have a purple coloured mark on its side. I am wondering is this the chilli starting to ripen or is it some Monster about to engulf my chilli plants and I will go out one morning to find nothing but a stem. Any advice would be appreciated.
17 Mar 09, Daniel (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Cliff, sounds like you have bought Siam chillis, usually sold in stores such as this and are more of a decrotive plant (I have a few for extra colour in my front garden grown by my step daughter), personally I'm not a fan of the flavor but are quite hot. Also look good in an Olive Oil bottle that you use for cooking!
18 Mar 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Cliff. I have noticed my jalapeno chilli get a purple/brown ish tint before they start going red. It should start going redder in a couple (4) days
21 Mar 09, Daniel (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks Mick, I tried your technique witht the toothpick, and it seams to be working.
24 Mar 09, Mary (Australia - tropical climate)
Like Ty (25/2/09), I too have small worms/grubs eating my chillies from the inside. Not sure what to spray them with.
Showing 21 - 30 of 271 comments

how long does it take for chilli seeds to start to show in a seed tray. I've put mine in almost two weeks ago and no sign of them yet.

- jim

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