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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
22 Jun 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am not sure how to pick chillies,do you cut the stem or pull off from the base of chilli
Reply or Post a new comment
16 May 11, Dennis (Australia - temperate climate)
leave the whole stem on the chillie.
Reply or Post a new comment
25 Jun 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
In the supermarket they all seem to have a bit of stem still attached, so they've been cut off. I normally cut them, as if they are ripe then pulling them will split the fruit and cover your hands with chilli juice.
Reply or Post a new comment
10 Feb 10, phil (Australia - temperate climate)
i have 1 chilli plant in a large pot with other herbs on my balcony. some thing is eating the leaves. what would it be & what can i do to prevent is?
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Feb 10, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey, I raised some plants in the seed tray (with lid) they grew very tall and thin over about 2 weeks. Still only 2 leaves and no real leaves. I put them outside for a bit and some shrivelled up. Was it too sudden a change for them?
Reply or Post a new comment
31 Jan 10, bryan dunlop (Australia - temperate climate)
Have several chilli plants growing and something is eating the leaves. Whay could it be and how do i treat?
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Jan 10, Chris L (Australia - temperate climate)
Have planted various kinds of chilies. 1- Habaneros are ornage when ripe but not hot at all. Anyone can explain why? 2- Something is eating the leaves of my Thai chilies. Plant is almost bald. Have used pyrethrum spray & snail/slug pellet but to no avail. Any idea what the mystery pest is & what can I do? 3- What's the best way to prune chili plants? Thanks & Happy gardening, y'all! :-)
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Jan 10, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Have planted some chilli plants from seedling in pots about a month ago. Plants are about 40 - 50cm tall. The are very slow at producing flowers compared to a mates plants. He isn't doing anything different to me. Any tips to get flowers and fruit?
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Jan 10, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Guys, I had a heap of chilli seeds sent to melbourne from the states about October last year. Due to my wife being pregnant and other things I forgot about them. I planted a heap of them last week. Is their any chance I will get anything off them or is it too late? I'm kicking myself.
Reply or Post a new comment
10 Jan 10, Simon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
hey Jason, thanks for the info. yes now I remember just want to know what I will be eating and giving to friends, Cheers
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 351 - 360 of 432 comments
See comments for all plants

Tammi - could be mice or rats, they can do this also. Its happened to me in Perth. Megan - Chillies will only grow vigourously during the warmer months, depending on where you are, they will either slow down, go dormant, or die altogether, depening on how cold it gets, a severe frowst will kill them. Wait until summer, they will flower all over, and give you lots of fruit. If you want a hotter chilli, water them less, let them dry out a little (but not all the way). A stressed plant will give hotter fruit. If you want hotter fruit still, get a different variety. Look for a chinense variety. Gareth - Most people raise chillies in punnets/starter pots, then into medium pots (10-15 cm across at the top), then onto final larger pots or garden beds when they have outgrown the medium one. You can tell when they are ready to be moved as they will have roots coming out the bottom. Julie - feed them with tomato food, probably in liquid form, is pretty good for flowering chillies, also, mulch and compost the soil if you can. Murray - depending on the variety, chillies can take up to 6 weeks to germinate, and they also need warm humid conditions to do so. Chillies are originally grown in warmer humid places, so they better you can recreate this, the happier they are. Keep them moist, (but not wet or soggy), perhaps put half a coke bottle over them to keep the humidity up, put them somewhere warm, they dont need sunlight to germinate, so the top of the fridge will do. When they do germinate, move them to a sunny windowsill or similar until they are ready to be hardened off to go outside. Michael - an NPK ratio of 10-5-10 for when they are growing works well, then 5-10-10 for flowering, if using bought fertilizers. Otherwise, a well composted mix of garden waste should work well, with some animal manure thrown in. Dont forget to mulch the soil to stop evaporation.

- Simon

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.