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    
                    T T

(Best months for growing Chilli peppers in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings

September: After risk of frosts

  • 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

04 Mar 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I suggest you will have to buy seeds and germinate them.
04 Dec 20, Isaiah ramaphala (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I plant chisa Chillies at Brits on the 15 th of December
08 Dec 20, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Check the planting guide here. Seedling maybe - seeds probably not.
08 Nov 20, Claire (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I live in East London. Can i plant chilies ini pots as in flower pots or do you advise directly in the garden?
09 Nov 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
You can grow in a pot, make sure it is a big pot. If chilli is going to grow 50cm make the pot that wide also.
14 Oct 20, taylah (Australia - temperate climate)
this information is very helpful;,
01 Aug 20, Constance (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I stay in Botswana.When can I start to plant chillies?
03 Aug 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Look at the monthly calendar at the top of the page, set your climate zone, it tells you the best months to start planting - NOV.
22 Jul 20, Christal van der Byl (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I live in the Eastern Cape and my mom makes and sells chilli paste. I am thinking of growing the chillies ourselves because it can get difficult to find chillies. What advice do you have to make sure that we always have chillies growing? I will be making wooden creates / boxes to grow the chillies in, because the soil on our land is not very fertile if I grow but it will be outside and in the boxes I can move them around for different times of the year where the sun will be catching best.
23 Jul 20, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I feel you would have more chance of a good crop if you planted in the ground than in boxes or crates. They need to be in sunlight all/most of the day. They are a spring through autumn crop I think, I have never grown them. You need to improve your soil by adding compost and manures regularly, yearly. Soil is only the medium that plants grow in. All soils need to have nutrients added to them, compost, manures, mulch that breaks down, fertilisers etc. Do some internet research on how to grow them.
Showing 31 - 40 of 427 comments

Go on the internet and do some research about saving seeds. Some seeds need some curing first before putting in the fridge. I don't know whether it is/was a good idea to put in the freezer - other people here might know. Example - tomatoes need to be fermented in water to take the gel case off the seed before drying and then put in a bag and then into an air tight jar and put in the fridge. When taking that jar out off the fridge let it sit for 20-30 mins before opening it. If opened straight away condensation can happen and maybe ruin the seeds. You can only try - plant a couple of seeds to see if they germinate and then grow in a place protected from the wind a bit. Do some research to try and find a company/??? who can advise about your situation. Google something like - seed saving companies or seed saving bank. Good luck

- Mike

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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. GardenGrow 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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