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

02 Dec 17, Hamsa Lingam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You can sow up to 10 seeds but you must transplant when it is about 10 cm to individual pots for the plant to grow and give abundant chillies
21 Nov 17, William R (Australia - tropical climate)
Anyone growing orange habaneros in Cairns? Looking for seeds or seedlings. Cheers William
23 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You can buy from "Boondie Seeds" on the net. $1 for 20 seeds. $2 postage for many packets - $20 worth of seeds free postage.
21 Nov 17, WWilliam R (Australia - tropical climate)
We are in Cairns. Any chance of some seeds? We have red Habonero seeds available if you would like some.
25 Oct 17, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have a chilli plant that is now 3 years old in a large pot it is still producing chillies I feed it with tomato fertilizer is this normal it now resembles a small shrub
12 Oct 17, mberegeni (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
i need to know if habenaro can grow well in my area at levubu in limpopo
07 Oct 17, Tshifhiwa (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I stay in Limpopo Thohoyandou and have an interest of growing chilli peppers. Any idea where to purchase the seedlings?
16 Sep 17, shraban (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Which spp. of chilli pepper can grow in temperate season? & What are the chemical and pesticides that needs to it?
09 Sep 17, Ray Kruger (Australia - temperate climate)
My Bishops Crown has grown up to 1.2 metres tall and fruiting has diminished. Can I prune the bush? If so should this improve fruiting?
13 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have never tried to grow them. Maybe too much N. Have a look on the internet about growing them - how to grow chilli.
Showing 141 - 150 of 434 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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