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 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

08 Oct 13, dr andrewartha (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
How would i go about growing peppers inside in the cool mountains range
03 Nov 13, Matthew (Australia - tropical climate)
I would recommend that you start by planting the chilli seeds in a propagator (costs about 10 dollars at Bunnings), and placing it on top of the fridge with the lid on. This will allow the seeds to germinate. Once the chilli seedlings grow their first "true" leaves, place them (while still in the propagator tray) in a sunny spot for a couple hours per day.
28 Jul 13, James (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Melbourne, Wat is the time te of year to start seedlings and how much water do they need ? Thanks
28 Jul 13, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi James, Check under the entry for chillies - set your zone to Temperate Australia
15 Jul 13, Jenny Loo (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all: when is the best time to craft a chilli plant? Thank you vrry much
20 Jun 13, Kerry Hart (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We would like to know how to keep/store our excess chilli's if you can assist us Regards Kerry
07 Jul 13, Kate (Australia - temperate climate)
Chillis freeze really well and I use them direct from frozen - just chop and cook!
07 Jun 13, Jade Webb (Australia - temperate climate)
I heard that horse manure kills chilli plants. Is it true?
20 May 13, Ollie (Australia - temperate climate)
I bought some chilli plants two months ago and the leaves are turning yellow, chillies growing on the tree, it's coming to the end of may. I taught it may be the weather but when I went to Bunnings there trees were green, any ideas before I lose them?
24 May 13, Jas (Australia - temperate climate)
Try A mixture of 2 teaspoons of epsom salts to 500ml of water it works a treat
Showing 281 - 290 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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