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

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11 Dec 10, Robert Godson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are Chilli Plants a defence mechanise against anything; do they assist other plants by keeping away bugs or other infestations
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20 Sep 11, Ines (Australia - tropical climate)
are there any plants that can protect my chilli from being eaten by little bugs and birds?
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12 Oct 10, Craig Rachow (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi I picked up some Chili Tomatoes from a hardware store today, i don't know if they are a type of chili or a spicy tomato. There is no info with them. One is almost ripe enough to try so ill eat it in a day or so. Have you heard of these or can you shed any light?
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06 Sep 10, Sylvia Borg (Australia - arid climate)
I have a shrub of hot chillies I was wondering if I can trimming down?
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30 Jun 10, KAiki (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I grow chilli in a pot inside the house in winter?
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18 Aug 10, Bron (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, but your plant will not produce at the same rate. I've kept my Habanero chilli plant alive in an outdoor greenhouse (not heated but north facing) but have only harvested a handful of chillis through winter. I grow birdseye chillis in summer & freeze these to use throughout the year - will attempt to keep one plant alive in the greenhouse next winter. Chilli plants are perennials in warm climates.
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05 Jul 10, Bill44 (Australia - temperate climate)
If you want to use chilli's during the winter months it's best to pickle some of the crop before they finish. This is what I do and have year round supply.
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30 Jun 10, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Growing indoors, they will need an even warmth and plenty of light. If they are on a windowsill, watch that they don't get too cold overnight.
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12 Apr 10, fiona (Australia - tropical climate)
The best way to get rid of the burning of chilli, on your fingers or mouth is milk, either drink or soak fingers in the milk its works for me!
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06 Apr 10, Wendy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have something eating my chilli plant too. When I look at the underside of the leaves there are lots of tiny pale green creatures, I think they might be aphids? I'm trying pyrethrum to get rid of them, fingers crossed.
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I'm growing Trinidad scorpion Butch T and Moruga. seeing they are the worlds record holder for hottest Chillies Well why not give them ago. My first crop have now got fruit and I have a few friends who love hot food so when they found out I had some of the worlds hottest chillies they could not wait to try them. I warned them that they were hotter then anything they have ever tried in their life but this did not stop one mate who thought how bad could it be I said if you are going to eat one you have to eat and swollow the whole thing not just nibble on it. So he popped it in his mouth and begain to chew he wanted to show how tough he was so he kept chewing I could see the pain in his eyes he then tried to swollow it but choked on the hottness he tried milk and icecream but it was just to hot and ended having to go to hospital for a check up. no real harm done but for a good 45 minutes he wished he was dead. I've scraped the seeds out of one and eatten it and I love hot food but I was in so so much pain. In north QLD chillies grow all year round except when it floods and your chillies are a few feet under water that seems to kill them off.

- Ryan

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