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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05 Sep 09, Ian.W. (Australia - temperate climate)
Take a tip and look for slugs and snails, they love chilli plants, Easy to combat too, just set out some shallow containers filled with BEER!, snails and slugs love it even better than we do, BUT, they don't know when to stop and so end up drowning in their own drink. Works a treat, and is not toxic to the environment or pets. and any leftover after setting out the traps is your reward if you so desire. I know, I have lost whole plants fruit and all overnight. Went looking at night and found the plants covered in tiny young snails.
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05 Sep 09, kate (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Buzz - thanks for your comments and advice. As in most things in life, I probably just need to remind myself to be patient - Thank you!
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14 Sep 09, albert (Australia - tropical climate)
Is there any reason why some chili plants bear fruit despite its small stature while other larger plants bear no fruit. New to this pardon my ignorance. thanks albert
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28 Sep 09, Sally (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have just bought a Capsicum annuum or Thai Chilli Salsa plant and was told it was edible, I cant find anything on the label to say it is. Can some one please tell me before I use them. Thanks
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05 Oct 09, Chris (Australia - tropical climate)
Have grown Naga Morish in Darwin - hot aint the word. Bush approx 2 metres high - full sun and laden. Believe this chili goes under various titles - but one to be treated with respect. Also grown a round (ball shaped) chili was told was a thing called a 'Sweetheart' - not as hot as above - but gives a very pleasant flavor in salads.
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05 Nov 09, SP (Australia - temperate climate)
Could someone help me with this? I sow seeds of thin hot chillies 2 weeks ago in seed raising containers. they haven't sprouted yet. The same with bitter melon. I have them moist so they sprout soon. I also did soak them in the water before sowing them. I am happy to wait but i am not really sure whether it takes this long. Many thanks
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08 Dec 17, Alice (Australia - temperate climate)
SP- chilli seeds are best propagated on a heat mat. Good seeds generally germinate within 10 days on heat mat. Keep it just moist but not wet as this may rot the seed bf germination start.
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10 Dec 17, Hamsa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I live in the cool mountains but I manage to grow chillies and bitter melon. It is best to start the seeds in a green house, if you don’t have one, cover the pots with plastic sheets but remember to water them everyday and when the plants are about 5 - 10 cm, you can remove the plastic sheet Soak chicken manure in water and water the plants for abundance of vegetables
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06 Dec 09, Simon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I was given a chilli that is red, round, about 15cm in circumfrence and about 7-8 cm long (Looks like a small capsicum), fleshy. It has black seeds, rates an 8 on heat metre (Tried a bit for lunch and it is nicely fairly hot). I was told I could grow from seeds, grows about 8 feet high, has purple flowers and if I get it through the first winter it will keeo producing as it is apparently a cool/cold climate variety. I was told it was from the Andes. What variety is this, he didn't actually tell me and I probably won't be back at those markets to ask.
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08 Dec 17, Alice (Australia - temperate climate)
The variety is a Rocoto chilli under cap. Pubescens. They have black seeds and can survive cold weather. This is actual chilli tree thus can last many years
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Showing 61 - 70 of 428 comments
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Hi. I have my own chilli breeding program going on, and am planning to use a combination of Thai chilli, birdseye chilli, Chilli Diablo, some stock chilli (generic, little spice, huge fruit, and Habanero. All these plants are growing in a full-sun position in neutral soil with some compost and old manure mixed in, making it slightly more acidic, but they seem to love it. I have noticed growth of up to an inch a week if Worm Castings and seasol are mixed with some water and sprayed onto the leaves of the stock chilli and diablo. As the leaves of these two are very large, foliar feeding goes down a treat. The birdseye and thai chillies have smaller leaves, so I just add it into the irrigation water, with equal results. The habanero I have left alone, as a bit of an experiment to see how maintenance-free this part of the veg garden is. All the plants (apart from the diablo) were started from seed in the middle of winter, indoors, and the Thai chilli and Birdseye chillies have been topped as half the crop from them will go into our special family chilli sauce. All plants have abundant flowers, some of which are ready to open, and average about 60cm tall. I hope this helps and inspires some peopleto get into chillies.

- Mick

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