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

02 May 20, Melinda Schwab (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Thanks for sharing!! I have had huge trunks before on ours as well because we planted them in front of our hen house [bedding was tossed out in that garden area all year] and they were HUGE by October and loaded to the point of cracking a few "branches" from the weight... LOL! I think the same thing... They just like a lot of sun and nitrogen and water at least once every week or two.... Didn't seem to matter much about spacing and the closer they were the less breakage it seemed to have. :-)
05 Apr 20, Diane (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
It's April. Summer is over. My chillie bush has produced many chilliest. Now leaves are showing signs of withering. Does not look healthy. Is this normal as Winter approaches? Or is my plant being affected by some kind of fungus or disease?
08 Apr 20, Hugh Thenasia (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Sounds normal to me, but without a picture I cannot be sure. However, my bushes have also started this and it's normal as the cold weather hits. (You might want to prune the bush back in a month or two so it can over-winter) ;-)
14 Feb 20, Ahmed (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Can chillies be planted in a shaded area
17 Feb 20, Astrid (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi Ahmed, It depends on how much shade they get. I live in Johannesburg North and have successfully grown chillies in an area that gets around 3 hours of sun a day in summer (less in winter). Important is that they are in a sheltered location. I have successfully grown 3 chilli bushes - they are now 4 years old. The varieties I have were selected for their longevity (not annuals) and shade tolerance, and bought online from Livingseeds: 2 pepperdew types (Shan's sundew and Carl's sundew) as well as the West Park Birds Eye chilli. The West Park produces so prolifically that I get more chillies than leaves on the plant! You will need to do some pruning of the bushes in spring because they get more leggy than they would in full sun - cut back about 1/3 in early spring before any leaves appear. So unless you have total shade I recommend you give it a try.
27 Jan 20, Sekete Moshoeshoe (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Which areas are best fit for growing jalapeno in South Africa?
03 Feb 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Look up the climate zones to see if it grows in your climate zone. www.gardenate.com/zones/#zone-SA
20 Nov 19, (Australia - tropical climate)
Is there any one in Cairns successfully grow chillies Do you have to grow them in green houses or in the sun I have been told I will have to have a green house as it is to hot and wet Love to hear from a grower in Cairns Fred
12 Nov 20, Nick (Australia - tropical climate)
I grow chili all year in Cairns. They do better if planted in the cooler months and the heavy rain in the wet season will kill smaller planta.
25 Nov 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look for when they say to plant. GROW in autumn/winter not summer.
Showing 61 - 70 of 428 comments

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.

- Anonymous

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