Almost everyone has at least one or two chili plants at home. It’s become a huge trend. Growing chilies is incredibly easy, making it perfect for beginner gardeners.
If you want fresh, flavorful chilies to spice up your dishes while saving time and money, this guide covers you. You’ll learn how to grow chilies from seeds in your garden, harvest them, and handle common pests.
Types Of Chili Plants
Chilies come in dozens of varieties, ranging from mildly warm to extremely hot. Even those labeled as “warm” can feel too spicy for some! While not a strict rule, smaller chilies tend to pack more heat.
Some reliable varieties include:
- Bird’s Eye
- Cayenne
- Cherry
- Long Red
- Long Green
- Poblano
- Habanero
- Jalapeño
- Thai Hot Dragon
For those who love intense heat, the Carolina Reaper is one of the hottest chilies you can grow at home.
Hotter varieties take longer to grow, from germination to ripening, so keep that in mind when choosing your plants.
How To Grow Chili From Seeds
Sow seeds from February to April, but start as early as possible. You can even start in January for very hot chilies since they need a long summer to produce a good crop.
Keep the temperature between 18-21°C and use quality seed-sowing compost in pots. Once seedlings develop two true leaves, transplant them into 9-10cm (3-4in) pots and grow them at 16-18°C (60-65°F).
Harden off the plants gradually over 10-14 days before planting them outside.
- Soak chili seeds overnight in warm water or place them between damp kitchen rolls inside a plastic bag and leave them in the airing cupboard for a few days to boost germination.
- Grow chili plants in a greenhouse or sunny kitchen windowsill for extra warmth, as they thrive in hot weather.
- Sow seeds as early as possible. January or February for hot varieties at an ideal 18-21°C (65-70°F).
- Use small pots and sow seeds shallowly, about 5mm deep.
- Once seedlings develop two leaves, transfer them to larger pots. Handle the roots carefully to prevent damage.
- Water regularly, but avoid waterlogging.
- Cover the seed tray with vermiculite to help retain moisture and heat.
- If planting outside, harden off seedlings gradually over 10-14 days by leaving them outdoors during the day and bringing them in at night.
- Feed with chili feed or seaweed extract to promote healthy growth.
How To Care For Chili Plants
Once planted out, chilies need little attention. Pinch the growing tips when plants reach 20cm tall to encourage bushy growth. Tall varieties may need staking for support.
Temperature and humidity
Chili plants can tolerate a minimum night temperature of 12°C (54°F) but grow best above 15°C (59°F). However, temperatures over 30°C (86°F) can reduce fruiting, so keep the greenhouse well-ventilated and add shading during hot spells.
Chilies thrive in a humid environment. On warm days, you can increase humidity by ‘damping down’ the greenhouse. Pour a full watering can over the floor and let it evaporate.
Watering
Water is little and often used to keep the soil or potting compost evenly moist, avoiding waterlogging and drought. If plants dry out too much, flower buds may drop. Add mulch to lock the moisture in the soil. Container-grown plants dry out quickly in summer, so check the compost regularly.
Fertilizing
Feed chili plants weekly with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer once they start flowering.
How To Harvest And Store Chilies
Chilies will be ready to pick from late summer. Harvest them while still green for a milder flavor, or let them mature for extra heat.
Use fresh chilies in cooking, dry them for long-term storage, or prepare them with garlic and oil to make a paste. Pickle them in vinegar for a tangy kick. Store dried chilies in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place, or chop them into flakes for easy use.
Pests And Disease
Give your chili plants the best chance to survive by watching out for pests.
Aphids, whiteflies, and red spider mites often target chili plants. Aphids stunt growth, curling and distorting leaves while weakening the plant. Whiteflies release toxic substances, and red spider mites can kill plants in severe cases.
Stay vigilant and protect your chili plants. To control pests, use pyrethrum spray or hang yellow sticky traps among the plants.
