Posted by Wayne Robinson
How To Grow Chilli Peppers

Chillies from seed are one of the easiest ways in to the world of grow your own and suitable for all ages and experience. Chilli peppers (Capsicum annuum) are the fruits of Capsicum pepper plants. They are members of the nightshade family, related to bell peppers and tomatoes. Capsaicin is the main bioactive plant compound in chilli peppers, responsible for their unique pungent taste and many of their health benefits. Chilli seeds are a versatile plant and can be grown outside in a warm sheltered spot, or in a greenhouse/conservatory in a pot. Chillies are not just about heat, there is a huge range of colours, flavours, and heat to try.

Here's Our Guide on How To Grow Chillies:

How, Where & When to Grow Chillies

Sow Chilli seeds in a greenhouse from early February to April. They need warmth and a long period of time to fruit. They can be sown outside from early April in warmer southern parts of the country but they will need lots of sustained heat to produce a good crop, so it is better to sow indoors.

Chillies originate from South America so they like it hot and their optimum germination temperature is between 27C - 32C, although some can grow if temperatures are above 21C but germination is more erratic. Use a loam based seed & potting-on compost as chillies like good drainage.

If you intend to grow chillies on a windowsill, be aware that night time temperatures will drop and as such may hamper germination. We would recommend moving the seeds from the windowsill at night time and place in a warm spot such as an airing cupboard and then move back to the windowsill. Chillies need a constant and consistent temperature to germinate.

A number of seeds can be sown into a seed tray or pot 5mm deep and then pricked out and potted on when 2 true leaves have grown. (True leaves are the second set of leaves to form). The plant should be carefully lifted by the true leaves and not the stem to prevent damage. I support the root system by holding a plant label underneath whilst holding the true leaves. Best results are achieved by placing the tray/pot into a thermostatically-controlled propagator but they will also germinate with the use of a heated tray/mat. They can then be potted on into a 9cm pot until they reach a height of 8cm-15cm tall and then finally re-potted into a 3L/4L pot or straight into the ground if there is open soil in your greenhouse/polytunnel.

We recommend that you water on the surface with a spray bottle as opposed to watering from the base. Surface watering has less effect on the temperature of the compost. Don't over water and make sure that they are not swimming in water as this will cause the seeds to rot. Watering using a sprayer has less impact.

Shading may be needed to control the temperature in your greenhouse as if temperatures are above 36C the flowers may drop off and the fruit will not set. It is a good idea to mist the greenhouse twice daily to maintain humidity. Chillies are better watered from the top with a spray bottle but they do not like to be over or under-watered.

Flowering & Fruiting

Chilli plants naturally branch into 2 or more stems with a flower bud at the joint, to encourage the plant to bush out pinch out the tip when it reaches 20cm. When the plants start to fruit feed them weekly with a potassium rich feed (like a tomato feed) to encourage good fruit. 

Support

Some chillies may need additional support especially if they are laden with fruit, a small cane inserted by the stem and tied to it is usually enough.

How To Pollinate Chillies

Chillies are usually self-pollinating but additional assistance whether from wind, insects, bees or artificial pollination (hand pollination) has been shown to improve flower set and increase the peppers yield.

In the UK most chillies are grown in a greenhouse so there is little wind pollination & the number of insects/bees are lower than in the garden so artificial hand pollination will help. Simply use the tip of your finger or a small artist brush to move the pollen from one flower to the next. This is what insects do naturally as they fly from one flower/plant to another carrying the pollen on their bodies. Chilli flowers are also prone to falling off prematurely and one of the reasons this happens is because pollination has not occurred so hand pollination can help. See below for some other reasons flowers drop prematurely.

Harvesting Chillies

Harvesting Fruits that start green or yellow usually ripen to red but some green chillies will mature to orange or yellow. Green fruits can be harvested and are milder in flavour then the red. They are ready to pick when they are firm and glossy and the sooner picking begins the more productive the plant will be. (Excess produce can be frozen, pickled or preserved in oil for use later). Harvesting usually begins in August through to October although if conditions are still warm enough fruits can still be growing into December.

chilli pepper growing guide

Pests & Disease

Chillies belong to the same family as tomatoes (Solanaceae – potato family) and suffer the same pests & diseases.

Greenfly/Whitefly – when the plants produce lush new growth they become vunerable to these aphids that spread viruses quickly and lead to the detrement & health of the plant. The organic method is best to just hand pick them off, introduce ladybirds or a parasitic wasp (Encarsia Formosa) that can be purchased by specialists over the internet. The latter methods of biological control is only successful in greenhouses/polytunnels that can be sealed. Can be treated with Savona or insecticidal soap aswell.

Botrytis – may also pose a problem especially at the base of the plant and the fruit. It begins as a brownish spot that develops into a grey mould. It is particularly prevalent when it is cold & damp. Good ventilation will help stop this occurring, removing all dead or injured plant material before it becomes infected (good housekeeping). Remove all infected material by cutting back into healthy stock and burning or binning the infected stem. Do not compost diseased plant material. Isolate infected plants to prevent the disease spreading.

Potato Blight – may also affect plants particularly if grown outside. It thrives in damp wet summers. It is a fungal disease that spreads rapidly and it is best to burn infected plants straight away. The first signs of infection are brown/black patches at the tips & margins of leaves. In moist weather a white fungal growth develops on the underside of leaves. The brown patches may also develop on the stem and the disease spreads to the rest of the plant leading to its collapse. Thrips – this produces a silver white discolouration with tiny black dots (this is the insect’s excrement) on the upper leaf surface. The leaves become distorted and flower and fruit production is affected. It likes hot, dry conditions so water regularly and regulate the temperature with shading and ventilation.

Blossum end rot – this is a calcium deficiency (add limestone/bonemeal when planting the plant if this has been a problem in the past) and causes a brownish patch to appear on the end of the fruit. This is really only a problem with soil grown chillies.

Why Are My Chilli Flowers Falling Off?

It is quite usual for a few chilli flowers and their stalks to fall off at the early stages of development. However if numbers are high there could be some underlying problems.

Temperatures – chillies are from very warm climates and it can be a struggle to provide them with consistently high temperatures through the season. The flowers are more likely to drop if the temperatures are either too low below 10C or too high, above 32C.

Water – overwatered or underwatered chilli plants will cause premature flower drop. We let our chillies dry out on top before watering although if the greenhouse is warm and the day will be hot, we will water as lack of water causes stress and flower/leaf drop. Soil or compost that is too wet will mean the chilli roots will be unable to work properly & this stress may cause flowers to drop.

Poor pollination – chillies are self-fertile and usually do a good job themselves but it has been proven that a helping hand from wind, insects, bees or hand pollination can help fruit set and increase chilli pepper yields. Hand pollination is especially useful in the UK where majority of chillies are grown in the confines of a greenhouse and wind & insect activity are lower then in the garden. It is easy to hand pollinate with use of a finger tip or artists paintbrush, when the flower is fully open, brush the pollen with the finger tip/brush and then brush that finger/brush onto another flower. It does not matter if you move onto another plant (unless you wish to save the seed and breed identical chillies the following year, in which case the chilli plants should be kept in isolation anyway).

Fertility – chillies need well-balanced fertility. Potassium, a nutrient that helps the fruit to form is especially needed to help fruit set, if the soil/compost is lacking in Potassium the flowers will drop and the chillies will not set. A Potassium rich fertiliser like Tomorite or a seaweed fertiliser will help and these are generally given as soon as the first flowers begin to set and either once a week or fortnightly depending on manufacturers instructions. If used before flowering it can cause a growth of foliage at the expense of fruits and do not be tempted to over fertilise the chillies as this can also cause flowers to drop. 

Nutrition

Chilli peppers are rich in various vitamins and minerals. However, since they are only eaten in small amounts, their contribution to your daily intake is minuscule. These spicy fruits boast: Vitamin C Chilli peppers are very high in this powerful antioxidant, which is important for wound healing and immune function, B6 plays a role in energy metabolism, K1 also known as phylloquinone, vitamin K1 is essential for blood clotting and healthy bones and kidneys, Potassium an essential dietary mineral that serves a variety of functions, Potassium may reduce your risk of heart disease when consumed in adequate amounts, Copper often lacking in the Western diet, copper is an essential trace element, important for strong bones and healthy neurons, red chilli peppers are high in beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A.

Culinary

It’s easier to say what you can’t do with Chillies! Incredibly versatile when you use different heats, flavours and colours. Create your own chilli powder with Cayenne...Jamaican Jerk with Habanero Chocolate...even stuff them with cream cheese with Cherry Bomb!

Growing Guides

If you're thinking of sowing other vegetable and herb seeds, discover more of our growing guides.

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