How To Grow Chilli Plants

Growing Chillies from seed

For the best and hottest chillies, start sowing indoors as early as January - the hottest varieties often need the longest growing period.

Chillies need plenty of warmth to germinate its best to invest in a heated propagator, Sow Chilli pepper seeds around 5mm deep in a free-draining seed compost and cover with a fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite.

Place seed trays in a propagator at a temperature of 18-25C until germination, which usually takes 7-20 days. Keep the soil moist but take care for the soil not to be soaking wet, Once germinated, chillies can be transplated 

* Please note incorrect temperature is the most common reason for failed chilli seed germination

Transplanting

When chilli seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into individual 7.5cm (3") pots of compost and grow them on until all risk of frost has passed and they are large enough to be transplanted in their final positions. From an early sowing this will normally be from May onwards in most parts of the UK. You can grow chillies in pots undercover in a warm greenhouse, conservatory, or polytunnel. Alternatively my chilli plants have had happy lives outdoors here in the UK in a sheltered & sunny position.

Growing on

Water chilli pepper plants regularly throughout the growing season and feed weekly with a high potash tomato fertiliser once the first fruits have set. Pinch out the growing tip of the first flowering shoots promote more branching and therefore increase your harvest. When growing chilli plants it’s best to keep them a little on the dry side as stressing them very slightly helps to produce hotter peppers. Taller varieties of chilli peppers may require staking. You can provide a thick mulch of organic matter around the base of the plants to help conserve moisture and reduce weed growth. When growing chillies indoors, don’t forget to open windows and doors to provide insects with access to the flowers to ensure good pollination. Alternatively you can hand pollinate chillies - simply move from flower to flower tickling the centre of each one with a fine paint brush.

Pruning

Pruning is simply removing leaves to let light into the middle of the plant. Ever noticed leaves trying to grow from a node? What its wanting to do is grow. Only one problem, its not getting the light it needs to do so. This is where pruning comes in. By simply removing the leaf or leaves that are shading that node, you've now opened it up to the light.Easy right? You will eventually start to see a branch at that node. You can do this to as many nodes you want. Just make sure to leave a bit of foliage at the bottom for photosynthesis. 

Topping

Topping can be a stressful thing to do for the grower simply because you've nurtured that seed to the beautiful plant it is now. But in the long run, the results far outweigh your worries. Topping is simply cutting the plant at the desired point above any set of nodes.

 Snip if off there and your plant will begin to "Y" and result in two main branches at the top. That send signals throughout the plant to GROW beneath the cut. They have a mind of their own believe it or not. I like to do this in the seedling stage if I'm not going to prune. That's an awesome way to create more nodes for buds. More nodes = more flowers, which in the end results in more pods!

HAPPY CHILLI GROWING

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