Chili Plants

Peppers of all types are grown as annuals by most gardeners: sown, grown, picked, then condemned to the compost heap at the end of the season. Yet these hard-working plants are perennials that, given the right conditions, will happily overwinter to next year.

Do chilli plants need sun or heat?

Planting out Chillies need your warmest, sunniest spot to produce a good crop outdoors. They also like well-drained, fertile, moisture-retentive soil, which is slightly acid.

Is chili annual or perennial?

Chillies grow in a range of areas. They are short lived perennials in subtropical and tropical areas, but are normally grown as annuals in colder regions because the cold weather causes them to die off.

How long does chili need to grow?

Q: How long before I can pick fruit? A: From sowing, chilli plants vary from about 80 to 120 days to fruit being ready. If you are using the unripe (green) fruit, this range will be reduced.

Can you leave chilli plants outside in winter?

Since temperatures can drop well below 10 °C even in autumn, it is almost impossible to overwinter chillies outdoors. The only way to overwinter chillies in the garden is in a heated greenhouse. Here you can regulate the temperature and ensure that your chillies never get too cold throughout the winter months.

Should I let my chilli plant flower?

If you are growing slower-to-produce varieties like ghost peppers or habaneros, you may want to leave early buds to ensure that your peppers ripen. However, if you are growing faster varieties like jalapenos or bell peppers, early flowers can be pinched back until the plants are a more mature size.

Should you water chilli plants everyday?

While chillies love the heat, they also require constant moisture. During summer, if you live in a dry climate, you will need to water your chillies two to three times a week. If you live in areas with heavy rainfall in winter, water sparingly.

How often should you water a chili plant?

One of the most important aspects of growing chilli pepper plants is getting the watering right, they are very thirsty plants. During hot periods, especially if grown inside a greenhouse, you will need to water regularly, usually twice a day. As dry compost will lead to a check in their growth.

Can chilli plants grow in pots?

All types of chillies perform well in pots and require the some care. Green chillies (Capsicum annuum) are red chillies but that are harvested before they turn red.

Should I cut my chilli plant back?

Although technically classified an annual, in more temperature climates you can cut a chilli plant back to a bare skeleton, leaving it dormant for the cooler months. Doing this puts the plant in a shut-down mode, which is how it remains until the first warm rays of spring sunshine hit its frame.

Do chilli plants have a lifespan?

Capsicums, chillies and eggplants are perennial but short-lived, typically living for around three years.

How do you keep chillies over the winter?

Water less frequently to avoid damp conditions and deter mould build up. Check them once a week and water only when the compost is getting dry, this could be as little as every 2 - 3 weeks. 2) Warmth - Keep your plants frost free, aim for between 5C – 12C.

How many chillies do you get per plant?

One plant will often give you a hundred chillies or more. So all but the most dedicated chilli eater can usually be self sufficient in chillies with just a few plants – something very achievable, even in a tiny growing space. Any surplus chillies can easily be dried or frozen, keeping you in supply all year.

Do chilli plants keep fruiting?

Caring for chilli plants Regular picking can stimulate a second flush of flowering and fruiting.

What is the best season to grow chilli?

January and February are the perfect months to start sowing your chilli pepper seeds indoors. Although you can still sow the seeds right up until the end of March, early sowing gives your chillies plenty of time to ripen before the end of summer. The hottest varieties need the longest growing period.

Does chilli plant like full sun?

Full sun will bring the best performance from your chilli plant, and your chillies will have the best flavour. Chilli will grow in part sun, but it can become a little leggy or stretched. Ideally, chilli likes a warm, sheltered position, especially if grown in cooler regions.

Is it better to freeze or dry chillies?

Freezing is the best way to preserve fleshier chillies like Scotch Bonnets and Habaneros. To freeze chillies whole, spread them out on a baking tray so they are not touching, freeze and pop into a sealed bag or container.

Will chilli plants survive indoors?

The best chiles to grow indoors are the ornamental and smaller hot chiles that are often grown outdoors as container plants. Some chile varieties that grow well indoors and in containers are piqu'ns, chiltepins, habaneros, and Thai peppers (see "Encyclopedia of Chiles").

Why is my chilli plant growing but no chillies?

When a pepper plant has flowers but no peppers it is because of a lack of fertilization. There is an easy solution to help the pepper plant make fruit. First a little science background: Pepper plants are self-pollinating. A pepper flower already has both parts needed for fertilization, the pollen and the ovules.

Do all chilli flowers turn into chillies?

A flower that is not pollinated will not form a chili pepper. If flowers form on chili plants in the garden at a windless time and bees stay away, you can also pollinate your chillies yourself here. It is too bad if many flowers fall off unfertilized.