Growing Chilies
Discussion
I grow them every year - I've got about 30 on the go this year of about 15 different varieties. This year has been a strange year for them really. A lot of mine are still ripening even now whereas in previous years they've been done by October. I've moved a few of the smaller plants indoor to a windowsill to try and ripen them off a bit quicker.
Basically if you're growing from seed you need to be planting them indoors in a propogator or warm spot in January/February time. I tend to buy my seeds online from South Devon Chilli Farm or Nicky's Nursery. I did use a third online supplier this year but they were crap and I won't recommend them. Alternatively you can pick up packets of popular variety chilli seeds from any garden centre. Apart from that there's not much to tell really. Stick them in a bigger pot as they grow, water them and feed them (you can buy chilli food or just use tomato feed as I do) and they pretty much look after themselves.
The other option you've got it to wait until the spring and buy young plants instead. That way you won't have the hassle of propogating them (some are quite difficult and you need a few attempts to get a healthy plant) and you'll be able to choose a suitable sized plant for your windowsill. Some of my plants this year are about 4' high so it needs to be a consideration! Most garden centres seem to sell young plants now or you'll find them for sale at garden shows, farmers markets etc.
Basically if you're growing from seed you need to be planting them indoors in a propogator or warm spot in January/February time. I tend to buy my seeds online from South Devon Chilli Farm or Nicky's Nursery. I did use a third online supplier this year but they were crap and I won't recommend them. Alternatively you can pick up packets of popular variety chilli seeds from any garden centre. Apart from that there's not much to tell really. Stick them in a bigger pot as they grow, water them and feed them (you can buy chilli food or just use tomato feed as I do) and they pretty much look after themselves.
The other option you've got it to wait until the spring and buy young plants instead. That way you won't have the hassle of propogating them (some are quite difficult and you need a few attempts to get a healthy plant) and you'll be able to choose a suitable sized plant for your windowsill. Some of my plants this year are about 4' high so it needs to be a consideration! Most garden centres seem to sell young plants now or you'll find them for sale at garden shows, farmers markets etc.
Try here:
http://www.chilli-willy.comgrowing-instructions.html
and here:
www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/
http://www.chilli-willy.comgrowing-instructions.html
and here:
www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/
Edited by XMG5 on Tuesday 22 November 13:18
Try here:
http://www.chilli-willy.comgrowing-instructions.html
and here:
www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/
http://www.chilli-willy.comgrowing-instructions.html
and here:
www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/
Edited by XMG5 on Tuesday 22 November 13:19
Do it.
This year I've grown some called "pinnochios nose" from T&M and some kind of scotch bonnets. The former are nice looking plants but a bit indifferent as chillis, the latter are cracking, great flavour and hot as f
k.
Last year I grew a type I can't remember the name of, but the chillies put in tubs in the freezer lasted us until about May the following growing season (i.e. this year). I had the plants outside under some shelter but they all died over the winter. This year I have brought them in and they are on various windowsills, still producing and ripening in November.
This year I've grown some called "pinnochios nose" from T&M and some kind of scotch bonnets. The former are nice looking plants but a bit indifferent as chillis, the latter are cracking, great flavour and hot as f
k.Last year I grew a type I can't remember the name of, but the chillies put in tubs in the freezer lasted us until about May the following growing season (i.e. this year). I had the plants outside under some shelter but they all died over the winter. This year I have brought them in and they are on various windowsills, still producing and ripening in November.
SlimRick said:
I grow them in the server room at work - the temperature is a constant 25c in there and they get plenty of light so it seems ideal for them.
A mixture of Bird's Eye, Ring of Fire, Peruvian Purples and Chocolate Habaneros
They look greatA mixture of Bird's Eye, Ring of Fire, Peruvian Purples and Chocolate Habaneros
Edited by SlimRick on Tuesday 22 November 23:01
My chilli plant is still ripening chillies outside!!
I took all of them off a month or so ago to dry them for storage and there are now about a dozen or so new ones and some are totally ripe.
I was expecting it to be nearly dead by now, I might cover it with fleece and see if it can survive the winter!
I took all of them off a month or so ago to dry them for storage and there are now about a dozen or so new ones and some are totally ripe.
I was expecting it to be nearly dead by now, I might cover it with fleece and see if it can survive the winter!
I've grown chilli peppers for several years, this year was a bumper crop, from my modest (8x6) greenhouse I got approximately 8-10 shoeboxes full of chillis. I then use whatever fresh ones I need as I go, then whizz them up in the food processor and dry them in a low oven - have more than enough to last me until next harvest.
Have tried a few varieties but for me the standard 'Cayenne Pepper' is the best, reliable every time - good germination (80%+) and plants are hardy, my biggest chillis were probably 20cm long but very plump, other years they've been towards 30cm but very slim. I feed them tomato food occasionally but don't over fuss them as developing the fruit in one way is a reaction to stress to ensure the plant is propogated elsewhere.
Have tried growing them indoors, but every time they got some kind of tiny fly pest on them which doesn't seem to damage them but very annoying in the house, prefer not to spray at all. Growing outside is also unlikely to work IME, all it takes is a wet/cold/windy period and they'll be done for.
Mine begin in plastic propagators on a warm sunny windowsill in late feb/early march, 2 weeks to germinate then I let them grow on well to maybe 20cm high when they go straight into big planters in the greenhouse (late april or may I think), too much faffing to have to transplant them twice when you have 80-100 plants.
Have tried a few varieties but for me the standard 'Cayenne Pepper' is the best, reliable every time - good germination (80%+) and plants are hardy, my biggest chillis were probably 20cm long but very plump, other years they've been towards 30cm but very slim. I feed them tomato food occasionally but don't over fuss them as developing the fruit in one way is a reaction to stress to ensure the plant is propogated elsewhere.
Have tried growing them indoors, but every time they got some kind of tiny fly pest on them which doesn't seem to damage them but very annoying in the house, prefer not to spray at all. Growing outside is also unlikely to work IME, all it takes is a wet/cold/windy period and they'll be done for.
Mine begin in plastic propagators on a warm sunny windowsill in late feb/early march, 2 weeks to germinate then I let them grow on well to maybe 20cm high when they go straight into big planters in the greenhouse (late april or may I think), too much faffing to have to transplant them twice when you have 80-100 plants.
+1 on the south devon chilli farm for seeds. Piece of piss to grow, I normally start them off in trays on the windowsill around Easter then pot them on into individual pots once they've got to a reasonable size. Greenhouse, conservatory, windowsill - all fine.
Use them straight from the plant, then freeze the surplus and then just chop them as you need them. Or bung a few into a bottle of vodka for a drink with a bit of a kick
Use them straight from the plant, then freeze the surplus and then just chop them as you need them. Or bung a few into a bottle of vodka for a drink with a bit of a kick
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