Growing Guide & Tips
When to start your seeds
Chillies are easy to grow in a warm spot such as a sunny patio, greenhouse or windowsill. Local climatic conditions, particularly temperature and natural light levels will dictate your start time. One can start his seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost., usually around February to March or later. If you start sowing in February one should expect chillies around July through to October. The number of days taken to reach maturity can vary for a particular variety. Some might take 60 days, from sowing, to produce ripe fruit; whilst others can take as long as 120 days. Thus such plants need to be started in a good time so that the fruit ripens.
Germination
Sow a seed or two, of the same variety, just about 5mm deep in a small pot. Label the pots and place indoors on a windowsill. As soon as the seeds have emerged and are showing two well formed leaves, transfer into 3 inch pots. Hold the seedlings by the leaves, and not the stems. Note that some seedlings may need a little gentle help to get free of the seed pod.
After Germination
Start moving gradually to a place where they will get as much sunlight as possible. Keep them warm, moist and well ventilated. The plants can be kept in 3 inch pots until they reach a height of 3 to 6 inches, or have about 5 pairs of leaves.
Potting on
When the plants have at least 5 pairs of leaves, they should be potted into larger pots 9 or 12 inch, depending on the variety. Smaller pots can be used for more compact varieties. Otherwise you can grow your chilli plants in the ground. Use a rich and free-draining soil. Place in a warm spot that receives full sun for at least half of the day. In cool areas, find a spot that provides a suitable microclimate and that is protected from frost; like a sunny covered balcony, a warm courtyard or under a tree canopy.
Fruit Setting
Fruits do not set below15°C and above 33°C. Do not let them dry out so as to prevent any flowers or pods from dropping. Also, plants grown in soil that’s too dry will produce small crops of undersized fruit and sometimes even hotter than you would expect of the same plants raised in ideal conditions. Feed your chilli plants fortnightly with a dilute organic tomato. Large varieties may need some support such as lightly tied to a cane. If your chilli plant is dropping flowers, it could be the could windy weather if they are kept outside. If they are indoors, it could be lack of humidity, in which case one should mist them with a fine spray of water. Another reason could be lack of feed. It is ideal to feed chilli plants at the start of the growing season and in early summer.
Harvesting
Different varieties are picked at different stages of their development. Fruits that start yellow or green generally ripen to red, though green chillies will sometimes ripen to orange or yellow, it all depends on the variety. Usually, and regardless of the colour, once they have filled out and become firm crisp and glossy they can be picked. Peppers will colour if picked while green but will only develop their full flavour and fiery taste when left to ripen on the plant. Regular harvesting induces more fruit to grow, so make sure you pick early and often even if you don't need them at the time, you should pick them and store in the freezer or dry them. When all the summer crop is picked, prune the plants to at least half their size. In cool zones this technique helps chilli plants survive over winter.
Chilli peppers require high temperatures to produce the hottest chilies.
Too much water, nitrogen and low temperatures will reduce the fruits’ pungency.
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