Chilli Plant Tips

I’m not a plant expert by any means but I have had some experience growing chilli plants. Here’s a few basic tips.

Sowing Seeds

Most chilli seeds should be planted in early Spring (around March). It usually takes 5 to 8 months for a plant to mature and fruit.

You should sow the seeds in small pots with about 3 seeds in each one. Cover them with a thin layer of good quality compost. When the seedlings grow put them into larger, individual pots.

Conditions

Chilli plants are big fans of high temperatures and sunlight. They should really be kept indoors (or a greenhouse if you have one). You’ll need to regularly water the plant but be careful not to drown it!

Flowering

When your plant starts to flower you’ll have edible chillis very soon. Some people recommend pollinating by rubbing the middle of the flowers to move the pollen to the stamen which will allow the fruit to grow. I didn’t try this on my plants and I had plenty of chillis – but it can’t hurt to give it a go.

Harvesting

You can harvest your chillis when they’re large, firm and green. They’ll ripen up even after you pick them. Or you could wait for them to turn into their mature colour – just because it makes the plant look pretty! There’s no proof that picking chillis early or late changes their flavour.

Common Chilli Plant Problems

Plant not growing: The plant probably needs more light and higher temperatures.

Yellow leaves: Too much watering will cause the roots to rot and the leaves to turn yellow.

Holes in the leaves: Most likely caused by bugs munching on your plant.

Brown stems: Not enough water.

Wilting: Too much or not enough water.

Leaves falling off: Over-fertilizing can cause this. If you use a good quality compost which already contains minerals then it is unlikely that you’ll need to fertilize.

For some more advanced guides have a read of The Chile Man Guides.