Contrary to popular belief it’s relatively simple to successfully grow chillies, even at the comparatively tepid climates of Northern Europe or North America. No special equipment is necessary and they can be treated in much the same manner as a gardener could treat plants.
Chili Pepper Seed Germination
Chili Pepper seeds should be planted in early spring, but many growers attempt to extend the growing season by opening them off as early as January. The benefit of starting early in the year is extending the fruiting period later in the season.
Chili Seeds can just be planted in a seed tray under about 1cm of fine compost, much the same as any other plant Ideally the seeds should be kept indoors or in a heated saltwater during germination as the seeds require warmth so as to begin the sprouting phase.
Once the seeds have sprouted they need light along with heat. At this stage ensure the seedlings are placed by a pleasant sunny window indoors or in a heated saltwater as stated above.
Be sure during the germination process to make sure that the compost is kept moist and doesn’t dry out too much.
Potting On
After the seedlings are about 5-10cm tall they’re ready to pot on. This simply means moving the seeds out of the tray into individual pots. As opposed to moving them straight to large containers (30cm diameter) it is ideal to grow the size of the pot gradually over a few weeks to be able to promote even foliage and root development.
When potting on never deal with the plants from the leaves because these are amazingly delicate when young. Instead try to eliminate them from the seed by removing the compost in the tray that’s round the origin, with the seedling still inside.
Planting out
Whenever the last frost moves the crops can be planted outside. When this is will depend on your location. Naturally in case you reside in a cold climate growth could be stunted as chilli plants prefer a warm climate. Make certain to keep your eye on the weather – if there’s a sudden cold spell, or chance of frost then bring the plants indoors.
If you’ve got the space simply maintain the plants in pots on your greenhouse. If planting out the plants will perform well either staying in bigger pots or planted straight into the floor.
Watering & Food
As chillies arise in warm climates they don’t like too much water. As a guideline you should avoid watering unless the soil appears very dry on the surface, or the plant seems to be wilting.
Some folks attempt to market fruit expansion by introducing fertilizer in their water though this isn’t necessary.
When are chillies ripe?
Obviously a lot depends upon the variety. As a general rule though chillies (much the same as bell peppers) tend to switch from green to red as they ripen. Virtually all types are edible at the green phase and consequently, the flavor become sweeter as they turn redder.
