Chilli Plant Growing Instructions

Introduction

Growing your peter pepper plant is actually very straight forward, but there isn't all that much information on the subject, especially on growing Chillies in the UK, where there isn't much sun!

Chillies do like the warmth, but will grow nicely indoors, or in a greenhouse.

Growing Chillies is actually a very rewarding process, and can be grown by anyone, providing that a little care and attention is taken.

This short guide is designed to give you some insight into what to expect from your plant, how it grows, and what to do at the different stages of it's development for best results.

You can begin planting your seeds whenever you desire, but ideally sometime around March would produce best results, as the natural lighting conditions from then onwards will supply most of the plants conditional requirements.

 

Sowing The Seeds

In order to sow your Chilli seeds you are going to need seeding trays. If you don't have any, a standard plastic plant pot will do.

You will also need some good quality potting compost, which can be obtained very cheaply from your local garden centre.

To start, fill the plant pot to around 3/4 full with compost, making sure the soil is loose and has no hard lumps in it.

Next, you will need to place a few of the seeds lightly on top of the soil. Ensure they are evenly spaced out, and sprinkle about 5mm or so of soil over the seeds.

Dampen the soil in your container, and place in a warm place. This is because seeds need this warmth in order for them to successfully germinate.

Using your airing cupboard is a safe bet, as this will have a very near to perfect temperature range.

The temperature range that works best for germinating is 27-32 degrees Centigrade (80-90 degrees Fahrenheit). Germination outside this range can produce mixed and inconsistent results..

Make sure you keep the soil in the container damp (not waterlogged, as this can prevent germination). The best way to do this is with a sprayer or fine mist as it causes less disturbance to the seeds and soil temperature.

Your seeds will sprout in about a week, but they can take longer, so be patient. Some can take up to 3 weeks or longer and shoots may emerge some time after the first shoot(s).

When they do decide to emerge, you will see that each seed produces a green shoot, that will develop into a stalk with 2 green leaves.

 

TIP: When this happens, you will need to place your seedlings in a place where they will get a lot of light - a window sill is perfect for this.

The reason being is that if the new plants do not get enough light at this stage, you will end up with a thin and whispy plant which won't be as stable and strong as it could be.

 

Remember to keep watering your plants, but now you can reduce how often you water them to every couple of days. Just keep the top of the soil damp - use your finger to test this.

 

When They Get A Bit Bigger...

As you Chilli plant grows, eventually it will need a bigger pot.

Normally plants will limit their growth to best accommodate the size of container they are in, so you will need to replant into a bigger container when they get too big for their current one.

One way to know when to transfer to a bigger pot is by looking at the bottom of the current one. If you can see roots through the drainage holes then this is a good indication that you will need to replant into a bigger pot. Another way a plant will let you know it needs more space is by wilting suddenly, especially if the soil is still moist. If the top layer is dry to the touch then a good watering is needed. Again, check if you can see any roots at the bottom of the pot.

Chillies can also be planted outside, but make sure you are past the last of the frost for the winter as Chillies don't like the cold. An outdoor pot is perfect for this as you can move plants into the greenhouse or indoors if a sudden spell of cold weather should arise.

When your plant starts to show the first signs of producing fruit, (not only will you be incredibly amused as they develop), but you will have to make sure they are well nourished.

A good general tomato fertiliser will be good, although you can also use diluted Miracle-Gro(R) for this purpose - Please follow instructions on the packet.

Plants should be fed about 1-2 times per week.

 

To Help Produce A Full Harvest of Chillies...

The Chilli plant is usually fertilised by insects, but unless you have a serious bug problem in your house, you're going to need to do this yourself!

The pollen the plant produces is usually ready to be picked up by the insect in the late afternoon, so at this time you can pollinate the plant yourself.

To pollinate the plant yourself, take a small clean brush, like the ones used in Watercolour painting. Dampen the brush, pick up the pollen, and gently transfer it to the centre of the flowers on your plant. Repeat this with all the flowers on the plant.

Going through this quick process will help produce a full harvest of Chillies, so that you can get the most out of your plant.

 

General Tip:

When watering your plant with tap water, it is best to leave the water you are going to use standing for a day or so before you use it. This allows the Chlorine in the tap water to dissipate.

Alternatively you can use rain water collected from outside.

 

What To Do With Your Chillies!

The Chillies your plant produces will have a sweet flavour - well maybe for a few seconds until you can't taste them anymore through the heat!

Not only will these Chillies be very tasty in a variety of hot dishes, they will also be priceless at dinner parties!

If you want some recipes and cooking ideas, including how to make your own hot pepper sauces, please visit our Hot Food Recipes page.

Get Your Peter Pepper Seeds Here and Start Enjoying This Outrageous Plant Now!