Chillies are a hot plant to grow and a little goes a long way so they are an economic crop for the space.

Growing From Seed

• Chilli seeds need to be sown early in the year for a long growing and ripening season.
• Germination can be variable and speed & percentage success is improved with a propagator warmth.
• Use a gritty soil based compost like Arthur Bowers as Chillies like good drainage.

Chilli Growing Tips

• Pot on your seedlings into 3″ pots when the leaves are large enough to hold
• Pot on as they grow into 9 inch pots or larger depending on the variety.
• Chillies are best grown in a greenhouse or poly-tunnel though they can be grown outside in a sunny spot.
• Smaller pots can be used for compact ornamental varieties.
• Shade your greenhouse or conservatory to avoid scorching.

The Complete Chilli Pepper Book: A Gardener’s Guide to Choosing, Growing, Preserving, and Cooking

Chilli Varieties and Heat

• Cayenne pepper plants will flower and fruit much earlier than varieties such as Habanero, Scotch Bonnet or Naga.
• The slower varieties require much more heat and light and are best kept in a conservatory or greenhouse to ensure they fruit as soon as possible.
• Habaneros take over 3 months from potting on to reach maturity.
• Heat is measured in ‘Scovilles’ .  Sweet Peppers score nil, Jalapenos & Hot Wax 2-8k, Tabasco & Cayenne 30-50k, Habenero & Scotch Bonnet 100-325k and Naga Jolokia upto 855k. Police use a Pepper spray that is rated at 5.3m Scovilles and pure Capsicum is 16m Scovilles. Hot or what?

Ornamental Chillies

• Ornamental varieties can be moved to a bright position in the house or to a patio once they are well established.
• If your flowers are dropping off there could be a lack of himidity, in which case give them a mist spray.
• Feed your ornamental with a high potash feed not a high nitrogen feed.
• Smaller, hot varieties like Serrano, Twilight, and Prairie Fire plants can be treated as perennial house plants

Chilli seed suppliers 

Available from Thompson Morgan a seed, Chilli and vegetable specialist. have a good selection.

Or try a specialist grower South Devon Chilli Farm

Chilli seed suppliers  from the British Chilli Growing Society

• Chilli Pepper Pete – www.chillipepperpete.com
• Chilli Willy – www.chilli-willy.com
• Chiltern Seeds – www.chilternseeds.co.uk
• Dobbies – www.dobbies.co.uk
• Dry River Chillies – www.dryriverchillies.co.uk
• Garden Centre – www.gardencentre.co.uk
• Mid Devon Chilli Farm – www.chillipeppersonline.co.uk
• Mr Fothergills – www.mr-fothergills.co.uk
• Nicky’s Nursery – www.nickys-nursery.co.uk
• Peperoncino – www.peperoncino.co.uk
• Simpsons Seeds – www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk
• South Devon Chilli Farm – www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk
• Suttons – www.suttons.co.uk
• The Chilli Pepper Company – www.chilliseeds.co.uk
• Unwins – www.unwins.co.uk
• W. Robinson & Son (Seeds & Plants) Ltd – www.mammothonion.co.uk
• World of Chillies – www.worldofchillies.com