Growing Chillies

Growing Chillies for the first time can be tricky. There are many things that can go wrong when sprouting from seed. We have put this easy to follow step by step process to help you be a champion at growing chillies.

What you will need

• Good quality seed raising soil:  I have had good results using Searles seed raising specialty mix.
• Healthy quality seeds:  There are many places you can get seeds from be sure to research your supplier well. If there is a particular variety you are hunting we a more then happy to point you in the right direction.  Contact me on Facebook.
• Small pots or seedling trays: You can get these from almost any hardware shop.  Bunnings have mini greenhouses with seed trays which are perfect for sprouting Chilli seeds.
• Water sprayer:  You can get these anywhere.  I try to get one that is good quality, the cheaper ones don’t seem to last very long.

Sprouting Chilli Seeds

If you follow these basic steps, you should get a high strike rate.

Prepare your seeds:  To give your seeds a good head-start you can soak them in some warm water for an hour or two.  For best results make the water as close to 32 degrees celsius as you can.

Prepare you pots or trays:  I normally mix water into my seed raising mixture prior to filling the pots or trays.  Don’t make it too wet – we don’t want mud. You just need it wet enough  so that when you squeeze it in your hand it stays firm.

Fill your pots all the way to the top and gently pat the soil down.

Sowing the seed:  Make a small hole in the center of your pot. The hole should be at least 5mm deep.  Place the pre-soaked seed into the hole and give it a little spray of water, then cover it up.

The waiting game: Chilli plants like warm environments so you will need to place your pots in a warm spot – on top of a fridge is perfect.  Make sure you don’t let them dry out. It’s best to give them a spray once a day.  Depending on the variety you are growing, you will see action anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks.  Typically, the superhots can take longer to sprout.

What to do with chilli seedlings

You should transfer your sprouted seedlings in to larger pots once they have formed their first true leaves.  Chilli plants develop their tap roots fast and the last thing you want to do is stunt your plant by letting it get root bound.  Once your chilli plant has been transferred to a larger pot, you should place it in a location that gets a good amount of sun.  Some people make the mistake of using artificial light.  Yes your pepper plant will grow OK using artificial light but you will encounter a range of issues with growing peppers indoors.  Its best to grow them outside under the sun.

Chilli plants are heavy feeders so you will need to fertilise them every few weeks and feed them with Epsom salt once a month. Buy a pack from your favourite hardware or nursery and follow the directions on the pack.