Sow chillies & co. from January onwards
Heat-loving plants in Central Europe: why starting them early is key
Chillies, aubergines, physalis and okra bring a touch of the tropics into your garden – yet our Central European climate presents them with a major challenge. These plants come from warm regions where temperatures are generally above 20°C all year round. Here the frost-free season doesn’t start until mid-May and our summers are often too short to give these exotic edibles the long growing seasons they need.
Starting early is the key to offering them the best possible growing conditions and achieving bumper crops. January or February is the perfect time to start your plants indoors, giving them the head start they need for when summer arrives. Given this jump start, chillies, aubergines, physalis and okra can reach their full maturity even in our challenging climate.
Long growing seasons mean you need to sow them early
Aubergines:
They grow slowly and need plenty of time to form their first fruits.
Chillis:
Depending on the variety, they need 80 to 120 days from germination to ripening.
Physalis:
These sweet Cape gooseberries develop over many weeks and only ripen late in the year.
Okra:
Needing lots of warmth and a long ripening period, they can do well in Central Europe – but only with plenty of support.
Early sowing, in January or February, gives all these plants the head start they need to hit the ground running when the gardening season gets under way.
Sheltered conditions: warmth and light are the keys to success
For chillies, aubergines, physalis and okra to thrive in Central Europe they need sheltered conditions to start with:
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Germination temperature: 22–28°C is perfect – on a heated mat or windowsill, for example.
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Light: Artificial plant lighting will help them grow, especially in the dark winter months.
- Repotting: As soon as the seedlings get bigger they will need more space in order to develop strong roots. You might need to be prepared to pot them on several times.
From mid-May, when the danger of night frosts is over, the plants can be moved outdoors or into a greenhouse.
Sheltered conditions: warmth and light are the keys to success
For chillies, aubergines, physalis and okra to thrive in Central Europe they need sheltered conditions to start with:
-
Germination temperature: 22–28°C is perfect – on a heated mat or windowsill, for example.
-
Light: Artificial plant lighting will help them grow, especially in the dark winter months.
- Repotting: As soon as the seedlings get bigger they will need more space in order to develop strong roots. You might need to be prepared to pot them on several times.
From mid-May, when the danger of night frosts is over, the plants can be moved outdoors or into a greenhouse.
Harvesting: tropical delights in temperate climates
By starting early you can often be harvesting chillies by July, while physalis and aubergines will ripen towards the end of summer. Okra, an exotic delicacy, will also give you a bumper crop from late summer onwards – despite all the challenges our climate throws its way.
