Getting chillies and peppers off to a flying start
Peppers and chillies are fascinating tropical plants that come in all kinds of colours and shapes, ranging from mild to super-hot and enriching our gardens and (especially) our food.
Growing them in Central Europe calls for a certain amount of patience, though – plus good timing. Follow these detailed growing tips to lay the foundations for strong plants and a bumper harvest.
1. Sow at the perfect time
Pepper and chilli seeds should be sown between mid-January and mid-February. This early sowing gives the plants enough time to develop before they’re moved outdoors in May. Starting early is especially important for slow-growing varieties like habanero and rotoco chillies.
2. Create optimal germination conditions
Germinating your seeds successfully is the first challenge. Here are the key steps to follow:Â
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Prepare your seeds:
Soften your seeds before sowing by soaking them in lukewarm water or camomile tea for 12–24 hours. This helps by removing substances that might inhibit germination from the seed coat. -
Sowing compost:
Use a fine, loose sowing compost. It should be low in nutrients, encouraging the roots to develop strongly and seek out the nutrients they need. -
Sowing:
Sow the seeds around 0.5 to 1 cm deep in small pots or seed trays. Cover them lightly with compost and press down gently. Keep the substrate evenly moist but never soaking wet. -
Germination temperature:
The ideal temperature is between 25 and 28°C. A heated mat or heated location will help to keep the temperature consistently warm. -
Light:
As soon as the seedlings appear they need plenty of light – at least 12-14 hours per day. If daylight levels are insufficient you should use a plant lamp.
3. Â Nurture your young plants
After germination your key concern is to make your plants sturdy and resilient:
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Prick them out:
As soon as the first true leaves are visible (around 2–3 weeks after germination), your seedlings should be pricked out. Transfer them individually to larger pots with nutrient-rich compost. Trim the roots lightly to promote stronger growth. -
Adjust the temperature:
Reduce the temperature to around 20°C, to stop the plants growing too tall. A bright windowsill without a direct heat source is ideal. -
Watering:
Keep the substrate evenly moist, but not soaking wet. Use lukewarm water to avoid temperature shocks. -
Nutrients:
After around 4 weeks start to feed your plants lightly, e.g. with an organic liquid fertiliser.
3. Â Nurture your young plants
After germination your key concern is to make your plants sturdy and resilient:
-
Prick them out:
As soon as the first true leaves are visible (around 2–3 weeks after germination), your seedlings should be pricked out. Transfer them individually to larger pots with nutrient-rich compost. Trim the roots lightly to promote stronger growth. -
Adjust the temperature:
Reduce the temperature to around 20°C, to stop the plants growing too tall. A bright windowsill without a direct heat source is ideal. -
Watering:
Keep the substrate evenly moist, but not soaking wet. Use lukewarm water to avoid temperature shocks. -
Nutrients:
After around 4 weeks start to feed your plants lightly, e.g. with an organic liquid fertiliser.
4. Prepare to move your plants outdoors
Before your plants are moved outside or into a greenhouse in mid-May, they need a transitional period:
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Hardening off:
Get your plants used to outdoor conditions over a period of 7–10 days. Stand them in a sheltered location outside for a few hours during the daytime before they are finally planted out. -
Spacing:
Make sure the plants are spaced around 40–50 cm apart to allow enough room for growth and air circulation.
Harvesting: when all that effort pays off
Depending on the variety you can harvest your first fruits from July onwards. Allow peppers and chillies to ripen fully so that they develop their full colour and flavour.
Chillies after harvesting: how to use those fiery fruits
Chillies can be used in many different ways after harvesting: you can use them fresh in salsas, curries or salads, you can dry them and make chilli flakes or powder, or you can preserve them in oil to conserve their spicy aroma. Other popular options are fermenting them to create hot sauces or freezing them for use at a later date.
Common problems and how to avoid them
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Leggy seedlings:
Seedlings grow thin and spindly when they don’t have enough light, so make sure light levels are sufficient. -
Seeds don’t germinate:
Check temperature and moisture levels. Seeds can’t germinate at low temperatures or in overly dry compost. -
Fungal disease (damping off):
Over-wet compost and poor air circulation encourage fungal diseases. Use a sterile substrate and water moderately.
Common problems and how to avoid them
-
Leggy seedlings:
Seedlings grow thin and spindly when they don’t have enough light, so make sure light levels are sufficient. -
Seeds don’t germinate:
Check temperature and moisture levels. Seeds can’t germinate at low temperatures or in overly dry compost. -
Fungal disease (damping off):
Over-wet compost and poor air circulation encourage fungal diseases. Use a sterile substrate and water moderately.
