Seed Hut

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Chillies

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Chillies

Growing chillies in the UK requires a good understanding of their needs, as they thrive in warm, bright conditions. Starting indoors gives your plants a head start before the UK’s growing season begins. Follow this detailed guide for best results.

Step 1: Sowing Seeds Indoors (January–March)

1. Choose Your Seeds

  • Pick varieties suited to your space and preferences. For example:
    • Compact varieties: Basket of Fire or Ring of Fire (ideal for smaller spaces).
    • Super-hot varieties: Carolina Reaper, Ghost Chili, or Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.
    • Mild varieties: Jalapeños or Hungarian Wax.

2. Prepare Your Equipment

  • Seed trays or small pots: Ensure they have drainage holes.
  • Seed compost: Use fine, well-draining seed-starting compost.
  • Heated propagator: Maintains consistent warmth for germination.
  • Grow lights: Provide full-spectrum LED lighting (essential for low-light UK winters).
  • Labels: To keep track of varieties.
  • Spray bottle: For gentle watering.

3. Sowing Process

  1. Fill trays or pots with damp seed compost, firming gently.
  2. Sow 1–2 seeds per cell or pot, about 0.5 cm deep.
  3. Cover lightly with compost or vermiculite.
  4. Mist the surface with water.
  5. Place in a heated propagator set to 25–30°C. If unavailable, place pots on a sunny windowsill or near a radiator, but ensure consistent warmth.

4. Provide Lighting

  • Once seeds germinate (7–21 days), move them to a brightly lit area or set up grow lights.
  • Position the lights 10–15 cm above the seedlings and adjust as they grow to prevent leggy plants. Aim for 12–16 hours of light per day.

5. Maintain Ventilation

  • Use a small oscillating fan to circulate air, mimicking natural conditions and preventing damping-off disease. Keep the fan on a low setting and position it away from seedlings.

Step 2: Caring for Seedlings (Late February–April)

1. Watering

  • Keep compost moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top layer to dry slightly before re-watering.
  • Water from the base by placing trays in a shallow dish of water for a few minutes.

2. Thinning and Potting On

  • When seedlings develop two true leaves, thin to the strongest seedling per cell.
  • Transplant seedlings into 7–9 cm pots filled with multi-purpose compost, handling them by their leaves to avoid damage to the stem.

3. Feeding

  • Begin using a weak liquid fertiliser (e.g., seaweed extract) every 10–14 days once the seedlings are established.

4. Monitor Temperature

  • Keep seedlings at 20–25°C during the day and no lower than 16°C at night. Avoid draughts and sudden temperature changes.

Step 3: Hardening Off and Final Planting (May)

1. Hardening Off

  • Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions over 10–14 days.
  • Place them outside for a few hours each day, avoiding cold winds and direct sunlight initially. Bring them indoors at night.

2. Final Planting Location

  • Greenhouse or polytunnel: Ideal for consistent warmth in the UK.
  • Sunny outdoor spots: Suitable for hardier varieties, provided night temperatures stay above 10°C.
  • Indoors: South-facing windowsills are excellent for compact varieties.

3. Final Pots

  • Transplant into 3–10L pots, grow bags, or directly into greenhouse beds.
  • Use nutrient-rich compost mixed with perlite for improved drainage.
  • Space plants 30–50 cm apart to allow airflow.

Step 4: Ongoing Care (June–September)

1. Lighting

  • If growing indoors or in a shaded greenhouse, continue using grow lights to supplement natural light for 12–16 hours daily.

2. Ventilation

  • Use a rotating fan in greenhouses to maintain airflow and reduce humidity, preventing fungal diseases like botrytis.

3. Watering

  • Water consistently to keep soil moist, especially during flowering and fruiting. Avoid wetting leaves to reduce disease risk.

4. Feeding

  • Switch to a high-potassium fertiliser (e.g., tomato feed) once flowers appear. Feed every 1–2 weeks to encourage fruit production.

5. Pollination

  • Encourage pollination by gently shaking plants or using a soft paintbrush to transfer pollen between flowers.

6. Pest Control

  • Inspect regularly for aphids, whiteflies, or spider mites. Remove pests manually or use organic sprays like neem oil.

Step 5: Harvesting and Beyond (July–October)

1. Harvesting

  • Chillies are ready to pick when they reach their mature colour (e.g., red, orange, or purple).
  • Harvest regularly to encourage further fruiting.

2. Storing

Use fresh or preserve by drying, freezing, or making sauces and jams.