There are many types of chilli, more or less spicy. They are used to make recipes and sauces more delicious. With so many varieties at your disposal, you can consider growing one yourself. By learning about the plant's needs, growing it will be a simple and fascinating gardening project.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Sprouting the Chilli Seeds
Step 1. Begin the process 8-10 weeks before the last frost of the season
Except in hot climate areas, chili seeds don't grow well if you plant them directly in your garden soil. You need to grow them indoors for a while, in a controlled environment.
- The exact time to start varies, as it is not easy to predict the end of winter. You should plant the seeds around the end of January or early February.
- If winters are particularly mild in your area, or if you live in a warm climate, you don't need to worry about when to plant the seeds.
Step 2. Place the seeds in an airtight plastic bag, along with wet paper towels
Separately fold two paper towels into small squares. Wet them with water at room temperature. Place the seed on one of the handkerchiefs, then cover it with the other. Take a resealable bag and put the tissues with the seed inside. Store the bag at a temperature of 21-27 ° C and the seed should germinate in about a week.
- With this method you create an incubator-like environment in which the seed can begin to grow.
- If it's not warm enough in your home, consider keeping a heat lamp over the bag.
Step 3. Alternatively, plant the seeds directly in 5-10cm pots
The soil must be constantly wet, but not saturated. Use a heating mat to keep the soil warm and stimulate the growth and sprouting of the plant. Transfer the peppers to a larger pot or garden when they are at least 6 to 8 inches tall.
Step 4. Plant the sprouts in a 10cm pot if you used the bag method
If you have germinated the seeds in paper, you can plant them in a pot that drains well once sprouted. Bury the seedling about 3-6mm below the surface. Choose an organic soil or one specific for growing seeds. Also, make sure the bottom of the pot has drainage holes.
Keep the plant in the pot until it reaches 20-30cm in height
Step 5. Water the plants when necessary
Chillies absorb a lot of water, but don't like soggy soil. Check the earth every day and make sure it is moist. If a dry crust has formed on the surface, the plant needs water. Water it gently and check again later if the soil is damp.
A soil moisture measuring instrument is very useful to always keep the plant in ideal conditions
Step 6. Keep the plants indoors until you are sure winter is over
Continue caring for seedlings until late spring or early summer. Chillies only grow when the weather is hot, so if there's a chance of freezing weather or cold temperatures, keep them indoors for a while longer.
When it feels like spring has arrived and it's been two weeks since the last frost, you can probably take your plants outdoors safely
Part 2 of 4: Transplanting the Chillies in the Garden
Step 1. Place the plants outside for a few hours a day, in a spot that receives indirect sunlight
Chillies may not survive if you move them from the protected indoor environment to full, direct sunlight. For a few weeks, place them outdoors where they can receive indirect sunlight for short periods every day.
- It is best to take the plants outside in the morning or late afternoon and avoid the hottest hours.
- During these two weeks, leave the plants outside a little longer each day. The last time you do this, leave the peppers out for about eight hours.
- Don't leave the peppers out overnight until at least a couple of weeks have passed.
Step 2. Dig a hole for each plant, at least three shovels deep
Of course this is not a very precise indication, but not all plants and gardens are the same. If you create a hole by completely filling the shovel three times, you will have room to add sand and compost, in addition to the plant.
Dig one hole at a time and continue with the following steps. Then you can evaluate if the first hole was too big or if the following ones need to be bigger
Step 3. Pour sand and compost (or manure) into the hole
Since chillies are native to tropical climate areas, they grow best in sandy soils. Fill a shovel with sand and throw it in the hole, then do the same with the compost.
Compact the sand and compost, creating an even surface
Step 4. Place the plant in the hole
After pouring in the sand and compost, gently pull the chili pepper out of the pot. Place it carefully in the hole, making sure it is straight. Ideally, the top of the soil attached to the plant should be 2-3 cm below the surface of the garden.
Step 5. Fill the hole around the roots of the plant
Use the earth you dug earlier to fill in the gaps around the plant. Compact the soil well so that it presses well against the roots.
Step 6. Plant the plants in a single row, 45-60cm apart
As the peppers grow, the leaves will spread out. For this, it is important to plant them so that they have enough space.
Step 7. Space the rows 60-80cm apart
Each row needs to be far enough away from the others so that the plants can stretch out on both sides and there is enough room for walking. You will need at least 30 cm to go between rows, so don't put the plants too close together.
- It is better to plant the peppers further apart rather than too close.
- Check the recommendations for the variety of chili you are planting. Some grow better with less space available.
Step 8. Water the plants well
Soak the soil around the plants with water so that the soil in the garden mixes well with the soil left on the roots. There is a risk of using too much water, so be careful not to bog down the soil. If you have one, move the moisture meter to the garden.
Part 3 of 4: Caring for Plants
Step 1. Put a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plants
Chillies grow best in evenly hydrated soil, which is not an easy condition to maintain. To prevent water in the soil from evaporating, place mulch, such as straw, around the plants. This layer protects the soil from the sun and promotes water retention.
Step 2. Water the plants often in the morning
Chillies require a lot of water. At the same time, however, avoid wetting the soil too much. Water them well every 5-7 days.
Check the condition of the soil with the moisture detector every day to see if you need to water the plants more often
Step 3. Grow other plants around the chillies
Some plants promote the growth of chillies and keep insects away. Plant onions, basil, and chives to keep aphids, snails, and mosquitoes away. Plant tomatoes and corn to shade the chillies and protect them from the wind.
Part 4 of 4: Collect the Chillies
Step 1. Pick the peppers as soon as the "mature" date recommended on the seed packet arrives
On almost every package you will find the date when the plants can be considered mature and ready to harvest. If you pick the peppers exactly on the recommended date, the plant will produce more in the following days.
In general, you should harvest the peppers 75-90 days after planting them
Step 2. Pay attention to the color of the peppers
For many varieties it is possible to know when to pick peppers by color. Look at the seed packet and note what color the peppers are shown in the illustration. The package may also say what color the ripe chillies will have.
Step 3. Put on gloves when touching the chillies
It is the oils they contain that make them so hot. Some can even burn skin if you're not careful. When picking chillies, wear thick gloves to protect yourself from the oils.
Step 4. Do not touch yourself after handling the peppers
Even if you wear gloves, you run the risk of transferring the oil to your skin. Make sure you don't rub the gloves on your skin, especially your face and around your eyes.
Step 5. Cut the chillies off the plant, leaving part of the stem intact
Tearing them by hand risks breaking the plant. It is best to use garden shears or a sharp knife to pluck the chillies. When you do this, leave about 2-3 cm of stem.
