Growing a chili plant from seeds is an easy and fun project! Sprout them at a constant, warm temperature, then use light compost to give birth to the seedlings. Carefully transplant them into a small pot, which you need to keep warm and well watered. Move the plant to larger pots once it has grown, or place it in the garden if the weather is warm enough. Pick the peppers regularly and use them to flavor your dishes!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Sprouting the Chilli Seeds
Step 1. Place the seeds between two damp paper towels
Moisten the paper. Spread the seeds on one of the sheets, then cover them with the other. Put them in an airtight bag or plastic container.
Step 2. Store the seeds in a warm place for 2-5 days
As a general rule, chili seeds need a temperature of 23-30 ° C to germinate. Place them in a constant heat environment (for example on a heating mat) for 2-5 days, until they swell or sprout. Make sure the heat source is not so intense that it melts the bag or plastic container with the seeds.
- Pre-sprouting chili seeds this way before planting them in compost or soil increases the chances of them producing seedlings.
- In areas where the climate is warmer, you can leave the seeds outside to germinate, as long as the temperature never drops below 15 ° C.
Step 3. Fill the jar
Fill a large seed tray or multi-cell container to the brim with light compost or potting soil. Break up large clumps of material. Push the compost down 1-2 milliliters and water it.
You should water the soil right before adding the seeds, then keep pouring just a few drops until they sprout
Step 4. Sprinkle and cover the chili seeds
Place the individual seeds on the compost, about 5cm apart. Lightly cover them with more compost. Gently compact the soil and just wet it with a spray.
Step 5. Cover the seeds and let them sprout
Put plastic wrap over the container to lock the heat and moisture inside. Place the pot in the same warm place where you started the seeds. Alternatively, you can purchase an electrically heated tray or mat (available at garden stores) to keep the seedlings at a constant temperature.
Step 6. Keep an eye on the seedlings
Check the container for growth and make sure the compost is of good quality. Compost should be moist but not wet, and you shouldn't water it unless it becomes particularly dry. The first stems should appear in two weeks.
Method 2 of 3: Transfer the seedlings
Step 1. Remove the seedlings from the container
Once they have reached 5 cm in height and have 5-6 leaves, transfer them to a larger pot so that the roots have enough space. Gently lift them out of the container. Make sure you disturb the roots as little as possible.
Water the seedlings before removing them, so that the compost does not come off during the transfer
Step 2. Plant each individual seedling in a pot
Find one about 7cm in diameter and fill it with compost. Lightly water the soil and make a hole in the center. Gently place the seedling in the empty space, then fill the hole with compost.
- If you live in a cool climate, plant the chili in pots and keep it indoors. Place it under an indoor growing plant lamp in a warm room.
- You can plant chili plants in the garden when the weather and soil are warm enough.
Step 3. If necessary, use a larger pot
When the chili plant grows, place it in a larger pot. Prepare the container by filling it with compost, then make a hole in the center. Gently pull out the plant, leaving a large amount of compost around the roots to protect them, then place it in the new pot.
- If you want the pepper plant to stay small, keep it in a tight pot to limit its growth.
- The normal progression of the vessels ranges from 7 cm in diameter to 15 cm, up to 20 cm.
Step 4. Make sure the plant gets light and heat
Place the chili near a window, or place it outdoors to receive sunlight, bringing it back inside when the temperature drops. The light received by the plant directly affects the speed of growth and the size it will reach.
If you keep the plant indoors where it doesn't get a lot of sunlight, buy a mini-ground or indoor grow light (which you can find on the internet or at garden stores)
Method 3 of 3: Transplant the Chili Pepper into the Garden
Step 1. Plant the chili
Find a sunlit spot in the garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, then dig a hole large enough for the plant. Use a pitchfork to dig some of the soil at the base of the hole and sprinkle a handful of compost inside. Gently insert the plant and fill the empty space with a 1: 1 mixture of soil and compost.
Plant the chillies at least 45cm apart to provide enough space for them to grow
Step 2. Water and feed plants regularly
In hot, sunny weather, water the chili every day to keep it hydrated. Avoid using too much water, making sure the soil is moist, but not soggy. Feed the plants with a generic fertilizer (which you can find at garden stores) once every two weeks.
Step 3. Keep the plants warm
Chillies should only be transplanted outdoors in areas with a hot climate or very long summers. In the second case, it is best to move them outdoors in June. Purchase a tarp or plastic cover (a protective hemisphere that covers the plant and penetrates the soil around it) to protect the plants in case of cold, unseasonable days.
Advice
- Pick the peppers off the plant as often as possible to keep production going and to make sure the weight of the fruit doesn't cause it to bend.
- Tie the plants to a trellis as soon as you notice that they bend so they don't fall to the ground.
- Before transplanting peppers into the garden, get them accustomed to the weather by leaving them out of the house for a couple of hours a day, for a week or two.
