Chilli peppers!!

[Call_Me_Bob]

has anyone ever had chilli peppers? im interested, but know nothing! can i get them locally as plants not seeds? culture info would be lovely!

[Izzie]

Google chili pepper culture/care.

[Triffid]

I treated them like a bog standard houseplant, didn't let the media dry out to much, feed regular etc.

All I know (for me) is they grow like wildfire and quickly outgrew the windowsill I had them on (wish I had a green house). I would also add they can be a bit of a pest attractor, so watch out for that.

From seedling to a litre ice-cream tub full of Chillis from one plant in one season. initial outlay 50p per plant.

Growing regimes may vary between types, but other than that they seemed relatively easy to me.

Will I grow them again?.... When I have a green house, Yes

Cleaning, chopping and putting them in a bottle and filling said bottle with oil also provides another quick and easy option for future use.

[stefpix]

Fatalii's Growing Guide

that is a good site. You can "bonsai" the chili peppers and overwinter them on a bright windowsill. I got a bunch. I like the habaneros/scotch bonnets taste wise and teh shape. But it seems the Thai types grow faster/ smaller leaves and faster at producing fruits.
If Habaneros are too spicy [some are crazy spicy but have also a fruity flavor] there is a cultivar called suave taht is milder. found at the Botanic Garden. I also bought fresh hot peppers imported from the Caribbean at a west indian market and the seeds sprouted. I got into it because i needed to make a spray to deter squirrels from digging some plants and seems to work. Now I find a lot of plants on sale at hardware stores, HD etc. got 2 Scotch bonnets for a dollar.

[johnblagg]

Peppers should be very easy for you.I grow the ornamental types all the time and they are usually very hot too...Last year did a huge bed of them and the only thing they really wanted was lots of water and a shot of miracle grow once a month.They realy do like to stay evenly moist.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Stefpix- fatalii's is what sparked My interest in the first place! I wanted them for the bonsai aspect. My gramma grows some Thai chili peppers that, IMO, are up there heat wise with habenero. But fatalii's didn't have anything about how much to water them.


I called the local garden center. They said they have explosive ignite, explosive blast, and black pearl ornamental chilis. The most expensive ones they have are $6 so I will hopefully be able to get one or two soon. I will check out HD.

[stefpix]

I like the taste of Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets better than the Thai types. Heat varies. If you remove seeds and placenta they get less hot. Habanero types have a fruity and a flavor that other chile types I tried lack. If you want to grow them under lights you could start them from seeds now.

[Call_Me_Bob]

I dOnt have any lights. Sadly. How would I germinate the seeds if I don't have lights? Would I just have to wait until spring? I'm getting excited about this when the plants get a woody stem, is it hard like a tree branch, or does it retain more water in it?

[stefpix]

they can germinate in a bright windowsill I think

[johnblagg]

They will get a more woody stem but not as woody as a actual shrub.And yes germination is pretty easy plant them in a pot and use saran wrap over it to keep mosture in and in lower light untill they sprout up then remove the plastic and gradually put in higher light They wont need much light to germinate and a cfl will be good enough...or a window sill