Chilli seeds

How to Grow Capsicum & Chilli (Capsicum annuum)

Ave. Seeds per Gram: ~150  seeds/g

Optimal Seed Germinating Temp. Range: 20 - 32 ℃ (germination in 7-20 days).

Growing Notes:

Feed Requirements:

• Moderate for most chilli varieties; heavy for larger sweet capsicums.
• Incorporate well‑rotted compost before planting and apply an organic liquid fertiliser every 3 weeks until end of February.

Climate & Timing:

In cooler regions start seed indoors at the end of winter. Transplant after frost have passed:

• Late October (on coast of cool regions)
• Mid‑November (inland, higher elevations)

Plants are frost sensitive; soil and night temperatures should consistently exceed a minimum 15℃ before planting out.

Spacing & Depth:

• Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep in trays. Transplant seedlings 40‑60 cm apart in rows, or into large containers.
• Stake plants in windy sites and keep lower branches of large‑fruited types off the soil.

Variety Selection

• Smaller‑fruited chillies mature earlier and prolifically; choose these for cooler districts.
• Sweet capsicums benefit from black plastic mulch to warm soil and promote sweeter, thicker‑walled fruit.

General Care

• Maintain even moisture but avoid waterlogging.
• Mulch (black plastic or organic mulch) to conserve heat and suppress weeds.
• Side‑dress with liquid organic fertiliser every 3 weeks up to late summer.
• For overwintering, pot up or carefully lift plants in March (inland) or early April (coastal) and move into a frost‑free glasshouse, returning outdoors after danger of frost.

Common Problems & Pests

• Cool snaps and cold nights retard or kill plants :  use cloches or sheltered microclimates.
• Aphids and whitefly may colonise tender shoots :  use insecticidal soap or introduce beneficial insects.
• Blossom drop in cold or very hot weather :  maintain night temps above 15°C for good fruit set.

Harvesting Notes

When to Harvest

• Fruit ripen from green to red, orange, or yellow. Early in the season pick full‑sized green capsicums to encourage further flowering; allow later fruit to colour fully.
• Chillies intensify in heat and develop thicker walls as they colour.

How to Harvest

• Cut or snap fruit cleanly from the plant, leaving a short stalk.
• Harvest regularly to promote continuous cropping.
• At season's end, uproot heavily laden chilli plants, shake soil from roots, and hang upside‑down in a dry, shaded, airy place to finish ripening and drying.

 Storage & Use

• Fresh capsicums keep for up to two weeks refrigerated.
• Surplus can be roasted, frozen, or pickled.
• Chillies may be dried whole, ground into flakes, or blended into pastes.

Enjoy the vibrant colours, sweet crunch, and fiery zing of homegrown capsicums and chillies certain to spice up your garden and your plate!