Get to grips with growing this fiery crop and enjoy bumper harvests of spicy fruits Give a helping hand to these vital garden critters with our expert advice
SIMPLE STEP-BY-STEP
The edible with a difference, chillies are a fantastic crop to grow as they produce a flavour-sensation unlike any other. The intensity of the heat depends on the variety you are cultivating as well as at what stage of ripeness you pick the fruits – the longer they mature the hotter they get! Suited to container growing, they are great for beginners, or experienced growers who want to experiment with new and exotic types. They are also one of the first crops which can be sown this year, so for all those with itchy green-fingers you are in luck!
If you like to start growing crops as soon as you can in the new year then chillies are one of the earliest – towards the end of January you can start sowing many different varieties. Begin by filling small pots or seed trays with seed compost.
Choose a high-quality compost from a reputable supplier to help get your chillies off to a good start. Finish filling the seed tray cells and tamp down the surface of the soil so they are even and the there is nice flat surface for you to work with.
Use a small dibber or equivalent (a pen will do) to make small holes in the soil. Don’t be excessive with the number of pots you prepare, just go with the amount you want and a few spare to prevent excess work and waste later on.
Get the packet of seeds ready – don’t throw this away until you’ve made a note of the variety, or you will have surprise chillies later in the season! Sow a few seeds in each pot or seed tray section, and store any remaining in a seed tin for use next year.
Give the seed trays a good water. You will need to monitor the moisture levels as your seeds germinate and keep the compost evenly moist. It is important to make sure they are not sitting in water, as this can cause the seedlings to rot.
Be sure to label the containers with the plant name and variety so that there is no confusion when you begin growing other crops. Being able to look up the variety is also helpful when it comes to checking the crop’s specific care needs and ascertaining ripeness.
If sown in spring you can move your seeds to a warm greenhouse, but for early sowings place them in a heated propagator or cover the pots with clingfilm. Once seeds have germinated, pots can be taken out and put on
