This guide will show you how to grow chili peppers of all types in your own home garden and includes answers to many of your growing questions, such as pepper plant spacing, sun needs, length of growing season, chili pepper growing tips and more.
Let's talk about growing chili peppers. Chili peppers start off a bit slow, so it is helpful to start to grow your plants indoors a few weeks (anywhere from 8-12 weeks) before transferring them outside. Keep the early soil and budding plants constantly moist, but do not over water.
Keep them warm (80 -85 degrees F is best) and in a sunlit place. If this is your first time growing your chili peppers from seeds, learn more about growing chili peppers from seed.
Once there is no worry of frost, you can plant your pepper plants to your garden or chosen spot. Choose a location with full sunlight, as chili peppers LOVE the sun. Mix in some mushroom compost or other organic compost to make the soil fertile and moist.
How much space do peppers need to grow?
Space the chili pepper plants 18 - 36 inches apart with about 2 -3 feet between rows. The plants will eventually grow to nearly 3 feet high.
Water! Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soaking wet. Chili peppers love water as much as they love sun, but you don't want to inundate the plants, or you run the risk of rotting. Water every other day or every third day. Include a good plant food product. Learn more about growing chili peppers in the ground or garden.
Keep your chili pepper garden well weeded. You don't want nasty weeds stealing the water from your chili peppers.
Learn more about growing and harvesting chili peppers through the links below, including:
Best Soil for Growing Chili Peppers
Choose a good quality soil or potting mix for growing your pepper that allows for good drainage. Add compost or manure before planting if you’d like.
Watering Your Pepper Plants
As with growing chili peppers in general, keep the soil moist but do not overwater them. For pepper plants in pots or containers, do not let the soil dry out completely. When peppers start to grow, cut back on your watering schedule a bit, but again, do not let the soil dry out.
Optimal Growing Temperature for Growing Chili Peppers
The ideal growing temperature for chili pepper plants is between 70-90 F (21-32 C).
Best Fertilizer for Growing Chili Peppers
Tomato fertilizers work well for chili pepper plants, as do compost and well-rotted manure. A good 5-10-10 fertilizer is usually sufficient for peppers. Work it into the soil before transplanting, about 3 pounds per 100 square feet. We use a solution of fish emulsion and seaweed.
Once the peppers begin to appear, fertilize one more time. You can also use manure or compost, which releases more slowly into the soil. Much, however, is affected by your soil, so you may want to consider a soil test if you are having issues.
Diseases and Pests That Affect Pepper Plants
Stay vigilant with your pepper plants. Keep a constant eye out for common diseases like bacterial spot, mildew or rotting. Pests like aphids or spiders are common as well, so watch out for them.
Frequently Asked Questions about Growing Chili Peppers
I get a lot of questions about growing chili peppers. Here are some of the most frequent.
Do chili plants need sun or shade?
Chili peppers grow nicely in full sun. They will grow in partial shade, but they won't be as productive. A sunny spot is best. I have very successfully grown many varieties of chili peppers under my backyard deck, which is about 12 feet high. There is partial shade, but the garden gets a good dose of sunlight, so they grow very well.
How long does it take to grow peppers?
The length of growing time for chili peppers varies from pepper to pepper, though most mature in 60-150 days, which is a big range. Sweeter peppers typically mature in 60-90 days, with hotter peppers taking longer.
Consider, though - the number of days to maturity noted on seed packets means h the days after transplanting until the pepper plant bears mature peppers. It does not take into consideration the time it takes from planting seeds to growing into a seedling that you can transplant, which is about 8-10 weeks, so keep this in mind.
How long does a pepper plant take to bear fruit?
The length of time for chili pepper plants to start bearing peppers varies from pepper to pepper, though most mature in 60-150 days, which is a big range. Sweeter peppers typically mature in 60-90 days, with hotter peppers taking longer, up to 150 days.
What is the best food for chili pepper plants?
A good 5-10-10 fertilizer is usually sufficient for peppers. Work it into the soil before transplanting, about 3 pounds per 100 square feet. We use a solution of fish emulsion and seaweed.
Once the peppers begin to appear, fertilize one more time. You can also use manure or compost, which releases more slowly into the soil. Much, however, is affected by your soil, so you may want to consider a soil test if you are having issues.
How long can you keep chili plants?
Most chili pepper plants will only last a season in your garden, but if you transplant them and bring them indoors, and treat them to good conditions, you can keep them through the year and possibly longer. Some people have reported keeping their pepper plants for 3 years or longer.
Can you save seeds from your chili pepper plants and use them to grow plants later?
Absolutely! As a chili pepper grower, you may want to save the seeds from your current batch of chili peppers rather than purchase new seeds each year. Saving seeds also saves money, and ensures your harvest will include your very favorite peppers from season to season.
Luckily for us, chili peppers lend themselves to easy seed saving. Harvesting the seeds is a simple process, and they require very little effort to dry and store.
Chili Pepper Growing Tips
For successfully growing peppers, keep these growing tips in mind.
Do Not Over Water Your Pepper Plants
Pepper plants love their water, of course, and they need a steady supply, but peppers won't grow well in overly saturated soil. It waterlogs their roots. Use soil that retains moisture yet has proper drainage. Mulch is useful to prevent water evaporation.
If you are uncertain about watering, don't. Never over-water. Most diseases and growing problems are due to overwatering.
Do Not Overfertilize Your Pepper Plants
Using a lot of fertilizer may help the pepper plant to develop bright leaves and flowers, but hinders pepper production. A good 5-10-10 fertilizer is usually sufficient for peppers. Work it into the soil before transplanting. We use a solution of fish emulsion and seaweed.
Pinch Your Pepper Plants for Bushier Plants
When the pepper plant is about six inches high, clipping the growing tip will result in a bushier plant. Remove any flowers that appear early, as the early flowers diminish the plants overall energy.
Got any further questions? Ask away! I'm happy to help. Feel free to contact me anytime and I will do my best to answer your questions. -- Mike H.
Tom says
After 3 months the Carolina Reaper have had a lot of flowers, but no peppers are budding. This time last year I have several peppers on each plant. Your thoughts?
Mike Hultquist says
Tom, usually it is a temperature issue. When it's too hot (or even too cold), this can happen. Also, it's possible they could use more fertilizer, though temperature is a big factor.
Ian M. says
Hey just wanted to start with love the recipes, I'm going to be fermenting in a big way this summer! My question is about thinning peppers off of the plant. I have a couple Thai chillies growing in my garden and they are LOADED with chillies. They are all quite green and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to remove a few to help the others rippen? Thanks!
Mike Hultquist says
Ian, I wouldn't worry at this stage. Most plants are good about only growing pods they can support. Enjoy the peppers!
Nathan says
How well will a pepper plant grow if it's always in a windowsill and never gets transplanted to outdoors? I live in an apartment complex, so no place outside to legally transplant it, and I'm only growing 1 pepper plant, so I'm hoping for the best.
Watering every other day is good I hope?
Mike H. says
Hi Nathan, growing a pepper plant solely on a windowsill can be challenging, but it's definitely possible with proper care. Make sure you give it plenty of sunlight, the windowsill is not too drafty or cold, the container ls large enough, the soil is well-drained, etc. AS for the watering... every other day might be too frequent, especially if the soil retains moisture well. You probably want to water your pepper plant when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Stick your finger into the soil to check for moisture. I am really excited for your experience, so please keep me posted!
Glenn Huszti says
What is your experience with Fabric grow bags for peppers if you have used them before?
Mike Hultquist says
Glenn, grow bags can be a great way to grow peppers where space is limited. They give you mobility, so you can move them around to sun or shade as needed. Just be sure to give them enough water.
Glenn Huszti says
Thanks for the feedback.
Mld says
Thanks for reply. I will try repotting. It will have to remain indoors I’m afraid as outdoors in Scotland temperatures are only now reaching mid teens Centigrade and getting colder as autumn advances. I was rather too late sowing seed but thought I would give it a try anyway.
Mld says
Why are the the dead flowers complete with stalks dropping from plant afterwards. Grown indoors and probably not at optimum temperature but plant seems healthy.
Mike Hultquist says
Issues like this can happen for a number of reasons, including disease, over watering, under watering, using too much fertilizer. It's obviously the sign of an unhealthy plant. The issues are magnified in pots because the growing environment is so much smaller. You might try repotting the plant with different soil, or moving it outside to grow, if possible.
Kat says
i transplanted my seedlings i had grown from seeds into a larger pot and they have been in full sun at least 8 hours a day but they haven’t
developed in over 10 weeks. they are still green but haven’t grown mush if at all.
any suggestions?
Sallie says
One of my plants has green leaves but the fruits are turning yellow on just this plant. Any idea why and are they ok to eat?
All my others have turned red after the green phase
Thanks
Mike Hultquist says
Sallie, what type of pepper? Some peppers do turn yellow in color naturally. If they are firm, not soft or showing any signs of rot or withering, they could be just fine.
Erin says
My poblano plants are covered with peppers, but they seem to have stopped growing at about 2-3 inches. They've been the same size for about a month. The plants look healthy, but the peppers just aren't getting any bigger and some appear to be turning reddish.
Mike Hultquist says
Erin, when they turn reddish, they are maturing and will eventually need to be picked. Some plants don't produce large pods. A lot depends on the growing conditions.
Joko Prihanto says
very good tips
Millette says
How do you treat the bugs that appear on your chili plants? I have a very young plant and it appears that it has aphids or a small white insect on the stems.
Mike Hultquist says
A popular way to deal with aphids on your pepper plants is to mix dish soap with water in a spray bottle, then gently spray the plants every few days. This will help keep them away.
JOSEPH KARIUKI says
I miss pepper farming
John says
To all of you who have flowers but no fruit, i just wanted to say, even if peppers are self pollinating and pollinate very easily, if they grow in pots, they need blow from a fan or light shaking to get pollen from pistil to stigma, else very few of them will fruit.
Jagdish says
Hi mike,
I love to grow Aji Sivri chili pepper ,but where I can get the authentic seeds ?
Please let me know.
I will appreciate it.
Thank you
jagdish
Mike Hultquist says
Check out my seed resources page on the site: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/resources/chili-seeds/
Selina says
Hi, I grew my plants in an Aerogarden but both times once the plant had flowered it died, do I need to pollinate the flowers like a cucumber?
Mike Hultquist says
Selina, no, the issue is likely caused by a lack of nutrients for the plants.
Zvi Goldstein says
Hi Mike.
I have just bought a bush full with peppers. Would I get another harvest from the same bush, after using the current ones. I placed the plant in a full sun area, and the plant was transplanted into a pot.
Thank you
Zvi
Anaheim CA.
Mike Hultquist says
It's possible if you keep the plant alive. It could potentially start producing again next season.
Joey says
why is my red hot chili pepper plant only producing one (1) fruit? It is growing straight up, with dark green leaves, and I'm only seeing one pepper that is growing. Thank you in advance for the response.
Joey
Oak Ridge, NC
Mike Hultquist says
Joey, it's possibly weather related if temps/conditions aren't steady, or a nutrient issue. You might test your soil, consider adding more phosphorus and potassium, or spraying with some Epsom salt for magnesium, which aids blooming.
Joey says
hi again Mike, I added Epsom salts and my plant has grown with additional branching. I'm in zone 7B and it's already mid-late September 2022. Should I expect any more pepper to emerge? Or, is now the time to transplant the entire plant into a pot and bring it inside for the fall/winter season here in NC. Thank you,
-Joey
Mike Hultquist says
Joey, you should still see some activity through October, as the plants should be pretty active in Zone 7B, really until we start getting frost.
Russell says
Hi. In full sunlight, the leaves on my chilli plants drupe really quickly, is this natural? This is my first attempt, so sorry if that’s a stupid question. I am growing a Trinidad Scorpio Plant.
Mike Hultquist says
Russell, usually that means they need more water/moisture.
David says
Hi Mike!
Great article with lots of very useful information. I noticed in your pictures that you stake your plants but I didn't see mention of it in the article. Can you give us some staking tips? What's your preferred stake and what do you use to tie off to the plant for support?
Thanks for the help!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
No special tips, really. Lately I've been using larger composite stakes for stability with clips that hold them together, surrounding the plants. I use them more for tomatoes, as most of my pepper plants are good on their own. Garden tape is useful as well.
CJJ says
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT CHILI PEPPERS I AM GROWING THEM IN POTS ON BALCONY AND THEY ARE GROWING WELL BUT NOTICED YESTERDAY 2 OF MY LEAVES HAVE HOLES IN IT PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHATS WRONG AND WHAT IS THE REMEDY
THANK YOU
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
CJJ, pests are a common cause of holes in pepper leaves. You might look into a pesticide for the plants.
Tammy Jarrett says
Mike, I have a mystery on my hands, I wonder if you have any advice.
First time growing Scotch bonnets, in a pot, just west of Houston, TX. The plant was doing very well, lots of leaves, lots of fruit. Then I went out of town, my husband set the sprinkler to water twice a day while we were gone. When we came back, the bonnet was dry - apparently the sprinkler wasn't watering it adequately (in a pot, these peppers require water daily right now, it's so hot!). Then a tomato hornworm attacked it, ate tons of leaves and some of the peppers too! I mean I have never seen a hornworm as big as this one, it was HUGE!
Anyway, one or both of these unfortunate events left most of the existing peppers on the plant shriveled, no matter their color. I gave up hoping I could rehydrate them and finally removed them. Newer peppers are nice and plump like they should be.
Question: should I throw the wrinkly peppers away?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sorry to hear, Tammy. That's a bummer. For the wrinkly peppers, they really are best used fresh. I personally would probably still use some that were only a little bit wrinkly, as I would hate to waste them. They could still be good for sauces or dehydrating. But if they are too soft or show any signs of rot, best if they are tossed. UGH.
Jeff says
Thanks Michael, your response was quick. I did just pick them unripe and made Spanish Pique sauce in 12 oz bottles. The different colors made them look interesting but need my ripe scotch bonnet for some punch. Once again thanks and good luck this year!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sounds great, Jeff. I do have some information on how to ripen unripe peppers, in case you need it for next time: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/preserving-chili-peppers/how-to-ripen-unripe-peppers/. The pique sounds perfect! I love it.
Jeff says
Michael, I had a question about ripe fruit. I grow 4 different gardens for peppers. Sweet, 30-50,000 Scoville, scotch bonnet,and then a ghost pepper garden. All ripened and had a good yield with the exception of my 30-50,000 Scoville. That garden ( all 4 gardens grown in pots with same fertilizers) had a high yield but never ripened. Grew tabasco, cayenne, and 5 color Chinese peppers. 10th year pepper growing and that was the first time I went bust for a crop. Just wanted to know if this has happened to you, this year is the biggest effort with 19 varieties and 70 plants. Thanks for your time if you get this comment.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jeff, this is a tough one. I've had some pods that just took FOREVER to ripen, and my issue was the cooling weather. I had to pick them. Temperature actually plays a pretty big role in ripening, especially if it gets too cold. Daytime temps of 70-80 are very good for ripening. Could be those plants were just more sensitive.
Noah Fox says
Hi, I live in Houston Texas and it can get up to over 105 here, this is my first year growing chili peppers and I wondered if I should move my plants into the shade on days in the 95+ category, I’m currently growing ghost, banana, jalapeño, and red chili peppers.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Noah, it could be a good idea, as plants can scorch if they get too much hot sun. Definitely keep an eye on them. Good luck!
Richard says
your information is exelent
Richard
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks!
Jason Henry says
Michael,
I love growing peppers here in Oregon but this year it seems as they peppers I've grown have been really successful except for the fact that I have gotten very little heat with the peppers that I harvested. Jalapenos are flavorful but not hot, Red chili peppers the same, and I like them to have heat to them to spice up my pickled goods. Habaneros are coming ripe now but I'm afraid to test them, I grow them mostly for my friends. My question is, what helps make peppers hot when growing, is there anything I can do to help the process when growing or am I just getting bad seeds or starter plants?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jason, this isn't uncommon. Different factors can affect the pepper heat, including the strain you've started with and environmental factors, such as amount of water, soil pH, nutrients, air temps and more. You can try to stress the pods with a pH boost, little water and good nutrients. Much will come down to experimentation.
Stephen Mason says
Thanks for the advice on growing chilli peppers. I planted my cayenne seeds quite late in July but I’ve got nice plants now that are producing peppers very nicely. I have planted them too close together though. Hopefully we will have a warm autumn here in France so the plants mature in October. It’s hard to find hot peppers outside of the big cities here. Thanks for the advice.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Good luck, Stephen!
Ken T Pepper says
Hi, Mike
Question? Have you ever grown Fish Peppers? I started 6 plants 3 months ago and the variegated ones have tiny round peppers while the semi variegated plants have nice 2-3" peppers. Taste wise they fall between a jalapeño and a serrano and thin flesh. I like them... I'm saving seeds a replant for sure. In my area bugs don't seem to like them... . Thanks Ken
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hey, Ken. I grew these one year and did like them. So many great peppers out there!
Frank says
Hi Mike, I'm in Chicago, growing a whole bunch of different hot peppers. This spring I purchased four plants marked as Carolina Reapers and three marked as Trinidad Scorpions. The leaves of all are identical, as far as I can tell. The peppers of two of the Reapers are, for practical purposes, identical to the Scorpions, a deep green, while the other two are a light green, almost yellow, before they start to ripen to orange then red. Is this a natural variation in Reapers, and so of no concern when they turn red, or am I looking at two extra Scorpions, or something else entirely? Can you help me out?
Best regards,
Frank
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hey, Frank. It's possible that you have different peppers, or hybrids of the reapers, though you can have variation from plant to plant. It will be easier to tell with the final pods. I wouldn't be concerned, as long as the plant and pods are healthy. I lived in the Chicago area for many years and have grown MANY peppers there. Enjoy them!
Jamie says
Hi Mike, love your site and I'm going to try a few of your recipes this weekend! Question on jalapeno plants - This is my first year growing any chili peppers and my jalapeno plant does not have nearly as many peppers as my habanero and ghost pepper plants, and all of the jalepenos that do grow are rotting on the bottom of the pepper, every single one that grows to a decent size has had to be discarded. But my habaneros and ghost peppers, which I expected to be more difficult to grow I can't even keep up with!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jamie, the issue with the jalapenos sounds like blossom end rot, which is a calcium deficiency. You should look into that. Good luck!!
Robert Wolin says
Hi Mike great website. I am in Los Angeles and my 3 chili plants are now bearing small peppers but it 100 degrees outside..what should I do; I can move them into the shade , they are in rather large pots? Thanks for your help
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Robert, too much heat and sun can be bad for chili plants. Keep an eye on them. If they show signs of stress or are not producing peppers, it would be a good idea to move them into a bit more shade if you can.
jeroen says
well I'am a beginning chilli grower but I find myself with the predicament with light that I have available. I put my chillies on the window sill but I 'am scared that they will need to stretch to get light. Is this a problem and if so could I solve this in a cheap way
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jeroen, if there is enough light coming through the window, the plants shouldn't need to stretch. There are special growing lights you can purchase. I would look into those if you're interested.
Varsha says
Hi
Can you please help me my chilli plants have flowers but no chills on the plant .am I doing some thing wrong please advice
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Varsha, when plants don’t fruit it is usually due to temperature, so perhaps it isn’t warm enough, though it is hard to say. Being in too small a pot could be an issue. You might try a good fertilizer as well.
Andy says
Hey. My chilli plant is growing really well, just over 2ft now and growing bigger by the day, however it is Yet to flower and start fruiting. For a while now the stem half way has been turning black but hasn’t stunted the growth. When can I expect the flowing and fruiting to begin and should I be more concerned about the blackening?
Andy says
The plant is in my conservatory which is warm and gets lots of natural sunlight and watered to make sure the soil is moist, but not water logged.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Andy, when plants don't fruit it is usually due to temperature, so perhaps it isn't warm enough, though it is hard to say. Being in too small a pot could be an issue. You might try a good fertilizer. Stems can darken as they grow and strengthen. I wouldn't be concerned unless you see any sort of fuzzy growth, which could be infection.
Patty says
I am growing cayenne peppers. I planted them from seedlings in March and have a bunch of peppers but they are not turning red yet. I did a mix of good compost and soil plus feed. They get watered every 2-3 days with the irrigation system and get plenty of sunlight. This is the first year they are not red yet. Am I being impatient? Any suggestions?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
It sounds like you are doing things properly, Patty. Temperature could be a factor. If it is not warm enough, perhaps overnight, the pepper ripening could be held back.
Khalid Waliullah says
Hi there. Thanks for your awesome website. I've got a couple serrano plants that are in pots and are growing well, they're about 3-3.5 ft tall but with few leaves and flowers. There are some flowers at the tops of the plants, and they've started making maybe 2-3 peppers. Is it to late to pinch the flowers off? Should I harvest the peppers to make the plant grow more? Thank you for your help!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Khalid, it really depends on the length of your growing season. If you have a long time left, which you very likely do, you can still pinch off flowers.
Robert Burns says
Hey Michael. Love all the tips and advice. Can I use artificial light to speed up growth. I live in Edinburgh and long hours of natural sunlight days can be few and far between. Many thanks.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Robert, yes, artificial lights help people grow plants in places like basements or through the winter. I have not personally used them, but definitely something for you to look into.
Robert says
Hi Michael. Just to revisist my original question about artificial lights. This us my second year of using lights and I have to say it has been very successful. The amount of fruit on my plants has exceeded all my expectations. Also plants I've had difficulty growing in the past IE Trinidad Scorpions, have flourished under artificial lights.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks for sharing, Robert!
Tony Drognes says
Hello.
I have one 3 year old chilliplant in my window. Last year the fruits was really hot and spicy, but this year they hardly taste anything.
Last season there was lots of aphids on the plant, but I got rid of them. And I got new plantlights from Ikea.
Why is the taste gone?
(I live in Norway)
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Tony, many chili pepper plants can be overwintered and last to produce another season (or more), but growing conditions and overall plant health can affect the quality of the pods. There are many possible reasons that could affect the flavor of your pods. Perhaps the soil conditions or fertilizer or just the age of the plant.
akansha chandra says
Hi, i live in India and right now the temperature over here is between 35 to 40 degree Celsius. My chilli plants are growing quite well but they are not producing much fruits. All d plants are under direct sunlight and are given required water (nvr over watered). I did harvest chillies from them in MARCH but now m not getting much chillies. Hardly 3 or 4 out of every plant. Could you please help me with the reason that why m i not getting fruits from them. Is 40 degree Celsius too much for them, do I need to keep them in partials shade or is there any other reason. TIA
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Akansha, if your pepper plants are flowering but not producing peppers, temperature may be a big factor. Peppers thrive at daytime temperatures of 70-85 F (21-29 C) and nighttime temperatures of 60-70 F (15-21 C). Pepper plants do love a lot of sun, at least 6 hours, but the heat can hinder growth.
Steph says
Is 2016 red Chile pepper seeds too old? I found them in my old bag.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Steph, seeds are usually still good for a year, and some for 2 years, but after that they start to lose their viability. They might produce, but fresher seeds are better. Worth a try, maybe.
Steven RömHead says
Hello sir! My habanero plants are about 12"-14" tall right now and they're already starting to produce baby peppers - should I pinch these off? Seems REALLY early for peppers to be produced!
Thanks for all the work you do for us hot-heads out here 🙂
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hello, Steven! Thanks so much. You can pinch them off, or at least some of them, to allow the plant to grow larger. It will produce more pods in the long run. Let me know how it goes for you! Good luck with the habaneros!
Steven RömHead says
Thanks a ton for that info. I'm definitely growing these for maximum overall output, so I pinched most of the little buds... Except for one, which had already started growing into a full-blown pepper. I can't resist the temptation of having a freshly picked habanero sooner than later 😀
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I hear you there, Steven! Good luck with the growing season!
Aanya Shah says
Hi, I planted Chili Pepper Seeds in a pot a couple days ago. How often should I water them?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
2-3 times a week is sufficient for seeds. Be sure to have good drainage and don't soak the soil.
Peter Carson says
Hi Mike,
I have about 30 plants growing in my window sill and they are all healthy, I am wondering how often if I can would I add tomato feed to the water for watering the chillis.
Kind Regards
Peter
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Peter, you can use tomato feed for pepper growing, but beware of high nitrogen content, which can cause good growth but at the expense of pepper fruit.
Al says
Hello Mike,
Thank you for a very informative web site.
I have successfully grown jalapeno chilies for two or three seasons. This season I was given some "Wildfire" seeds from a friend, I sprouted the seeds and planted the seedlings about mid September, (I'm in New Zealand, that is the beginning of Spring). I expected to harvest around early / mid March.
I have very healthy plants with LOTS of fruit, but (there's always a but), none of the fruit is even looking like it's going to go red.
The weather is now starting to become cooler, and I'm concerned I will have to harvest green chilies, as they are in a garden bed bringing them inside is not an option.
Should I just leave them and hope they go red? Will the cooler weather harm them? Or is there some "magic" I can perform to force them to go red?
Any advice is appreciated
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hello, Al. There isn't any special way to get the peppers to ripen more quickly on the plant, other than making sure the plant is happy, well fed, good soil, etc. If the climate is rough, the plants might not produce as much or ripen fully. The cooler weather won't hurt the plants, but may slow things. Frost is what you want to watch out for, which will kill the plants. You can pick the peppers and ripen them on a windowsill, or place them in a paper bag with a ripe tomato, which can help speed up ripening. Let me know if any of this works for you. Good luck.
William says
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the great information.
I have three 6-packs of pepper plants ready to transplant - bell, jalapeno, and anaheim.
There is room to plant 3 feet apart.
What is the preference when there is please of room?
How far apart in your garden generally?
Or does it depend on type of pepper?
Thanks,
William
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
William, if you have the room, 3 feet apart is best to give them plenty of room to grown. Good luck!
Jordan says
Hi there,
Just wondering if my chilli's would grow better planted in the ground in a spot that gets sun for only the first half of the day, or if they would do better in pots with me shifting them around into the sun (I do not have much room where I currently live). I live in New Zealand and have jalapenos in 15L pots and Red Thai Birds in an 11L pot. My jalapenos only seem to grow to about 2 inches and the thai birds so far have only produced to about 1 inch and smaller with an abundance of flowers and tiny fruit that dont seem to be growing to the size they should.
please help! thanks!! 🙂
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Jordan. It's hard to say, as there are many factors that can affect growing conditions, though I have found it more difficult to grow in pots. I'd certainly give it a try, though, if possible, or do both and wee which plants perform the best.
Ashley says
Hello,
What an amazing article! I have recently planted my chili’s and they are thriving. Though they are actually getting rather large. They are super bushy. I planted 5 in a planted about 50x150x80 cm. Is there a correct way i should be supporting them. At the moment they each have a large stake but i am not sure if they’ll start to intertwine. Should i be pulling off some of the lower stalks to thin them out a bit? Thanks!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Ashley, that's probably OK, and sometimes the plants can intertwine a bit if they get very large. I've had this happen. If you do want to prune them back a bit, don't do so until they are at least a foot tall. Let me know how it goes.
Anabela says
Hi Michael.
Apologies if this question had been asked before. My chili plants are riddled with aphids. They have already killed one chili plant. How can I get rid of the aphids naturally and for good? Thank you.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Anabela, there are several ways to combat an aphid infestation. A blast of cold water may remove them from the plants. Try dusting the plants with flour, which constipates them. Insecticidal soap and certain oils designed for this are helpful, so look for products you can purchase to fight them. There is a product called Diatomaceous earth (DE), which is organic and non toxic you might try. Another method is to spray the plants with a mix of soap and water, sometimes mixed with a bit of spicy chili powder, like cayenne. Good luck!
Roberto says
Mike,
I have had a lot of success with Neem Oil. It is organic and has worked well in controlling aphids and any other bugs that come along. I am in Florida and we have aphids most of the year.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Roberto!
Sylvia says
I have had great success with a few drops of Tabasco in a hand spray bottle. (Wear a mask because it is quite powerful stuff if you breathe it in.)
Kort says
Great tips - love all the stuff you post Michael!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Kort! I appreciate it!!
Hana says
I have a question. My chilli plant was over watered but I think it’s recovering now - this is my first time & the plant looks more livelier then it was 3 days ago.
Yesterday a flower bloomed & one today. I read your post & nipped them both. My plant is fairly small & is in a pot. Do you think it will survive?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Haha, if you are still early in your growing season and the plant seems strong, it should survive. Keep taking care of it and an eye on it and watch if it continues to grow and eventually develop new flowers. Overwatering can really cause a lot of problems for plants, so hopefully you caught that early enough. Let me know how it goes.
Preston says
Have you guys had ANY luck battling bacterial leaf spotting? That’s been a huge problem for me in Hawaii. From most of my research and attempts at treatment, it seems to pretty much be a death sentence. Which is a bummer.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I have not personally encountered this, Preston. From my understanding, warm, wet conditions are ideal for bacterial infections, which is very common in Hawaii. So much of it has to do with choosing proper seeds, irrigation and soil management. I wish I could help more on this one.
Ravi says
Because of over rainfall few chilli plants are died is there any precautions to save are any fertilizer r pesticides for the good results
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
It's hard to say, Ravi. Too much rain can definitely destroy a good harvest. I don't know if there is a way for you to build your garden beds up so there is more runoff for the plants. That might help in the future.
Huda says
Hi! My chillies’ leaves are shrivelling. It’s my first time growing them. What should I do?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Huda, make sure you are watering your plants enough and you may need a nutrient/fertilizer to help them. And make sure they are getting enough sun.
Nickelsen says
Can I keep them outdoor year round in Malaysia? How long can a plant last? Always 30C. If planting seed then I guess I would plant them anytime outdoor directly
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
If you have very consistent weather and proper conditions, some pepper plants can last for years outside. And yes, you can plant them outside from seed, though indoors you'll have more control.
Todd says
This is my second year growing peppers. I grow them in a 12 inch high 4x8 foot raised bed filled with a mixture of compost, topsoil, and peat moss. Plants are started from seed in January and transplanted at the end of April (coastal Virginia, zone 7). I use a 5-5-5 organic fertilizer at time of planting and thenabout every 2 weeks I give them a drink of Neptune’s Harvest Tomato and Vegetable fertilizer. They also receive 1 inch of water weekly (I check the soil daily). My problem is my plants are always small (about 2 feet tall) and the peppers they produce are also small (jalapeños and Serrano’s for example are only 2-3 inches long). I am scratching my head over this. Any ideas?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Todd, it sounds like you are doing a lot of things right, so it could come down to little things as to why your pods are so small. First, jalapeno plants typically grow about 2 feet tall, so that's normal. They can grow larger or smaller. 2-3 inches is on the small side for the pods. It could come down to soil conditions, even warmth of soil at time of planting. You could always grow multiple seedlings and only choose the strongest with multiple leaf clusters and tallest. We use a 5-10-10 fertilizer worked into the soil before transplanting, about 3 pounds per 100 square feet. We also use a solution of fish emulsion and seaweed. It's also possible the plants are not planted far enough apart. You could try giving them more space to see if they grow larger next year. Let me know if this helps.
Melissa says
I received New Mexico hatch Chile seeds as a gift after a trip to NM. I live in southern New England. Is it too late the plant and expect peppers?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Melissa, you should look up your particular gardening zone to see when is best to grow from seed. I believe it's too late at this point. You may want to save the seeds.
David B says
I’m growing a Chile piquín plant and also a Chile de árbol plant bought at a nursery in the Los Angeles area. They are both flowering a lot but nothing is sticking (growing). I did not fertilize before planting. Any suggestions?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
David, I'm not sure what zone you're in, but if it's early in your season, you can pick off the flowers to give the plant time to grow more and strengthen enough to support peppers. Add some mulch to the top of the soil to hold in moisture. Fertilize for the first 2-3 weeks, once/week, and see if that helps.
Carla says
Hi,
I planted my seeds months ago because I have a very limited growing season under grow lamps. I have quite a few plants but have not have any flowers or fruits on them. I am considering moving them outside soon as we recently had our last frost (I hope). Any suggestions on what to do for them to start producing flowers/fruits? They are currently about 3 inches high.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Carla, I wouldn't move them outside until the temps are above 55 degrees and warmer. Make sure to fertilize the seedlings lightly at planting, then one a week for a couple weeks. Give them plenty of sun, and don't overwater, but keep the ground very slightly moist, not wet. Good luck!
Naim says
Can i use neem oil on my chillie plant to get rid of bugs could you please tell me how to mix and apply
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
You can try it, Naim. Just be sure to follow the instructions properly. Please let me know how it works out for you.
Robert says
Powdered Sevin is an important product for growing hot green chiles here in SW Indiana..While the common Anaheim varietal is fairly easy to grow, the Barker, Big Jim’s and Sandia types will normally turn yellow and die due to the numerous contagion carried by insects..A proper, non-systemic pesticide eliminates thrips and aphids fast..A simple Q-Tip can be used, along with bloom set, to ensure pollination with great efficiency..Without the Sevin, you’ll be asking for trouble here..cheers
Edward Hutchins says
Hi Michael,
In need of some real help. I started growing some Carolina reapers about 3 moths ago, which in reterospect seems a bit early now. Despite this, my plants seemed to sprout and grow to about 5 or 6 inches fine at a windowsill. It seems now that their growth has been stunned. Some of the tips of the leaves have turned black, and all of the leaves are falling off. They are receiving about 12 hours of sunlight/day at the moment. Cheers.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Edward, sorry to hear. Issues like this can happen for a number of reasons, including disease, over watering, under watering, using too much fertilizer. It's obviously the sign of an unhealthy plant. The issues are magnified in pots because the growing environment is so much smaller. You might try repotting them with different soil, or moving them outside to grow, if possible. Not sure of your location. Let me know how it goes.
Matthew Triggs says
Hi Mike !
I planted a batch of red capsicum chilli seeds, they've all grown very well and they are very healthy, but I had about 60 seeds in a training pot and they grew to about 6 inches and when I replanted them I didn't plant them spaciously, all 60 of them are bundles up against each other, will this affect they're chilli bearing ability ?
Regards.
Matthew.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Matthew. The issue with planting pepper plants too close together is that they grow and crowd each other, which can inhibit growth and production. It is best to space them apart to give them room to grown and produce peppers.
Matt says
Hi. I live in England and it’s mid-April. The temperature is in mid teens. Should I plant my chilli’s (about 5 inches tall) in post or directly into the ground soil?
Thanks, Matt
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Matt, the optimal temps for growing your peppers is 70-90 F (21-32 C), so sounds like you should wait for things to warm up a bit. If not possible, and the plants are strong, you can plant them into the soil. It might make sense, though, to keep them indoors a bit longer to strengthen up and for temps to rise, is possible.
Richard says
I was trying to get an early start on a few varieties of semi hot peppers, the plants are now surprisingly starting to flower ! I havethem under some led and fluorescent Lights I was hoping to pot them up to bigger pots as there just in the solo cups but now I’m not sure what to do , we still have another month before I can plant them outside, do you think I should pinch off the flowers or pot them up and see what happens ! Great site thanks ????
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
If the plants are small, Richard, pinching off the leaves will give them time to strengthen up. Any pods that grow now would be quite small, as the plant couldn't really support much. I'd probably pinch them off. Let me know how it goes.
Jason S says
Mike,
Can chili peppers grow well in a 3.5 gallon bucket?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes, you can do that. But you might want to start with a smaller pot and move it/them into the larger bucket.
Chillihead Scottish Variant says
Out of interest, is sunlight absolutely necessary? I live in Scotland and it can be overcast here for days of weeks or even months on end, regardless of season. Are there any viable alternatives to natural sunlight which can produce similar results?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sunlight is quite important in growing chili peppers and other types of plants. I think you'd be able to grow something there, but not sure how strong the plants would be or how much fruit they would produce. There are artificial lights that can be purchased for growing peppers indoors you might check out. Something like that might be helpful. Or perhaps a green house with lighting inside.
Ivanda says
Hello,
I started growing peppers for the first time.. I followed some of tips from shopkeeper in my country.. I put peppers in container and covered them with transparent plastic sheet, watered them 2 times in 3 days.. First when I put them in soil and second time after 3 days.. Now I can see some white or gray layer on some holes on soil.. Can you tell me something more about that and how to stop that?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Ivanda, it could be a form of white mold growing on the soil. You can drizzle in some apple cider vinegar or some baking soda to act as an anti-fungal. They won't harm the plant, if that is the issue. Let me know if this helps.
Jim says
This is a great guide! I live in an apartment,and was hoping to grow them indoors. Is there any particular advice for growing them in a smaller container that could sit on a table indoors? Thankfully direct sunlight is not a problem
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jim, I have some links to growing indoors and in pots on this page - Growing Chili Peppers. I hope you find the information useful. Good luck!
Erinn says
Good morning! I’m growing Chilli peppers for the first time as a part of an informal competition, and I’m wondering if you have any specific or further tips to help with getting the largest harvest you can over a season 😀 Any advice is welcome! How long should I be pinching off flowers?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Fish emulsion works best for my garden, Erinn. Just make sure your soil is as good as it can be, and water properly. For pinching, do so for the first 2-3 weeks to allow the plants to focus energy on developing strong roots and leaves. Good luck! Let me know how it goes!
Kat Sanchez says
How often do I need to fertilize my potted pepper plant?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Kat, usually you only need to fertilize early, then when peppers start to produce, but a bit more if growing in pots.
Anne says
Hi, Mike! Two questions--
1. I was hoping to buy one of your cookbooks directly from you, but when I click the link, it goes nowhere. Can you advise?
2. I have an Apache chili, a Tabasco and a Naga viper in a south-east facing window. I brought them in from the greenhouse this week, because this is western Canada and it snowed yesterday. My question is, I have already taken a good harvest off of the Apache and Naga Viper, but they keep producing! How long can I expect this harvest to continue? (By the way, this is not a complaint. I love it!)
Thanks for a great website with tonnes of information!
Anne
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Anne. About the books, I had to remove some links so it's best to buy them currently through BN.com or Amazon. Sorry about that.
For the plants, it's GREAT that they are still producing. You can expect them to keep going another month or so, provided they have plenty of sunlight and warmth, and are watered properly as they have been. Sometimes they stifle in pots, though, especially if growing conditions change. You might be able to overwinter them. They'll go more dormant in the winter, but can stay alive in the pots with good conditions, might even bear some fruit, and could potentially become active again in the spring. Let me know how it goes for you! You might consider getting some grow lights if you wanted to keep pushing the plant. I hope this helps!
Lloyd says
What info could you give with regard to
"Small 1/8 to 1/4 inch hole in peppers does not appear in all peppers - as well , do all Annaheim peppers stay green.
One other request please - Where to find recipes for their use.
Thanks. Lloyd
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Lloyd, if you see holes, you've most likely got some sort of work or caterpillar. They could be laying eggs in the peppers, so I would avoid eating them. Just toss them. Also, Anaheim peppers will turn red as they mature. You can find some of my Anaheim Pepper Recipes here, but realistically, you can use Anaheims for many of my Chili Pepper Recipes on the site.
MomTom says
Hi there. Thanks for this article. I have a scotch bonnet plant purchased at a local nursery. It has lots of firm, green fruit on it but now some of the largest ones have started changing to a brownish color and getting pretty soft. I cut the first one off because I thought it was diseased. I left a couple on the plant and they have turned bright red and have firmed up somewhat but they're still softer than I am used to. I have not been gardening long (this is my first pepper harvest ever!) but I have jalapeno and bell peppers (grown from seed) also that are firm throughout the maturing and harvest so I wasn't sure if the plant is messed up or if this is normal. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks. PS I am in Las Vegas, no pest issues, 5 gal self-watering container if this info sheds more light.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
MomTom, it sounds like you might have Blossom End Rot, which is a calcium deficiency. Are you experiencing high temperatures? You might want to look into adding some calcium to your soil. Let me know if this helps.
Renate Fuchsluger says
I love your chilirezepts and I want to cook very much .Also I like hot-sosse rezepts.Lovely Greets from Austria
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Greetings Renate!