The primary goal of a chili culture is the rich harvest of aromatic pods with a spicy punch. The way there is paved by understandable instructions, without any technical jargon. Here you will get to know the central aspects of plants and care in a practical way.

Chili plants need a sunny location

Is every type of chili suitable for growing in the home garden?

Among the more than 30 species, 5 candidates have proven to be suitable for cultivation in allotments, on the balcony and in the greenhouse:

  • Capsicum annuum as the most popular chilli species
  • Capsicum chinense with the hottest varieties, such as Habanero
  • Capsicum frutescens, with the famous Tabasco variety

Capsicum baccatum and Capsicum pubescens still maintain the status of a rarity. In terms of their claims, they are at least on par with the three top dogs.

When should advancement begin?

Early sowing is important so that you can harvest in late summer or autumn. Sow the seeds under glass in February or March. In sowing substrate at 25 to 28 degrees, germination begins within 10 to 30 days.

The lower the temperature, the longer the cultivation takes. We therefore recommend a heatable mini greenhouse that creates a humid and warm microclimate.

Which location do the chili plants prefer?

As a tropical plant, chili is one of the typical sun worshipers. As soon as the cotyledons appear, the following site conditions are recommended:

  • sunny position, warm and sheltered
  • the temperature does not fall below 15 degrees
  • at least 6-8 hours of sunshine daily

Blossoms, leaves and pods should be protected from the intense midday sun by shading. This premise applies to a location under glass as well as under the open sky.

When are chillies that have been brought forward repotted?

Seeds first push out 2 cotyledons when they germinate. In the following weeks, several true pairs of leaves will develop on top of this. At the same time, the young plants in the seed pot are getting closer and closer together. At the latest when the leaves are permanently touching, they are repotted.

What should the substrate be like?

Commercial seed and vegetable soil meets all the important requirements. Experienced hobby gardeners prefer the substrate as opposed to their own mixture:

  • Soil for sowing: 8 parts peat, 2 parts each perlite (37.51€) and vermiculite
  • Pot substrate: 1 part each garden soil and compost with a handful of sand or perlite as an addition
  • Bedding soil: fresh, well-drained, humic, nutritious and slightly moist.

Plant chili in the bed at the right time

From mid-May, chilli plants that have been grown by hand or bought ready-made can be placed on the balcony or in the bed. Experience has shown that late frosts are no longer to be feared at this time. If you want to be on the safe side, you can wait until after the cold weather.

  • dig a planting hole with twice the volume of the root ball
  • a drainage made of gravel or crushed potsherds is laid at the bottom
  • Put the chili in the middle, bury it with the substrate and water it well with rainwater

The central factors of care consist of regular watering and 14-day fertilization.

At what distance should chillies be planted?

Depending on the variety, chili plants develop a more or less sprawling habit. With an average planting distance of 50 centimetres, you avoid the danger of tight spaces in the bed.

Which neighboring plants are suitable - which are not?

Chili goes very well with herbs such as basil, thyme or lemon balm. All other nightshade plants such as tomatoes, potatoes or aubergines are less suitable as neighbors.

Can green chili be harvested?

Chili peppers do not ripen after harvest. It is therefore not advisable to pick them when they are green. Ideally, you should wait a few days after the color change and then proceed to harvest.

Propagate by self-harvested seeds

At the same time, the harvest provides plenty of material for propagation in the form of seeds.

  • Halve the pod with a sharp knife
  • Carefully remove the seeds with a teaspoon
  • thoroughly remove the flesh
  • Wear gloves and safety goggles when doing this work

Laid out on kitchen paper, the seeds dry quickly. For storage, we recommend dark screw-top jars with writing.

tips

Chili plants grow better if the bed soil has been preheated with black mulch film for a period of 14 days.

Category:

Vegetable garden