Growing chillies

A diary for the season

This category is a series of posts giving a step-by-step account of what happens in a typical  season of  growing Chillies  in the UK. It begins with the selection and planting of seeds, and will end (after harvesting) with the preparation of some plants for overwintering.

All aspects of growing Chillies will be covered. Various mediums and methods of propagating seeds, including Rockwell cubes, peat pellets, paper towel germination and hydroponics, will be examined. The success or failure achieved with each medium or method will be described.

Once the seeds have germinated, posts will provide advice on how the seedlings should be taken care of.  Other posts will describe the first potting on stage that will need to be done once the plants reach a certain size.  Information will also cover what precautions should be taken to protect the young plants against unwanted pests like fungus gnats and aphids.

Once the plants have outgrown their first pots, the posts will go into the preparation of the compost that they will be transplanted into.   Later in the season, when it gets warm enough outside to place the plants outdoors, the posts will describe how the plants should be prepared for outside exposure.

The next posts will then describe how the plants have been taken care of. This will include any obstacles that have been encountered including pests, weather conditions and anything else that may happen.

Fertilizers and nutrients will be discussed, and the outcomes that are achieved by using specific products. This will include which fertilizers and nutrients to use at each stage in the Chilli plants’ development.

From there, the blooming of the plants, pollination and the arrival of the first Chillies of the season will be covered. Their progression to full sized fruit and harvesting will also be discussed.

The series will then end with information of how the harvested Chillies have been used to make hot sauces, jams, chutneys and various other dishes. The final  posts will also go into how seeds should be prepared and stored for next year’s planting season and how a few select plants will choose for overwintering.

How to Harden Off Your Chilli Plants

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A guide to hardening off

Hardening off chilli plants is essential for their successful transition from indoor environments, where they enjoy stable conditions, to the outdoors, where they will face variable and sometimes harsh conditions. Chilli plants, like other tender plants, are often started indoors to give them a head start before the growing season begins. Indoor environments provide a controlled atmosphere with stable temperatures, consistent moisture levels, and protection from harsh weather conditions.

Imagine spending your entire life in a comfortable, climate-controlled environment and then suddenly being thrust into the wild. This is akin to what happens to chilli plants if they are moved directly from the cozy indoors to theWhere to plant Chillies. unpredictable outdoors without a period of adjustment. The sudden change in light intensity, temperature fluctuations, and exposure to wind and other elements can be a severe shock to their system, manifesting as sunburn on the leaves, wilting, stunted growth, or even plant death.

The hardening off process mitigates these risks by gradually acclimatizing the plants to their new environment. By slowly increasing their exposure to outdoor conditions, chilli plants develop stronger stems, thicker leaves, and more robust root systems, making them better equipped to handle the challenges of growing outside. This step-by-step acclimatization is critical for the health and productivity of your chilli plants, ensuring they thrive and produce bountiful harvests.

Follow this comprehensive guide to hardening off your chilli plants for  the best start in their outdoor life, ensuring they transition smoothly and grow strong and healthy.

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Common chilli growing problems

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Combating  problems

Growing chillies can be both exciting and challenging, offering the satisfaction of cultivating your own flavourful peppers. As you embark on this journey, you’ll encounter various Chilli growing problems  that may hinder your plants’ growth and development, from yellowing leaves caused by nutrient deficiencies or pest infestations to issues like stunted growth, blossom drop, and disease outbreaks. Understanding and addressing these challenges are crucial steps towards achieving a successful harvest.

To combat these issues effectively, it’s crucial to carefully assess your plant’s environment and make necessary adjustments. Ensure proper watering practices, provide adequate nutrients through fertilization, and regularly inspect your plants for signs of pests such as aphids or spider mites. If you suspect a nitrogen deficiency is causing the yellowing, consider fertilizing your plants with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to promote healthy leaf development and combat the issue.

By addressing these Chilli growing problems head-on and implementing proactive measures, you can ensure the health and vitality of your chilli plants, leading to a successful harvest. Remember, with patience and perseverance, you can overcome any obstacles that come your way. If you ever need guidance or assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the  Chilli Workshop. Together, we’ll navigate the intricacies of chilli growing and cultivate thriving plants that yield bountiful harvests. Happy growing!

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Growing Chilli Peppers in the UK

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Getting the basics right

Welcome to Chilli Workshop! We’re passionate about chillies and want to help you grow them in the UK. Even though the UK doesn’t have the best climate for growing chillies, you can still grow lots of chillies here if you know how. Growing your own chillies also helps the environment because it reduces the need to transport them from far away.

Before you start growing chillies, it’s important to understand how the UK’s weather affects plants. Chillies like warm and sunny weather, but with some adjustments, they can grow well in the UK without too much trouble. You just need to pick the right types of chillies,  protect them from the weather and give them tender loving acre .

In the UK, the time for growing chillies is short. So, it’s best to start growing them indoors in January or February. This way, they have enough time to grow strong before they’re ready to go outside. Once the weather is warmer  ( at least above 10 degrees Celsius) , they need to be hardened off and then  you can move them outdoors.

This method helps them grow better and gives you more chillies. During the winter months they stand no chance of surviving. However, when they’re outside, they get natural sunlight and develop as if they have been outside all along . It’s like giving them a boost! With this approach, you can grow lots of tasty chillies right in your backyard. Join us at Chilli Workshop to learn more and start growing your own spicy Chilli  peppers!

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When to plant my Chilli seeds

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hand holding soil with red Chillies next to chilli seedlings in pots

Is it too late?

Wondering when is the best time to start Chilli seeds?  Starting chilli seeds indoors in February or March is ideal in the UK because it allows the seedlings to establish themselves and grow strong before the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter arrive. This timing ensures that your chili plants have ample time to mature and produce a bountiful harvest of Chillies .

However, if you missed the early window for starting seeds, don’t fret! Late spring or early summer still offers an opportunity to grow chili peppers from seed. Capsicum annuum varieties, known for their quicker maturation compared to other chili species, are particularly well-suited for starting later in the season.Hand sowing seeds into a peat pot These varieties include popular options like ‘Cayenne’, ‘Hungarian Wax’, and ‘Anaheim’, among others. They are known for their versatility in cooking and can be used fresh, dried, or pickled.

Furthermore, for those seeking even faster results, there are several quick-growing chilli varieties that are perfect for planting in May or early June. One such variety is ‘Apache’, a compact chili plant that produces small, hot peppers in abundance. Another option is ‘Numex Twilight‘, which not only matures quickly but also offers ornamental value with its colourful peppers that ripen from purple to yellow to orange to red. It is essential for these varieties to receive plenty of sunshine to thrive and produce a flavourful harvest. In cases where natural sunlight is insufficient, supplemental lighting such as grow lights can be used indoors to provide the necessary light intensity for optimal growth prior to hardening off and transplanting outdoors. Remember, chilli plants typically require twelve to eighteen hours of light per day for robust growth.

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Potting on Chillies

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Potting on for success

Potting on Chillies  isn’t just a routine task; it’s a strategic process that directly influences the vitality and productivity of your Chilli garden. Each stage of potting on—from the delicate transfer of seedlings to the final placement in larger containers—is carefully orchestrated to provide your plants with the space, nutrients, and support they need to flourish. Understanding these stages ensures you nurture your Chilli plants from their infancy to their full potential, fostering a deeper connection with your garden.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of potting on, offering insights into selecting the right pot sizes based on the specific characteristics of your chilli variety. Whether you’re nurturing compact ornamental peppers or cultivating sprawling heirloom varieties, understanding how pot size impacts root development and plant growth is key to success. With our guidance, you’ll be able to tailor your potting strategy to suit the unique needs of your Chilli plants, fostering healthy growth and abundant harvests.

Join us as we explore the importance of potting on at every stage of your Chilli plants’ growth journey. From the early days of seedling development to the exhilarating moments of flowering and fruiting, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and techniques to ensure your Chilli plants thrive and produce a bountiful harvest. With our comprehensive approach, you’ll feel confident and empowered to tackle each potting stage with precision and care, setting the stage for a successful chili-growing experience.

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The best soil for Chillies

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The best soil for growing Chillies

Growing chillies involves more than just planting seeds and watering them occasionally. It’s a journey where we nurture them through every phase of their growth, ensuring they have the right conditions to thrive. This includes growing Chillies  in the best soil you can .   The soil they grow in is like their home—it’s where they get their food and support to grow big and strong. As chilli enthusiasts, we’re committed to learning all we can about soil care to give our plants the best chance to flourish.

Once chilli seeds sprout, they go through three main stages of growth: first, they’re delicate seedlings, then they grow a lot of leaves and stems, and finally, they start to flower and make fruit. Each stage is like a different chapter in their story, with its own set of needs. At each stage, they have different requirements , so we have to adjust their soil and pots to meet those needs and help them grow well.

In this guide, we’ll dive deeper into understanding what happens to chilli plants at each stage of growth, what they need to eat to stay healthy, and we’ll provide examples of soil mixes that work best for them. By learning these basics, we can take better care of our chilli plants, ensure they’re happy and healthy, and ultimately, reap the rewards of a bountiful harvest. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get ready to grow some fantastic chillies! Read more

How to save Chilli seeds

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Cost effective

Chillies, with their vibrant and diverse array of flavours ranging from the mild sweetness of bell peppers to the scorching intensity of Habaneros, have captivated and tantalized the world’s culinary senses for centuries. Whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist with years of experience or just embarking on the fascinating journey of pepper cultivation, the act of saving chilli seeds emerges as a profoundly eco-friendly and remarkably cost-effective method. It guarantees a steadfast and deeply satisfying harvest of your cherished pepper varieties with each passing growing season.

The practice of saving chilli seeds extends beyond mere horticultural pragmatism. It embodies sustainability at its core, cultivating a legacy that transcends generations. Not only is it a gratifying endeavour, but it also serves as a vital conduit for preserving the distinct and cherished characteristics of your beloved Chilli varieties  Picture, for a moment, the delightful jalapeño that elevated your salsa to perfection or the heirloom chilli whose cultural significance resonated with you. By carefully and thoughtfully saving their seeds, you embark on a culinary journey that ensures the replication of those exceptional flavours, intoxicating aromas, and distinctive heat levels in your future harvests. Beyond the gastronomic realm, this act empowers you to actively participate in the preservation and perpetuation of heirloom and open-pollinated chilli varieties, safeguarding their survival and cultural heritage, a vital link between the past and the future.

In this extensive and informative guide, we are committed to immersing ourselves even further into the intricate art of saving chilli seeds, offering an abundance of detailed insights and invaluable tips that will empower you to cultivate exceptional Chill plants year after year. So, without further ado, let’s grab our secateurs, step into the garden, and commence the thrilling process of hand-picking your favourite chillies Read more

Vegetarian Pizza

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Spicy and nice

Embark on a gastronomic journey crafting a vegetarian masterpiece – the timeless classic, vegetarian pizza. With pre-purchased pizza bases as our canvas, we blend flavours harmoniously, orchestrating a medley of tastes that delight the palate.

At the heart of our culinary creation lies the rich tapestry of tomato sauce, providing the perfect foundation for this savoury delight. Melted mozzarella embraces the pizza, creating a comforting familiarity with each gooey bite.

But the adventure doesn’t end there; it flourishes as we adorn our pizza with an array of fresh vegetables. Juicy tomatoes, vibrant bell peppers, and hearty mushrooms offer a burst of colour and flavour, elevating the pizza’s texture to new heights. Tangy onions add a delightful sweetness, while sunny kernels of sweetcorn provide a contrast of natural goodness.

For those seeking an extra kick, dashes of fiery green chillies awaken the senses, turning up the excitement with every mouthful.

Join us on this delectable adventure as we unlock the secrets to creating a pizza that embodies the artful composition of vegetarian bounty. Let your culinary creativity soar and indulge in the joy of crafting the ultimate vegetarian pizza. So, don your aprons and let the symphony of flavours begin!

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How to encourage fruit set

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Improving yields

An essential element for encouraging fruit set  is phosphorous. Phosphorus, along with nitrogen and potassium, constitutes one of the three primary nutrients that plants require for optimal growth. Its significance lies in its vital role in various plant processes, including energy transfer, photosynthesis, and the synthesis of DNA and RNA. However, when considering chilli plants and their flowering stage, phosphorus takes centre stage due to its specific importance.

During the flowering phase, chillies undergo a remarkable physiological transformation. They redirect their resources from leaf and stem development towards the production of captivating flowers, which ultimately give rise to the formation of delectable fruits. This transition necessitates an ample supply of phosphorus to support the intricate metabolic processes involved in flower initiation and development. Phosphorus acts as a key player in the biochemical reactions responsible for the formation of floral structures, including the differentiation of reproductive tissues and the generation of vibrant petals.

Furthermore, phosphorus plays a crucial role in regulating the timing and intensity of flowering in chilli plants. It influences the expression of flowering-related genes and the synthesis of floral hormones, thereby influencing the plant’s ability to undergo successful flowering.

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Chilli Seedlings not growing. Stunted growth.

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Distorted growth

I have a batch of chilli seedlings that are not thriving as well as the others I planted at the same time. They are small and exhibit stunted growth, showing signs of various nutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies include yellowing at the leaf edges (leaf margin chlorosis) and browning at the tips of the leaves. To address this issue, I have decided to conduct an experiment using a multi-pronged approach.

Considering that the stunted growth could be attributed to various factors such as seed viability, watering, lighting, pests (like aphids), and the mentioned nutrient deficiencies,I will systematically tackle each potential obstacle to promote healthier growth in these plants.

While there is not a lot I can do if the initial problem was seed viability I will do everything I can to see if it is possible to address the other potential causes

Firstly, I will ensure that the plants are free of aphids. I plan to wash them thoroughly and apply an aphid treatment to keep them aphid-free for a while.

Next, I will change the potting soil, making sure the pH falls between 5 and 6, as Chilli plants prefer slightly acidic soil. Alongside this, I will treat the seedlings’ roots with an inoculant of mycorrhizal fungi, which can enhance nutrient uptake by establishing a beneficial relationship with the plant roots. In this way, I hope that the plants will rapidly absorb the nutrients I will be feeding them and go on to recover and become healthy plants

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