Chilli

Capsicum

You can use chillies fresh, dried or pickled. They need warmth all summer, so grow them in a greenhouse, on a sunny windowsill or in a warm, sheltered spot outside. A plant in a pot can come indoors before the cold. Over winter, keep it somewhere bright and warm. Give it only a little water.

Looking after it

Water: Chillies need normal watering. Keep the compost evenly moist, because dry compost makes the buds drop. In hot weather, a pot in full sun can need water every day. Feeding: Their feeding needs are average. Once plants in pots start to flower, give them a liquid feed high in potassium, such as tomato feed, every week. Plants in rich ground need less.

Harvest and keeping

Pick them green for the biggest crop. Fruit left to turn red is hotter, but then the plant makes fewer new flowers. Late in the season, let the last fruits colour. Cut them with the stalk on. Wash your hands after handling hot kinds. Keep fresh chillies cool and use them soon. For winter, dry, freeze or pickle them.

What can go wrong

Aphids. Small green or black insects sit on the shoot tips and under the leaves, which curl. Check often (especially indoors) and rub or hose off small groups. Ladybirds and other insects that eat them help too.
Red spider mite. In hot, dry air, mostly under cover, the leaves get fine pale mottling and thin webbing. Mist the plants and wet the greenhouse floor to make the air more humid.
Too much heat. Above about 30 °C the flowers fall and few fruits set. Open up the greenhouse for air and shade it. Wet the floor every day.

Growing facts: RHS, UC ANR and seed-company sowing guides. Chilli care and keeping: RHS. pH: Virginia Tech extension (peppers).