Vegetable · Fruiting vegetable
Hot Peppers (Chili)
Capsicum annuum (habaneros and superhots: C. chinense)A large group of pepper varieties bred for heat rather than sweetness, from mild jalapeños to fiery habaneros and superhots. Compared with sweet bell peppers, chiles generally want warmer soil, a longer run of hot weather, and more patience before the first pick. The one rule: don't rush transplants out — hot peppers sulk badly in cool soil.
Sow depth
¼ in
Spacing
14 in apart · rows 2.5 ft
Sun
Full sun
Germination
10–21 days
Time to harvest
70–100 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow hot peppers (chili)
- Sow from about 3 weeks after your last expected frost until about 16 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Start indoors early — sow 8–10 weeks before the last frost date; superhots need longer.Keep compost around 27–29°C; cool compost stalls germination for weeks.Harden off gradually and transplant only once nights stay reliably warm.
Give it more heat than sweet peppers — plants stall in cool, wet soil.Feed with a potassium-rich fertilizer once flowering begins.Water evenly; irregular moisture causes blossom-end rot on fruit.
Cut, don't twist — snip fruit free with secateurs to avoid stem damage.Heat and color both build the longer fruit is left to ripen on the plant.Harvest regularly to encourage the plant to keep setting new pods.
Companion plants
Basil is a classic partner — it is thought to sharpen chile flavor while helping confuse aphids and thrips hunting the leaves.
Watch out for
Aphids — Cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves. Hose off with a strong water jet or introduce ladybirds early.Blossom-end rot — A dark, sunken patch caused by inconsistent watering limiting calcium uptake. Water evenly and mulch to steady soil moisture.