A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Chillies In Containers

Chillies are the favourite ingredient that is added to vegetables for better flavour. Genetically chillies are related to berries, but then also they are opposite to their taste. Which is commonly known as Capsicum, has a sweet taste because of the special chemical they produce: Capsaicinoids.

There are many colours in chillies to choose from; many people even add chillies for colour. And if you want to try this crisp flavour in your food, growing chillies in your garden is the best idea. Of course, having a garden in the house can be the best thing to start with, whereas if you don’t have a garden, you can use an alternative to grow chillies. The alternative to growing chillies in your house is a pot, and you can also use a container. Usually, some questions arise while planting something new in the garden. Here some of the questions are answered.

Method of Growing Chillies in Pots/Containers

Before sowing the seeds, make sure that the temperature is around 27℃ to 32℃. It is advised that preparing of soil should be a week before the sowing. Make sure that you mix soil manure in the soil for the germination of the seed. For growing chillies in pots, drainage holes can become a plus factor. The drainage holes help maintain the moisture in the soil and also help in the respiration of roots. The bigger the pot, the better. Those holes help the plant maintain the temperature of the soil, which helps in the development of chillies.

If all the conditions are maintained, sprouting can be seen after a month. However, whereas this also depends on the seed, some of the hybrids in the market can germinate within two weeks.

To ensure the germination of your plants, you can even use one more method, “Paper Towel Seed.”

• The paper towel method is faster than soil germination. By using this method, you can speed up the seed germination.
• Take two paper towels and damp them in water, spread the seeds on one paper towel, and cover them up with the other paper towel.
• Now, take the zip-lock or plastic container and place them inside it.
• Place them in the spot which has warmth and wait for 3-5 days until you spot sprouting.
• The temperature outside can drop to 15℃, which makes the chances of sprouting less, but using this method, the success rate of sprouting is more.
• After sprouting, place them in soil and compost, where they will grow into beautiful chillies.

Are You Growing More than One Plant?

If you are considering growing more than one plant, then make sure to keep 100cm between every plant. If you are growing your chillies in medium or small plants, then growing one plant is a good option Because more than one plant can’t survive in that pot. There will be less space for root and shoot propagation.

When to Harvest the Chillies?

After sprouting, you will see the growth of small white flowers on the chillies; these are the real treasure for which you are working so hard. Flowers are the reproducing organ which produces seeds after successful fertilisation. This process might require some time as it depends on pollinators and the fusion of the pollen and eggs.

The best friends of chillies which help in pollination are Bees, Ants and Thrips. Therefore, if you witness an ant or bee around your pot, it is good news. Your fresh and juicy chilly is right on its way. When flowers turn yellow-brown, then it means that fertilisation is successful.

After the flower, you will notice a bud at that place which ensures the production of the chilly, when you see a chilly growing out of the bud. Now, you have to observe the growth of chillies before harvesting. Make sure to harvest the young chillies when they grow up to medium length. The more you wait, the more hard and less tasty you get.

In harvesting young chilly, you are giving plants a signal to produce more flowers and, eventually, chillies. This way, you get more Spicy chillies. This stimulates the plant hormones, which helps in the production of more chillies and, thus, increases your yield. The other benefit is that you get a fine taste when you harvest the younger chilly.

How to Care for The Chillie Plant

• Regular watering and spraying fertilisers can fasten the growth of the plant. When we are growing chillies in pots, don’t let the plant’s height exceed more than 40 to 60cm.
• Pruning is a good idea which helps in controlling the growth of the plant. If you have grown the chillies in a pot, then bigger plants can lead to a problem which can hinder the growth of other plants. Cut off the branches growing higher, whereas if one pot has one chilly plant, then make sure to support it using the pipe. Still, ensure that your chilly plant doesn’t grow to a bigger height.
• Chillies are the chill plant which can produce a smell and keeps the pests away from the other plants also. That’s why they are considered the companion plants of various plants like Kale, Carrots and Tomatoes.
• Make sure to check for the Gram pod borer insects. They lay their eggs on the leaves. When larvae come out, they ingest the leave as food, thus, damaging the plant. You can use Bug-Free, which will kill the eggs before they form a larva and protect your plant from damage.
• Don’t forget to harvest the chillies from the plant; otherwise, the plant will not produce more chillies which increase the yield of the plant.

Precautions:

• Use hand gloves while harvesting the chillies; they have an irritating effect on the skin.
• Don’t touch your face after harvesting the chillies, and wash your hands twice with soap.
• Choose the right fertiliser for your plant from a trusted brand.
• Prune your plants and control their growth so they don’t suffocate others.
• Tap your plants a little, which helps in pollination and ensures the production of flowers.
• Drainage pots are best for chillies as they can help in managing the ventilation and water in the plants.

How to Select the Right Seed?

The Right Seed Is the Choice; It Depends on Your Needs and Taste.

If you love vegetable peppers, then Bell pepper is a good option; they are available in different colours: Red, Yellow and Green. They are not that spicy like other varieties of chillies and taste sweet. They are rich in nutrients and can be used as pizza toppings or as a salad. These are recommended because they grow well in the soil of the UK.

Whereas, if you are growing chillies to add a flavour to your food, go for Hot chillies. They can spice up your food and are easily stored. You can buy the seeds of chillies in two colours: Red and Green.

You even have the choice that falls in between both of them. They are mostly used as pickles for flavour and taste. You can use the pickle as a side dish with your main food. It is Jalapeno which is a long and broad variety of chillies. Therefore, pick your chilly based on your taste bud.

Optimal Condition that Helps in The Growth of The Chilles

Whichever chilly plant you consider growing, make sure that as they belong to Solanaceae, they require a warm and moist environment for sprouting. Whether you are growing them in the garden or the pot, make sure to place them in a spot or area where you can find sunlight.

Being the daylight plant, their seed needs sunlight for germination and watering. Water the plants at least twice a day. Whenever you see their soil is dry, water them. This way, you can maintain the water content in the soil. The best type of pots that you can buy for these is seedling trays or small pots during germination. Recycling pots are best as you don’t have to break the pot while replanting them in the big pot. Otherwise, the alternative in which you can grow them is the medium pots. These are one-time investments for chillies, but you must buy the bigger pot if you are growing the Capsicum. They have the space for respiration and root propagation.

Conclusion

Chillies are loved for their flavour and are grown in varieties depending on the need and choice. You can choose Capsicum, and Chillies, also called Hot Pepper or Jalapeno, as per our taste. You can even try all three in different pots, enjoy every flavour, and try new cuisine on holiday.

Growing chillies in pots is not a tough task; you have to make sure that you don’t choose the wrong pot for planting the seeds. The pot must have drainage holes which can help in better respiration and also maintain moisture. Successful germination can be achieved using Paper Towel Method, but for pollination agents, dependency can lead to a problem. To ensure successful pollination, you can use a little tapping around the flower or use the makeup brush to separate the pollen.

Now, you know the process of growing chillies in pots. Don’t forget to share this post with your bestie who loves gardening or the taste of rich spices. One more thing before leaving, Comet below your favourite type of Chillies, and let us know if you want to know anything else from us.