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Growing your chillies from seed

Growing chillies from seed is one of the more satisfying things you can do with a windowsill, and getting the timing right is half the battle.

When to sow

Late August to September is the sweet spot for most of NZ. You can start earlier, July if you're keen, but only if you can give your seeds stable warmth, such as a heat pad or a consistently warm room. Cold snaps and chilly nights are the most common reason seeds fail, so earlier isn't better unless you can keep them warm. Sow later and your plants will still grow fine, just expect fruit later in the season.

Sowing

Fill seed trays with good-quality seed-raising mix. If you like, soak your seeds in water for 12 to 24 hours first to soften the seed coat, then pat them dry. Sow two seeds per cell, about 5mm deep.

Keep the tray somewhere consistently warm, around 20 to 30°C. Steady warmth matters more than heat spikes, so pick one warm spot and leave the tray there rather than shifting it around. A hot water cupboard works if you check moisture daily, and a heat pad makes life easier for the superhots.

Keep the mix moist but never soggy. Most varieties germinate in 7 to 21 days. Superhots take their time, sometimes up to 6 weeks, so don't give up on them early.

Chilli Seeds NZ Chilli seedling starting to shoot

Transplanting your seedlings

Once your seedlings are up and have a couple of true leaves, move them gently into individual pots and keep them somewhere warm and sunny, like a greenhouse or a bright windowsill.

When they reach 100 to 150mm tall and the weather has properly warmed up, they're ready for their final home, either in the ground or in pots. Go for at least 20 litres, and up to 40 to 50 litres for the bigger varieties like rocotos. Chillies in cramped pots survive, but they won't reward you.

Chilli Seeds NZ Chilli seedlings starting to grow on windowsill

Growing on

Pinch out the main growing tip once plants reach about 10cm. It feels brutal the first time, but it encourages branching and gives you a bushier plant with more pods.

Water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Potted plants dry out faster than you'd think, so don't let them bake dry between waterings. For feeding, a tomato fertiliser does the job nicely once flowering starts, as chillies and tomatoes want much the same thing.

With decent care, you'll be picking pods from 60 to 150 days after transplanting, depending on the variety. The hotter ones generally make you wait longest, which feels about right.