Chilli

Chilli (Capsicum annuum) is a tender, heat-loving fruit-berry grown for pods ranging from mild to fiery.

It can be used fresh in cooking, or dried and preserved for year-round use. Ripe red pods are generally sweeter and hotter than green ones of the same variety. There are many cultivars of varying heat and shape, so find the one you love!

Chilli needs warmth throughout, ideally in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill in the UK, but as summers get hotter, we are growing some outside here in Todmorden. Feed the plant well once it’s fruiting.

It’s best sown in February and March, under heat.

You can harvest it from July to October, picking green or left to ripen to red for more heat and sweetness.

Our planting guides are designed to help you get the best from your fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Every garden is unique, so growing conditions, weather, soil, and climate can affect results. Use this information as a helpful guide, and adapt it to suit your local conditions and gardening experience. Happy growing!