Collection: Chillies & Sweet Pepper Plants

You can plant out peppers and chillies after the last frost has passed (typically by the third week of May) or grow them indoors in pots at any time of year.

Peppers and chillies do best in a fertile, well draining soil that’s had plenty of compost or well rotted manure mixed in.

Peppers and chillies need full sun to produce flowers and fruit, so they should be planted in a position with at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day throughout the growing season.

You’ll get the best results from your pepper and chilli plants at temperatures between 18 and 30°C, with night time temperatures no lower than 13°C. Using a heat mat or growing in a heated greenhouse or conservatory can help with this.

Water your pepper and chilli plants regularly. Watering deeply once a week is better than little and often, and you should allow the soil to dry out between waterings for the best results.

To get the best from your plants, give them a sprinkle of general purpose plant food when you plant them. Once the flowers start to appear, switch to a high potassium feed such as tomato food and apply it every two weeks throughout the growing season.

Some pepper and chilli varieties grow quite tall and will need support, especially pepper plants, which can break under the weight of their fruit if left unsupported. Tie the main stem gently to a plant stick or bamboo cane or use a plant cage if you think they need more support.

Peppers and chillies are ideal plants for containers. Choose a pot at least 30cm wide with good drainage at the bottom. Plants grown in pots usually need to be watered and fed more frequently than those in the ground.

Harvest your chillies and peppers when they reach the size and colour you want. They can be picked green (when they tend to be milder and not as sweet) or left to develop their full colour and heat/sweetness. For more growers’ tips, read our complete guides to growing chilli plants and growing peppers.