Chillies 2026

I won't be starting off any chillis until start of February.

 

NJ - Having experienced a compete failure of seeds planted by my usual successful method two years ago I plant extra seeds just in case. Anyway I freeze my crop (they last for over a year in the freezer) and dish out bags to family when they visit. Anyway how many plants are you going to grow?

 

It just depends, enough for my needs and some to pass on if anybody wants some.
I can always send you some seed from the ones I've got in the fridge.

 

Spicesontheweb have started selling their plug plants if anyone wants to go that route. I got their tall aji baccatum set of 6 last year, all were good and produced plenty of fruit.

 

I usually start mine late January/early February in Hertfordshire. Tried starting earlier once but they just got leggy waiting for decent light levels even with grow lights. What varieties is everyone going for this year?

 

I am trying out Karala for the first time, a mild one due to my stomach not being able to handle hot ones any more (the one with 4 - 5 seeds in the packet). If they become leggy I prune the main stem back to 6 inches.

 

If my chillies get a bit leggy I just plant them deeper when they are potted on. They root readily from any buried leaf nodes and I don't remember ever losing one from this method.
I don't use grow lights or a heat pad so I won't be starting them till next month.

 

My Shineybrids are, once again, the first to sprout. Wonderful!

 

my tomatillo died after taking it in but bequinhos looking great for year 3. the tomatillos grow so quickly im not too unhappy

aphids came in despite pulling every leaf: ive mixed a little bit of isopropyl alcohol with a teaspoon of scotch bonnet chili flakes and made a very strong capsaicin solution. i sprayed it on then immediately realised I had gassed myself and had to leave the room for a day with windows open...
now ive painted it on, and it does seem to kill the aphids without harming the plant. when the alcohol leaves there is a fine wax left, hopefully that isnt harmful.

this time they are big aphids that jump when i get near, crazy!

 

I've moved my seedlings down under lights because I was worried they'd get leggy. They are still only in soil blocks but I will pot them up on the weekend.

 

@Adam I invasions do make us go all addlepated even before gassing ourselves

I hope you're okay.

 

My latest chilli report. Mixed my usual chilli seed compost in a bucket. Poured it into my usual seed pods. Planted my 9 Karala chilli seeds and 12 seeds from the free packet in my gardening magazine and placed on my heat mats. 1 Karala seed has sprouted whilst a 100% germination from the free ones. Fingers crossed for the rest of the growing season.