Hot Pepper
Chili Pepper, Cayenne, Jalapeño, Habanero, Serrano, Bell Pepper, Bird Pepper
More heat-tolerant than bell peppers; actually produces more capsaicin under moderate drought stress. Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Allow fruit to ripen fully on plant for maximum heat. Excellent container crop.
- Germination
- 10–14 days
- Soil temperature
- 24–29 °C
- Harvest after planting
- 70–100 days
- Spacing
- 45–60 cm
When to plant hot pepper
Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last spring frost, and plant out 2–3 weeks after it.
Dashed line: typical last spring frost in zone 7 (Apr 5). Zone dates are averages; most of the UK is zone 8–9, central Europe 6–7 and the Baltics and Scandinavia 4–6. In the app, Tomatograph uses your garden's own frost dates.
How to grow hot pepper
- 1
Sow indoors
Hot peppers need the longest head start of any common vegetable. Sow 8–10 weeks before the last frost at 27–29 °C; germination takes 10–14 days.
- 2
Plant out
Plant out in full sun once nights stay above 15 °C, usually two weeks or more after the last frost. They also do very well in large pots.
- 3
Grow on
Water steadily while plants establish, then slightly less once fruit sets: mild dryness raises the heat. In frost-free areas plants can be overwintered and crop better in their second year.
- 4
Harvest
Let fruit ripen fully on the plant for maximum heat, 70–100 days after planting out. Most of the heat sits in the pale ribs and seeds.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun
Water
Medium water
Temperature
13–38 °C
Frost tolerance
Frost-sensitive — protect below 0 °C
Days to maturity
80 days
Plant spacing
45 cm
How Tomatograph watches your hot pepper
Tomatograph checks your local forecast every morning and only speaks up when one of these applies to your garden.
- Forecast of 2 °C or lowerFrost alert the evening before: cover plants with fleece or bring pots inside.
- 3 days at 35 °C or aboveHeat-wave alert while plants are flowering or fruiting: shade and water early.
- Humidity above 80% for 48 hoursCheck for bacterial spot, which thrives in those conditions.
- Within a week of maturityHarvest-window reminder based on when you planted.
Hot Pepper questions
- When should I plant hot pepper?
- Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last spring frost, and plant out 2–3 weeks after it.
- How long do hot pepper seeds take to germinate?
- Usually 10–14 days at a soil temperature of 24–29 °C.
- How long until I can harvest hot pepper?
- About 70–100 days after planting out, depending on variety and weather.
- How far apart should I plant hot pepper?
- Allow 45–60 cm between plants.
- What grows well with hot pepper?
- Good neighbours include basil, carrot, tomato.
Growing guide written by Tomatograph. Planting figures from openplantdb (CC0 1.0). Zone frost dates are averages from openplantdb (CC0 1.0).