Chillis

[Currysniffa]

I’m wanting to try to grow some chillis for the first time this year, as I’ve said in another thread I wouldn't mind a chilli plant that could be kept on a windowsill something with the heat of a jalapeno any ideas please?

Thank you in advance

[Jono]

Hi Chris.

Bloke at work grows Scotch Bonnet on the window sill across the office. He gives me some from time to time, and they're excellent. The plant was still producing before the Christmas break too.

[HotStuff]

If you want to start them now then you'll need somewhere warm for them at first. A heated propagator would be ideal but an airing cupboard or somewhere else that has a fairly steady warm temperature will do the job.

Sow the seeds into cells, small pots, whatever works for you and keep the soil moist but not wet. Check them daily. Once they pop their heads up they then need light, so at this time of year that requires your suniest windowsill. However, windowsills can get quite cold at night so you may need to move them.

Another variety you might like to try is Apache. They're a bit hotter than Jals but I have found them to be prolific fruiters and useful in all kinds of cooking.

[Florence Fennel]

I only grow cayenne Chris, as we don't do anything any hotter. However, I make chillie vodka for my son and he assures me it is definitely hot, hot, hot. They are lovely windowsill plants, or outside when it's warm.

[Currysniffa]

Hi Chris.
Bloke at work grows Scotch Bonnet on the window sill across the office. He gives me some from time to time, and they're excellent. The plant was still producing before the Christmas break too.

Thanks Jono I like Scotch Bonnets myself but OH and son find them to hot, maybe 1 plant would do no harm

If you want to start them now then you'll need somewhere warm for them at first. A heated propagator would be ideal but an airing cupboard or somewhere else that has a fairly steady warm temperature will do the job.

Sow the seeds into cells, small pots, whatever works for you and keep the soil moist but not wet. Check them daily. Once they pop their heads up they then need light, so at this time of year that requires your suniest windowsill. However, windowsills can get quite cold at night so you may need to move them.

Another variety you might like to try is Apache. They're a bit hotter than Jals but I have found them to be prolific fruiters and useful in all kinds of cooking.

Thanks Hotstuff, Birthday tomorrow and I've told the Miss CS I want a heated propagator as my prezzie so they'll get a good start, I'm going to look up Apache they sound like there worth a try.

I only grow cayenne Chris, as we don't do anything any hotter. However, I make chillie vodka for my son and he assures me it is definitely hot, hot, hot. They are lovely windowsill plants, or outside when it's warm.

Hi FF, I'm going to look cayenne up too, It maybe a good idea for me to try a few then I'll settle on the one's for us like you have, thanks for your in put.

[northepaul]

The only problem with cayennes is the plants might grow too big for a small window sill.

[frantic furball]

We tried Cayenne, Apache and chilli last year and found that they got hotter and hotter as they stayed on the plant as long as they were kept fairly dry. I liked the apache but my sister preferred the Cayenne. So not much help there then!

[Currysniffa]

I'm going to nip out and look at some seeds shortly,I'm leaving the bank card at home so I can go mad lol..

[brad1001]

i grew scotch bonnet last year.among others.
they were started off on the window sill with intentions of putting them in the greenhouse.
in the end through lack of space i put 2 plants in a pot and left them unprotected by the back door and they did fantastic.
i always buy to many variety tomatoes and chillie seeds through the winter then struggle to fit everything in.
so this year ive got 4 varietys each and sticking to my plan!!

[Caro]

Hi Currysniffa

Razzamatazz has very pretty, upright growing fruits and you can have green, red, purple, orange etc all on the plant at the one time.

So it's very decorative and compact. The fruits are smaller and a bit hotter than jalapeno, but perfect for cooking (just not for stuffing with cream cheese and frying )

If you want to pm me with your address I can send you a few seeds.

[kalimna]

Two I would recommend are Aji Omnicolour (white, orange and red chillis, fairly spicy but not in Scotch Bonnet league) and Bulgarian Carrot (green through orange) probably closer to Jalepenos.

I have some 2 year old plants overwintering right now on the windowsill, and there's already a fair amount of new leafage and the odd flower bud (might nip those off)....

Adam

[Currysniffa]

Hi Currysniffa

Razzamatazz has very pretty, upright growing fruits and you can have green, red, purple, orange etc all on the plant at the one time.

So it's very decorative and compact. The fruits are smaller and a bit hotter than jalapeno, but perfect for cooking (just not for stuffing with cream cheese and frying )

If you want to pm me with your address I can send you a few seeds.

PM sent Thank you!

[grenhouse]

Chilli plants and tomatoes are the most addictive plants to grow I find. Like brad1001 says, I always buy lots of different varieties and end up growing loads!
Had great crops from the cayenne and jalapeno last year. When you get too many (which you will!) blitz them up and put them into ice cube trays, then when cooking pop them out into the pan, no chopping required!This was a handy hint given to me last year, ensures that non get binned!

Steve

[Nordmead]

purple tiger, numex twilight, bulgarian carrot, etna and aurora would be a few varieties to try on a windowsill, i think all are pretty compact except the bulgarian carrot (not sure how tall they get)

[Two_Sheds]

Razzamatazz has very pretty, upright growing fruits ... it's very decorative and compact.

I'd agree with that. The only "but" is the fruits are tiny (thumbnail size). Whatever you grow, chillies need a constant temp of about 18c to do well, and even warmer to ripen