Hot Chilles

[rainyp5655]

Is it true that if you want chillies to be hot, you should limit the amount of water you use on them?

[rustylady]

If you do that too early the plants won't grow. Once the chillies have formed and are starting to ripen you can restrict the water if you wish.

Heat also depends on the variety of chilli and the amount of sunshine and warmth that they get.

[rainyp5655]

Thanks. The plants are fully grown and all loaded with fruits. I only give them a small amount of water now so will probably continue. I have Dorset Naga, Peters Penis, habanero, Chiltepin and Hungarian Yellow Wax.

[Two_Sheds]

Sunshine, warm sunshine, is what really gives them their heat. Chillies grown in the shade often don't get hot at all: in autumn I bring them indoors onto a sunny windowsill and they ripen up quite quickly