How big do chilli plants grow?

[Grovsey]

I raised mine fiorm see in Jan/feb, have potted on twice and they are only about 8 inches high and living in a potting shed, doors and windows open all day....I have alosplanted 3 out as a comparison.......

they all seem slow growing or do they not get very big and when can I expect them to fruit?

Any advice welcomed...

[dan1979]

Mine has two chillies growing at approx 12 inches high

*had to edit that as I was grossly exaggerating when going from memory!

[tomtom87]

Last year, I got upwards of 50 'Apache' (Dwarf variety), 30 'Hungarian Hot Wax' and 20 Jalapeno, all from plants no bigger than 20 inches tall. These were also started late (May) in one of those small plastic 'greenhouses'. They were slow growing but once they started to fruit, they just exploded and I had plenty.

[Flummery]

This morning I received my chilli plants - supposed to be 12, 4 varieties and 3 of each. One was not available so they sent me extra. I have just potted up 19 chillies! Time to put the loo roll in the fridge I think!

[Matt.]

They don't grow very big at all, defnitly no bigger than 50cm. They spread out quite a bit and form a bush shape. Its really amazing how many chillis you get from a single plant. Last year I grew 3 Jalapeno and 3 Hot wax and had nearly 100 jalepeno and proably 50+ hot wax. They take quite a lot of abuse such as underwatering but just soldier on. I still had Chillis growing in October!

[Flummery]

They don't grow very big at all, defnitly no bigger than 50cm. They spread out quite a bit and form a bush shape. Its really amazing how many chillis you get from a single plant. Last year I grew 3 Jalapeno and 3 Hot wax and had nearly 100 jalepeno and proably 50+ hot wax. They take quite a lot of abuse such as underwatering but just soldier on. I still had Chillis growing in October!

Make that 2 loo rolls!

[Headfry]

maybe 3 loo rolls and the freezer

[Grovsey]

I got carried away and sowed 4 packets of seeds...they just about all grew and then I could not throw them away so I now have.....


wait for it......


here it comes....





57 plants!!!!!

[la cebolla grande]

I kept my chilli plants from last year. Dug one out of the garden and popped it in a big pot, then kept it in the back bedroom for the winter with a bit of water. It is still growing strong and I already have ripe chillis on it and have decided to keep it in a pot for 'ever'. (Started flowering again in Feb, and chillis set as soon as it when outside in late March)

They start to go a bit woody stemmed - but I don't see this as a problem, and is only about 1ft high in total, but a bit 'bushier' than last year.

I don't know why people don't suggest keeping them as perennials - there must be a reason, but no-ones come up with a good one yet!

[queen of the cobs]

I got carried away and sowed 4 packets of seeds...they just about all grew and then I could not throw them away so I now have.....


wait for it......


here it comes....





57 plants!!!!!

I had the same sucess with my tomatoes - at one point, before I managed to give some away I had 65 plants.

Does anyone stake their chillis? I repotted mine into 5" pots today (my chillies are only about 5" high) but they are very floppy.

[Cutecumber]

Yes, I put a fairly thin stake in the pot when they start to get unweildy.

[Bex]

My chillis are only about 6" high but they are flowering so I assume they are happy. I've got big jim and Jalapeno.

[pigletwillie]

My red hot cherry go to about 3' and need staking as the weight of fruit can pull them over but things like apache go to around 15-18" and other arieties grow anywhere in between.

Obviously some will grow taller than that.

[unconcerned]

It depends on the variety.
If you have an 'ornamental' like apache then perhaps only 12 inches tall.
Jalapeno and other annuums, more like 3 feet.
Baccatums probably get the highest.
I had one last year 7 feet high,
but I believe the record is about the height of a house.
It depends on a number of factors - light, heat, nutrients, etc.

[Cutecumber]

My Apache and De Bresse chillis began flowering when they were only three inches or so high - they continue to grow upwards and outwards and keep flowering. It's really good if you want to use them fresh as they develop and ripen over a very long period. If you only want to dry and store them, then it's frustrating waiting for them all to come!