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Planting Chillie Seeds?

I want to grow a chillie plant. I have no problem going to my local garden store - because they have chillie seeds very cheap. Im just wondering, i have chilllies for cooking at home - Can i cut the seeds out and plant them?? Will they grow? Just wondering anyway. If you have experience of growing chillies and what to do, how, when. etc.?? Please tell me all you know about growing and harvesting chillies as i will have to plant them sometime anyway!! :)

Public Comments

1. Yes, you can grow them from seeds you take from a fully ripe chilli and you can get an ok plant by using general seed compost and keeping them in a sunny place, watered and fed with a plant food when they first have set fruit (that means when the flower starts to develop a little pod). It is a bit better to buy some seeds as the varieties sold in your local garden shop will be suitable for the climate where you are but as these mainly grow in inside greeenhouse or sunny windowsill, any variety will do really. Once you get healthy seedlings pot them on using a rich compost and give them a decent sized pot (say 8-10inch diameter). When they have grown into small plants then pinch out growing tips as this makes the plants get bushy and bushy plants make more chillies. Enjoy and have fun, remembering to pick the first few in the green so the plant doesn't slow down production.
2. No! buy the seeds, the chillies from the store are probable a hybride and the seeds will not take. Depending on what area you live in is a big deal. google your zip code for the last frost date. start your seeds in potting soil by wa window w/lots of light 4-6 weeks prior to that frost date. 1 week after the last frost transfer outside. When you buy your seeds they will have a harvest date on the back. try and get 2 kinds early, and late so you have peppers for a few months.