Best Tips For Growing Chilli In Pot / Container

      

    

    First thing – Yes, you can grow chilli in Container. Many varieties can be grown in pots indoors. In fact, novices may even have an easier time growing chili peppers indoors than outdoors, since growing the peppers indoors allows better control over water, heat, and light—the three key ingredients needed to produce a successful chili pepper crop. Follow the below tips for best results.

Propagation

Start Chilli seeds in Mid April. Chilli seeds require 20° C to germinate. You can sow several seeds per pot.  Place your chilli seeds on top of the soil ( sprinkle the seeds on soil ) and cover with thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist by watering the container. Place the container with seeds in a sunny location. Once seedlings come out take out the weaker ones and keep one seedling per pot. 

Container

Chilli ( Capsicum annuum ) like warm and humid conditions. So it is better to use plastic container rather than terra cotta one.  Clays like terra cotta can actually draw moisture out of the soil, in warm and bright condition which is necessary for growing chilly peppers. In plastic containers moisture can be retained and it avoids dehydration. Put small pieces of rocks and bricks on drainage holes to ensure good drainage in the container otherwise standing water can induce root rot and infections.

Soil

Use a multipurpose compost mix for growing Capsicum. Enrich it with organic matter by adding dried leaves,  cow manure etc. The higher quality soil you use, the better the odds are. Also you can mix in some vermiculite to increase fertility. Whatever type of soil you use, make sure it is well drained.

Watering

As Chilli is humidity loving plants so keep soil moist. You can use plant sprayer to mist the plant too. Keep soil moist but not soggy as this may cause seeds to rot before sprouting. Whenever leaves look droopy water them. Avoid over-watering. Chilli plants like their soil to dry before watering them again. Watch for ground  near the base of plant, if it looks dry and gets cracked , water it instantly. These are signs of under watering.

Temperature

Chilli thrives in full sun. So place your plant near window or in direct sun. Afternoon shade is beneficial. When starting with seeds a constant range of between 27-32 degrees C is required. As soon as seedlings have emerged move them to a sunny location otherwise you will get thin and wispy plants.

Fertilizer

Use a granular slow releasing fertilizer or a liquid one. Dilute the liquid fertilizer before giving to the plant. Nitrogen improves the foliage, potassium improves the flowering and overall strength of a plant and phosphorus improves the roots and fruit. 

Pollination

Pollination is not a big problem for Chilli as it is bisexual plant having stamen and pistil in same flower. So chances of self pollination are high. Otherwise you can use a soft brush to pollinate each flower by gently dusting them. Once the pollination is done flowers start to fall off and fruit begins to grow.

You can also get it cross pollinated by insects or by air if the plants are placed close to each other. Finally, make sure your plant is getting lots of sunlight this period to get great tasting chilies at the end of the season.

Harvesting

Harvest Chilies when they look shiny and glossy. If you pull it off, then pull it upwards exactly opposite to the direction it bends down or use scissors if don’t want much trouble. 

Over Wintering Chilli Plant For Next Season

A common misconception is that chilies are annuals, but they can grow back for next few years too. Overwintering helps this process. With a little care , a properly over-wintered chilly plant can bring a larger harvest that too earlier compare to growing again from seed because when your plant “wakes up” in the spring , it is already has an established root ball, so has a head start in growing cycle.

The first thing to do when overwintering your chilly plant is to pick all of the chillies from the existing plant when its season is over. Now prune back the plant to approximately 1/3 of its original height. Pruning helps in conserving energy for next growing season.

Place the plant in warmer area where temperature doesn’t drop too much. During this period plant will require less water as it is in dormant stage, watering every 2 weeks is enough.

During overwintering process plant will slow down the growth process so don’t worry if you don’t see new shoots for a while. Come spring time, in a few weeks plant will start to shoot and burst with new flush of growth.