10 TIPS—SUPER-QUICK CHILLI GROWING INSTRUCTIONS IN 20 SECONDS

These are the chilli growing instructions I used to provide with my famous Little Green Men ChilliMan Chilli Growing Kits, which I am now gifting to you for FREE!

1. Open the chilli growing pack and remove the contents.
2. Open the compost bag carefully and pour it into the flowerpot.
3. Open and sow the chilli seeds 5mm deep and lightly cover with compost.
4. Spray the surface with water to dampen (not swim.)
5. Place the bag over the pot and put it in a warm place.
6. Wash and dry your hands and ponder on your magnificence.
7. Grasp the mug firmly in your left hand and the tea/coffee/other and spoon in your right.
8. Brew a hot drink and pour as recommended.
9. Drink tea/coffee/other and bask in your glory as a Chilli Grower!
10. Once tea/coffee/other has taken effect, visit www.rkalker.com with credit card in hand to reward the provision of FREE Chilli Growing Instructions!

Note: Extra items required include patience, soap ‘n’ water, and tea/coffee/other.

Germination and Maturing

• Around 65% of the chilli seeds will grow. On average, 8-18 days until they pop up.
• Optimum soil temperature range for germination: 20-30°C (70-85°F.) If not, any warm place will do.
• They also germinate well in the dark.
• On average, 90-100 days to maturity from the date of transplant (range can be 60-120 days.)

When to Sow?

• We sow chilli seeds during February and March, but you can leave them later.
• As a rule of thumb, start peppers indoors approximately 1^st March, about 8 weeks before setting them out (12 weeks if you have the room).

The number of days taken for a particular variety to reach maturity will vary.

• Some chilli plants can produce ripe fruit as early as 60 days from sowing.
• Others take as long as 120 days, but 90-100 days is a good estimated range.
• Remember that varieties such as Habanero take 100+ days or 3.5 months from potting on to reach maturity, start them in good time or the fruit will never ripen.
• To be safe, subtract (120 days maturing + 21 days germination) from August 31st, which means:

                        Sowing chilli seeds after mid-April is pushing your luck!

How Deep to Sow?

• Sow seeds 5mm deep and lightly cover with compost.

Spray the Surface

When propagating or starting them off:

• Using a spray bottle on the top (not watering from the base) reduces the effect on the compost temperature.
• Do not over-water, and never make the chilli seeds swim.

Heat

• Improve germination speed and success by applying warmth to the chilli seed compost.
• Placing the chilli seed pots or trays in a warm location, or
• On a simple heated tray can work well, but
• Propagators are best.

Chilli Growing Instructions Without a Propagator

• Good chilli plant propagation requires heat, even a sunny windowsill will do.
• Shade is not good.
• Cover the tray or pot with the plastic bag provided, which will help retain the heat and moisture. Warm and dark is better, and
• Remove the bag when the last chilli seed has germinated.
• Remember, not too wet, they don’t like it.

Pricking Out After Germination

• As soon as most of the chilli seeds have grown to show 2 well-formed leaves, and before they become root bound or “leggy,”
• Transfer them into 7cm or 3-inch pots.
• Hold the seedlings by the leaves, and not the stems, but be very gentle and make sure they are free at the root to prevent damage.
• Some chilli seedlings may have their head stuck in a chilli seed pod. They will need gentle encouragement to split them from the chilli seed pod.
• Move to a location where they will get plenty of sunlight.
• Ideally to a warm window, conservatory or heated greenhouse.
• The chilli plants can stay in 7cm or 3-inch pots until they are 3 inches (7cm) to 6 inches (15cm) high.
• Keep the chillies warm, moist and well-ventilated.

Potting On

• When the chilli plants have about 5 pairs of leaves, they should be potted on into larger pots.
• Grow the chillies in the best light possible until mid-June (15^th ish.)
• They should be 45cm (18inch) tall with flower buds on them.
• Set the chillies out in 9-inch (22cm) to 12-inch (30cm) pots depending on the variety.
• Smaller pots simply produce a smaller chilli plant, good for compact ornamental varieties.
• So, the larger the pot, the larger the plant and the larger the chilli crop.
• Chillies can also be planted in grow bags.

Planting Outdoors

• If you want to plant your chilli plants outside. Grow them as large as possible before setting them out in the garden.
• Put them in the garden a week or so after the tomatoes.
• A pleasant summer may produce large prolific plants of up to 1m or 3 feet tall, but
• Setting chilli plants out too early in cool night temperatures can adversely affect growth.
• Some chilli varieties like rocoto with furry stems are better in cooler temperatures.

Sun, Water and Feed

• Water the plants regularly and feed at 7 to 10-day intervals once the fruits appear.
• Specific chilli feeds are obviously the best choice, but I have found that tomato feed will do the job, or
• Use mild liquid fertiliser such as a seaweed-based fertilizer, less so with nitrogen feed.
• Watch out for damping off from over-watering, i.e. do not over-water. This can reduce the heat of the chilli, cause chilli bud and pod problems, and may damage the chilli plant long-term.

Chilli Growing Instructions—My Commitment to Self-Improvement

If you have a chilli update, or something to add or correct, let me know.

Please contact me CLICK HERE

I would rather you tell me than tell everyone apart from me!

I hope you enjoy your fiery voyage of discovery.

Let me know how you get on! Post updates on social media and tag me:

@rk_alker

….and there you have it, the knowledge of a lifetime’s work for FREE! plus a brew!

Beyond Chilli Growing Instructions…

Please recommend me to your friends. The ChilliMan lives on in another form. I am now:

R.K. Alker Best-Selling Children’s Author and love performing school and library author days.

Chilli Growing Consultancy

Please get in touch if you want consultancy advice on a larger commercial chilli growing operation. The knowledge and techniques took great effort and pain to acquire!

 

What did I do after the recession? READ ON… Part 9: 999 Emergency Ambulances

 

• Part 1: Chilli Beginnings

• Part 2: Polytunnel Chilli Passion

• Part 3: Chilli Leap of Faith

• Part 4: The Foodie Community

• Part 5: The Rock Star ChilliMan

• Part 6: ChilliMan Press and Media

• Part 7: The BIG Chilli Greenhouse

• Part 8: Chilli Growing Instructions

• Part 9: 999 Emergency Ambulances

 

Part 1: Chilli Beginnings

Part 2: Polytunnel Chilli Passion

Part 3: Chilli Leap of Faith

Part 4: The Foodie Community

Part 5: The Rock Star ChilliMan

Part 6: ChilliMan Press and Media

Part 7: The BIG Chilli Greenhouse

Part 8: Chilli Growing Instructions

Part 9: 999 Emergency Ambulances

For my Kids’ Gardening Pages CLICK HERE

For more information on Gardeners World CLICK HERE

 

Who is RK Alker Children’s Author?

R.K. Alker Best-Selling Children’s Author was born in the UK, but he was MADE IN LANCASHIRE!

He is famous as the TV & Radio ChilliMan aficionado and a champion of local producers or “Food Evangelist!”

R.K. Alker has a career spanning more than 3 decades of university lecturing, content writing, UK 999 emergency ambulances, media and entertainment as the colourful TV ChilliMan which contributed to this hilarious children’s adventure book written for his kids.

Read RK Alker Funny Kids’ Author’s amazing story in the PRESS SECTION CLICK HERE

RK Alker is an author of funny children’s books from Chorley, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Earth!

His little girls think RK Alker is the Best Funny Kids Author in the World.

Find RK Alker Children’s Author Events, Book Readings, Children’s Bedtime Stories, Kids’ Storytelling, School Author Visits, Children’s Book Signings and more on Eventbrite.

R.K. Alker is also The Chilli man from Little Green Men, a master of The Ancient Lancastrian Art of Ecky Thump! and can be found on Instagram, Blogger.com & Yell