How to grow Chilli in Australia
Grow chilli in full sun in warm, fertile, free-draining soil, and plant only once the weather is reliably warm. Water consistently and feed with a potassium-rich fertiliser once fruit sets, easing off nitrogen which gives leaves over pods.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 45 cm
- Time to harvest: 90 days
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 6.8
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | August to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | Same as capsicum. Push spring sowing a week or two later than Brisbane in the hinterland. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | July to November | Start indoors earlier (July) than SEQ; transplant Sept to Oct. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Seed indoors Aug to Sept, transplant Oct to Nov once frost risk passes. Shorter fruiting window than SEQ. |
| Adelaide & SA | August to October | Sow Aug to Sep indoors with warmth, Oct outside. Transplant after frost. Long warm autumns ripen late fruit well. |
| Perth & WA | August and September | Sow Aug to Sep so plants are established before summer. Dec to Feb heat stresses flowering, and growth stops once nights cool from April. |
| Tasmania | September and October | Marginal. Sow indoors with heat Sep to Oct and plant out after the last frost in early October. Greenhouse or the hottest wall in the garden; compact early types only. |
| Canberra & ACT | October and November | Start seed indoors with warmth in October, then plant out after the last frost in early November. Choose quick varieties so fruit ripens before the April frosts. |
| North Queensland | April to September | Sow Apr to Sep in the dry. Perennial in the tropics; established bushes carry through the wet season and crop for years. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to August | Dry season sowing Apr to Aug. Perennial once established and may carry through the wet under cover. Avoid build up sowings. |
Varieties
- Cayenne Long Slim
- Jalapeño (Early)
- Thai Birds Eye
- Habanero
- Hungarian Sweet Wax
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick when fruit is firm and full sized, green for milder heat or fully coloured for more. Cut the stalk with secateurs and regular picking keeps the plant cropping.
Storage
Bench for 1 week, fridge for 2 weeks. Dry or freeze for months.