How to grow Chilli in Australia
Chillies are hot-weather plants that crop heavily from summer into autumn and suit gardens and pots alike. They are short-lived perennials in the subtropics and tropics, where one bush can crop for several years, and summer annuals in frosty areas. Give them warmth, sun, good drainage and steady water, and go easy on the fertiliser.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Chilli From Seed in Australia: Growing Chillies
At a glance
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. |
Where to plant
Grow chillies in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil with some compost. They need regular watering in dry weather but rot in soggy ground. Avoid over-fertilising, which gives leafy plants and fewer chillies. Rotate the bed and do not grow them where tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants or capsicums grew recently.
Most fruit is produced from December to April in the south. In the tropics and subtropics plants can live and crop for several years.
- Sydney: start seed indoors in July and plant out in September or October.
- Melbourne: sow indoors in August and September and plant out in October or November once frost has passed.
- Adelaide: sow indoors in August and September and plant out after frost; long warm autumns ripen late fruit well.
- Perth: sow in August and September so plants are established before the summer heat.
- Canberra and Hobart: start seed indoors with warmth and plant out after the last frost; choose quick, compact varieties, and in Hobart use a greenhouse or the hottest wall.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from August to February; bushes often survive winter.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, April to August or September. Established bushes carry through the wet and crop for years.
Choosing a variety
- Chillies range from sweet and mild to extremely hot, and come in green, yellow, orange, red and purple.
- Thai Birds Eye bears small, very hot chillies on a prolific bush.
- Cayenne Long Slim and Jalapeño are medium-hot all-rounders; Jalapeño crops early.
- Habanero is very hot and needs a long, warm season.
- Hungarian Sweet Wax is mild, with pale yellow fruit that ripen to red.
How to plant
- Sow seed 5 mm deep in punnets in a warm spot, ideally on a heat mat, 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to plant out.
- Keep the mix moist and warm; seed can take up to three weeks to come up.
- Plant out once frost has passed and the soil is warm, 40 to 50 cm apart.
- Water in and mulch. Pinch out the growing tip when plants are about 30 cm tall for a bushier plant, if you like.
- Put a stake in for tall varieties.
Watering and feeding
Water deeply and regularly in dry weather, keeping the soil evenly moist but not soggy, especially in pots. Uneven watering causes blossom end rot.
Feed lightly. Once flowers appear, a liquid fertiliser higher in potassium every few weeks helps fruiting; too much nitrogen gives leaves instead of chillies.
Pruning and care through the year
- Stake heavily laden plants, as the stems snap.
- In frost-free areas, cut perennial bushes back by about half in late autumn or winter to rest them, then feed and water in spring.
- In cool areas, move potted chillies to a warm, bright spot under cover for winter and water sparingly, then prune and repot in spring.
- Bag or net fruit in fruit fly areas.
Harvesting
Pick chillies green or leave them to colour fully for the most flavour and heat. Cut them with scissors or secateurs, leaving a short stalk, rather than pulling, which can break branches. Regular picking keeps plants flowering.
Hot chillies should be handled with care: wear gloves when cutting them and keep your hands away from your eyes. Dry chillies on a string or in a dehydrator, freeze them whole, or preserve them in vinegar or oil.
Growing in pots
Chillies are ideal pot plants. Use a pot at least 25 cm wide with a quality potting mix, keep it in full sun, water often in hot weather and feed lightly. In cool areas a pot can be moved under cover before frost.
Saving seed
Scrape seed from fully ripe chillies of open-pollinated varieties, wearing gloves, dry it on paper and store it in a cool, dry place. Different chillies and capsicums grown close together can cross, so seed may not come true. Seed of hybrid varieties will not come true.
Companion planting
Chillies suit a warm summer bed with herbs and flowers. Rotate them with their relatives rather than planting the family in the same soil each year.
Good companions
- Basil Likes the same sun, warmth and steady water.
- Marigold Flowers that bring in hoverflies and other helpful insects.
- Carrot A low root crop that uses the space between plants.
- Tomato Grows in the same warm season; rotate both together as one family.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to chilli.
Pests and diseases
Fruit fly is the main pest in Queensland, New South Wales and around Perth. Mites and thrips like hot, dry weather.
Pests to watch for
- Fruit fly Sting marks on fruit, then soft, rotting patches with maggots. Bag or net fruit.
- Aphids Clusters of small insects under leaves and on new shoots.
- Thrips Silvery, speckled leaves and scarred or distorted fruit.
- Spider mite Fine yellow speckling on leaves and fine webbing in hot, dry weather.
- Root knot nematode Stunted plants with swollen, knobbly roots, worst in warm, sandy soil.
Diseases to watch for
- Anthracnose Sunken, dark, circular spots on ripening fruit, often with pink spore masses, in warm, wet weather.
- Blossom end rot A dark, sunken patch at the base of the fruit from uneven watering.
Common questions
Are chilli plants perennial?
Yes, in frost-free areas. In the subtropics and tropics a chilli bush can crop for several years. Frost kills them, so in cold areas they are grown as summer annuals or kept in pots under cover over winter.
Why is my chilli plant flowering but not fruiting?
Very hot weather, cold nights, dry soil or too much nitrogen can all make flowers drop. Keep the soil evenly moist, feed lightly, and fruit will usually set once the weather settles.
Should I prune my chilli plant?
Perennial bushes can be cut back by about half in late autumn or winter to rest and reshape them. You can also pinch out the growing tip at about 30 cm for a bushier plant.
When should I plant chillies?
Into warm soil once frost has passed. In the south start seed indoors in late winter and plant out in spring. In the tropics sow in the dry season. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
How do I keep a chilli plant over winter?
In frosty areas, grow it in a pot, prune it back, and move it to a warm, bright spot under cover, watering sparingly until spring.
Do chillies get hotter when they turn red?
Fully ripe chillies usually have more flavour and often more heat than green ones of the same variety. Heat also varies a lot between varieties and with growing conditions.
How do I handle hot chillies safely?
Wear gloves when cutting or deseeding hot chillies, keep your hands away from your eyes and face, and wash knives and boards afterwards.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Chillies; Sustainable Gardening Australia: Growing capsicum and chilli; ABC Organic Gardener: Add spice with chillies; RHS: How to grow chilli peppers.