When to plant Chilli Peppers in the UK

Sow seeds in a heated propagator at 21–24 °C from mid-February to early March. Use seed compost and cover to a depth of 0.5 cm. Keep moist and expect germination in 7-14 days.

• If you don’t have a heated propagator, place pots in a warm airing cupboard or use a heat mat. Remove covers as soon as seedlings appear to prevent damping off.

Once seedlings have two true leaves, prick them out into small pots from early March to early April. Handle carefully by the leaves to avoid stem damage and plant at the same depth as before.

• After pricking out, keep seedlings in bright, indirect light for a few days to help them recover without wilting.

Pot on around early April to early May when roots show at the drainage holes. Pinching the growing tip at 30 cm can make the plant bushier, but it can delay the first fruit.

• Wait until you can see roots poking out of the drainage holes before potting on – moving plants up too early can stunt them.

Move plants into their final greenhouse pots or beds around mid-May to late May, once night temperatures stay above 12 °C. Space them 45 cm apart and ventilate the greenhouse on warm days.

Keep the compost evenly moist from late May. Once the first flowers open, feed with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 7 days through late October.

• Hold off feeding until the first flowers open. Feeding too early encourages leaf growth at the expense of fruit.

Cut fruits with scissors from mid-July. Pick them green or leave them to reach their mature colour. Flavour and heat depend on the variety. Keep picking through late October.

• At the end of the season, pull up the whole plant and hang it upside down in a cool, dry place to ripen the remaining green chillies.