The Chilli King — Growing Chillies in the UK Since 2006

Practical chilli growing guides and tested recipes, written from 20 years of growing in the UK climate. Whether you’re sowing your first seeds, rescuing a struggling plant or wondering what to do with a harvest glut, start here.

What to Do Right Now

• Overwinter your plants: how to cut back, move in and keep them alive until spring. (overwintering guide)
• Heat your greenhouse: our pick of heaters for overwintering chillies. (greenhouse heaters)
• Use up your harvest: chutney, jelly, sweet chilli sauce and fermented hot sauce. (preserving guide)
• Save seeds for next year: how to harvest, dry and store your own. (saving seeds)

Fix Your Chilli Plant Problem

• Yellow leaves: the causes and fixes, from overwatering to nutrient problems. (link)
• Flower drop: why chilli flowers fall off and how to stop it. (link)
• Aphids: how I got rid of them without wrecking the plant. (link)
• Black chillies: why chillies turn black and what to do about it. (link)
• Are they ripe yet?: the 5 signs a chilli is ready to pick. (link)
• All pests and diseases: identify and fix the common problems. (link)

Grow Chillies From Seed to Harvest

1. Choose and sow your seeds
2. Germinate with a heated propagator
3. Give seedlings enough light
4. Pot on at the right time
5. Feed and water correctly
6. Know when to harvest
7. Overwinter your plants

Pest & Diseases

Unless you are very lucky indeed there is a fairly high chance your chilli plants may encounter some form of pests or disease. Luckily this isn’t as bad as it sounds and most problems are ones you’ll face with all types of vegetable growing. Our pests and diseases article runs down many of the common problems your plants may develop. For more specific advice take a look at these resources on combating slugs and snails or dealing with aphid attacks.

Chilli Grow Lights

Growing your own chillies is only half the fun. Here’s what to do with the harvest.

• Chilli chutney: our most popular recipe, made every autumn.
• Chilli jelly: sweet, hot and perfect with cheese.
• Fermented chilli sauce: deep, tangy and easier than you’d think.
• Sweet chilli sauce: Thai-style, made with fresh chillies.
• Chilli oil: simple, and good on almost anything.
• Tandoori marinade: for the tandoor, the BBQ or a hot grill.

More Guides

Greenhouse growing | Hydroponics | Bell peppers | Freezing peppers | Curry leaf propagation | Freezing curry leaves | Chilli heat guide