Chilli & Pepper Seeds

With varieties ranging from sweet and juicy to hot and fiery and everywhere in between, chillies and peppers are fundamental to many types of cuisine the world over. Whether you’re looking to add heat to a dish or some sweetness to your salads, there is something for all in the pepper family.

Tender by nature, these plants are grown as half hardy annuals, best sown in pots or modules during springtime. A quick note: the organic gardener should look to recycle old pots – especially plastic ones – but care should be taken to ensure they’re properly cleaned before reuse to avoid the spread of disease. Once you have a strong plant at a 4+ leaf stage and all danger of frosts have passed, you can move the plant to its final position. These plants are great to grow in containers on a sunny balcony or terrace, but also do well in sunny, free-draining soil – just add some compost if needed. When your plants reach the 8-leaf stage, you can start some foliar feeding. They particularly love seaweed extract every three to four weeks, diluted and watered on. Finally, it’s always worth checking to see if your plants need staking with canes as they begin to mature and need some extra support.

There’s a reason chillies and peppers are so popular – not only do they taste amazing, but they’re also full of vitamins and contain folic acid. When grown organically, these plants retain their goodness and are the perfect plot to plate treat, with a myriad of uses in the kitchen. Our tip: If you like your chillies hot, reduce watering when the fruit starts to form!