PlantSowGrow
How to grow Chilli Pepper (Scotch Bonnet)
Capsicum chinense
Very hot, fruity, lantern-shaped chillies from the Caribbean. They need a long, warm season — start early and grow under glass.
At a glance: Sow early January to early February, harvest from late August.
When to sow, plant and harvest
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Chilli Pepper (Scotch Bonnet): what it needs
- Light
- Full sun · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Water regularly in dry weather
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Spacing
- 50 cm
- In pots
- Grows well in containers
- Feeding
- A general feed before sowing or planting
- Harvest
- About 180 days from sowing
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 10–11
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Step by step
- Early January – early February · 14 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow in modules or small pots of seed compost under cover. Needs 25–30°C to germinate; be patient.
- 10–28 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Mid January – early February
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 10–28 days. If sown outdoors, thin to 50 cm apart when big enough to handle.
- 14–21 days after “Check Germination” · Late January – early February
Pot On Seedlings
Move seedlings into 9 cm pots (or keep in modules) when they have their first true leaves.
- Early May · 3 weeks after the last spring frost
Harden Off
Stand plants outside by day for 7–10 days before planting out.
- Mid May – mid June · 4 weeks after the last spring frost
Plant Out
Plant out 50 cm apart and water in well.
- 30–45 days after “Plant Out” · Mid June – late June
Start Feeding
Feed every 7–10 days with tomato feed once the first flowers appear.
- 100–121 days after “Plant Out” · Late August – mid September
Start Harvesting
Pick when fully coloured. Wear gloves when handling and cutting them.
- 60–90 days after “Start Harvesting” · Mid October – mid November
Finish and Clear
Bring pot plants indoors before the frost, or clear them.
