How to Grow Chili Peppers

Capsicum annuum

A warm-season pepper grown for pods that range from gently warm to very hot.

At a glance

Difficulty
Takes some care
Sunlight
Full sun
6 to 10 hours of sun a day
Water
Average thirst
First harvest
70 to 120 days
from planting out
Growing in a pot
5 gal or bigger
Plant spacing
12 to 24 in apart

More about this plant

Start chili peppers indoors, move them outside only when the soil and nights are warm, and keep moisture steady. Wear gloves when picking or cutting hot fruit.

Grows for one season.
Can grow in raised beds, the open ground.
Fine in a small space.

Optional local dates

Planting dates where you live

The growing guide above works anywhere. This section adds local frost dates when we have them.

Optional local dates

Get planting dates for where you live

Save a city or a U.S. ZIP so we can turn local frost records into useful dates. Every crop guide still works without this.

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How to Start a Garden

When to plant

Match these relative steps to your local seasons. Where frost applies, use the last freezing night in spring and the first in fall. In frost-free climates, follow trusted local seasonal guidance.

Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frostStart most types eight to ten weeks before your last spring frost. Some very slow hot varieties need longer.
Plant out 2 to 4 weeks after your last spring frostPlant outside after frost danger passes, the soil reaches about 65F and nights stay above 50F.

Ready to pick about 70 to 120 days from planting out.

What you need

How to start itFrom a young plantYou can start it indoors first.
How deep to plant0.25 in
Planting depth: 0.25 in below the soil surface. Drawing is not to scale.
How far apart12 to 24 inLeave 30 to 36 in between rows.
Leave 12 to 24 in between plants and 30 to 36 in between rows. View from above; drawing is not to scale.
Pot size5 gal or bigger
Choose a pot that holds 5 gal or more. Shape and plant size are a guide.

Step by step

Start early indoorsSow a quarter inch deep eight to ten weeks before your last frost. Very slow types may need a little longer.
Give seedlings strong lightKeep the light close above the leaves so the young stems stay short and sturdy.
Harden plants slowlyOver one to two weeks, give the plants a little more outdoor sun and wind each day. Bring them in on cold nights.
Wait for warm soilTransplant after frost danger, when soil is about 65F and nights stay above 50F.
Water the roots steadilySoak the root zone when rain is short. Mulch after the soil warms to slow drying.
Clip mature podsWear gloves, cut the stem and keep your hands away from your eyes and face.

Common mistakes

Planting out during cool nightsCold slows peppers badly. Wait until nights stay above about 50F.
Feeding too much nitrogenHeavy feeding makes leaves at the cost of later fruit.
Handling hot pods barehandedHot pepper oils can burn skin and eyes. Wear gloves and wash tools and hands well.

Water

Average thirst

Keep moisture even. When rain is short, soak the root zone at least weekly and check containers more often.

Too dry
About right
Too wet

If it goes drySuffers quickly when dryFlowers can fall, fruit may stay small and leaves can wilt during the hottest part of the day.
If it stays wetDislikes sitting wetSoil that stays wet can slow roots and leave the plant weak.

Looking after it

FeedingAn occasional feed helpsUse a soil test first. If feeding is needed, a light side dressing after the first fruit sets is safer than heavy early nitrogen.
NitrogenToo much nitrogen gives leaves instead of food
SupportA cageA small cage or short trellis can protect tall, brittle stems carrying fruit.
MulchMulch after the soil warms to hold moisture and slow weeds.

Harvest

You will know it is ready when: Pick when the pods reach the mature size for the variety. Use them green, or wait for their final color and fuller flavor.

Wear gloves and clip the stem with clean shears. Do not pull on the brittle branch.

Keeping itKeeps 7 to 10 daysKeep unwashed peppers in the refrigerator for about a week. Long cold storage can pit the skin. Freeze or dry extra peppers using a tested food-preservation method.

Is this right for you?

A long, warm season. Frost injures the plant, cool weather slows it and very hot days or nights can make flowers drop.

LightFull sunAbout 6 to 10 hours of direct sun a day.
ShadeNeeds full light
SeasonA warm season cropUsually grown in spring or summer.
FrostFrost kills it
HeatLoves heat

Soil

Soil pH6.5 to 7.0A cheap test kit from a garden centre will tell you yours.
Soil it likesLoam, Sandy
DrainageWants well drained ground
RichnessAverage ground is fine

Use fertile, well-drained soil. Compost can improve an ordinary bed before planting.

Test the soil before adding fertilizer. Too much nitrogen delays fruit while leaves keep growing.

The year at a glance

Measured from your last spring frost, because seasons differ from garden to garden. In frost-free climates, use trusted local seasonal guidance alongside these relative steps.

Start seeds indoors
8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost
Plant out
2 to 4 weeks after your last spring frost

Questions people ask

When are chili peppers ready?

Pick at the mature size listed for the variety. Green pods are usable, while fully colored pods usually have a fuller flavor.

Can chili peppers grow in a pot?

Yes. Use one plant in a draining pot of at least five gallons and check its moisture often.

Why did the flowers fall off?

Cold, extreme heat and uneven water can all cause flower drop. Keep the roots evenly moist and let the plant recover when the weather settles.

How should I handle very hot peppers?

Wear gloves. Wash your hands before touching your eyes, face or bathroom areas, and wash the knife and board after use.

Also filed under: Vegetables

Where this came from

Advice varies with your climate and variety. Check the sources behind each section.

Sources & review dates

Light and weather: University of Maryland Extension, Growing Peppers in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15; University of Minnesota Extension, Growing peppers · checked 2026-09-15
Planting: University of Maryland Extension, Growing Peppers in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15; University of Minnesota Extension, Growing peppers · checked 2026-09-15
Timing: University of Maryland Extension, Growing Peppers in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15
Soil: University of Minnesota Extension, Growing peppers · checked 2026-09-15
Water: University of Minnesota Extension, Growing peppers · checked 2026-09-15
Looking after it: University of Minnesota Extension, Growing peppers · checked 2026-09-15
Harvest: University of Maryland Extension, Growing Peppers in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15
Step by step: University of Maryland Extension, Growing Peppers in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15 · Hot pepper handling and hardening
Questions people ask: University of Minnesota Extension, Growing peppers · checked 2026-09-15

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