Vegetables

Chilli

Start in punnets and plant out once nights are warm; pots suit cool zones.

Capsicum sp. · Vegetables · Annual or seasonal

When to plant Chilli in Australia

Sourced timing by broad climate zone. Zones with no sourced timing for an action are left out rather than estimated.

Sow seed: Cool — Feb; Temperate — Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov; Subtropical — Dec; Tropical — Mar, Sep, Oct, Dec; Arid — Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Plant out seedlings: Cool, Subtropical, Tropical — 4–6 weeks after sowing; Temperate — Oct, Nov; Arid — Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Harvest: Temperate, Arid — 12 weeks after sowing

Australian planting guide by climate zone

Sourced guidance by broad climate zone, shown as fixed months, timing relative to sowing or planting, or written growing advice. Your GrowCal calendar applies your regional growing profile, so its dates may sit earlier or later than the months below.

Chilli planting timing by Australian climate zone
Action	Cool	Temperate	Subtropical	Tropical	Arid
Sow	Feb Details Sow in February.	Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov Details Sow seed in the months the Gardening Australia magazine grow guide lists for this climate zone.	Dec Details Sow in December.	Mar, Sep, Oct, Dec Details Sow in March. Sow in September-October. Sow in December.	Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov Details Sow seed in the months the Gardening Australia magazine grow guide lists for this climate zone.
Plant out	4–6 wks after sowingRelative Details Plant out 4-6 weeks after sowing in punnets.	Oct, Nov Details Plant seedlings in the months the Gardening Australia magazine grow guide lists for this climate zone.	4–6 wks after sowingRelative Details Plant out 4-6 weeks after sowing in punnets.	4–6 wks after sowingRelative Details Plant out 4-6 weeks after sowing in punnets.	Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Plant seedlings in the months the Gardening Australia magazine grow guide lists for this climate zone.
Feed	No sourced timing currently shown	Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov Details Water consistently and deeply, particularly when fruit start forming. Keep mulched with straw. Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Apply organic fertiliser pellets monthly. Apply sulfate of potash when flowers start appearing. Plants may require supporting with stakes or a trellis.	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec Details Water consistently and deeply, particularly when fruit start forming. Keep mulched with straw. Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Apply organic fertiliser pellets monthly. Apply sulfate of potash when flowers start appearing. Plants may require supporting with stakes or a trellis.
Pest check	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown
Harvest	No sourced timing currently shown	12 wks after sowingRelative Details Start harvesting from 12 weeks. Cut chilies off the plant using scissors or garden snips, leaving 2-3cm of stem intact. Harvesting regularly encourages more fruit to develop.	No sourced timing currently shown	No sourced timing currently shown	12 wks after sowingRelative Details Start harvesting from 12 weeks. Cut chilies off the plant using scissors or garden snips, leaving 2-3cm of stem intact. Harvesting regularly encourages more fruit to develop.

Only sourced growing and timing guidance is shown.

Care guidance

Sourced advice for Chilli that isn't tied to a month.

Watch for fruit fly and blossom end rot.
Harvest as chillies colour up; the source gives no maturity duration.

Zone notes

Temperate: Warm, frost free conditions. Long growing season.
Arid: Warm, frost free conditions. Long growing season.

About this data

This schedule is part of GrowCal's preview horticultural dataset — useful as general guidance, and still being validated. Conditions vary with your soil, aspect, frost and variety. Read more on the data & methodology page, or send us a correction.

Chilli planting guides by city

These city guides use the same dated regional schedules as GrowCal calendars.

Other plants in the GrowCal dataset, mostly from the same category.

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