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Bird's Eye
Chilli Pepper (Hot) in the UK
Don't let their size fool you, these tiny heritage Thai peppers pack a proper wallop. If you like it seriously hot, these are for you, ideal for Asian cooking.
Sow window for Chilli Pepper (Hot) generally.
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How to grow it
Right, chillies need a long season, so get them going early, like January, February, or March. I usually sow mine in small pots or seed trays, just a couple of seeds per cell, about 5mm deep. They need a good bit of warmth to get going, 18-25°C is ideal, so a heated propagator or a warm spot with a heat mat is key. And if you're sowing early, some grow lights make a big difference, stops them getting leggy, like I say. Patience is a virtue here, they can take a bit to sprout.
Once your seedlings have got their proper first set of leaves, carefully prick them out and pot them on into individual small pots. Keep them warm and in a bright spot, a south-facing windowsill is grand if you don't have a greenhouse. Up here in the North East, you won't be putting them outside until well after the last frost in mid to late May, if at all. Many varieties do best in a greenhouse or a large pot on a sheltered, sunny patio. Give them plenty of space, about 45-60cm apart.
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Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.