Bird’s Eye
Hot Chilli in the US

Chilies need a long growing season and plenty of warmth, so you'll want to get them started indoors. Plan to sow about 10-12 weeks before your last frost date. For folks in Zone 5, that's March or April. Zone 6 and 7, February or March. Zones 8 and 9, you can get going in January or February. Sow seeds about a quarter-inch deep in good seed-starting mix, maybe a couple of seeds per pot, then thin to the strongest one. Keep them somewhere warm, 70-80°F (21-27°C) is ideal, on a heat mat if you've got one. They won't do much if they're cold.

Once your seedlings have a few true leaves, you can prick them out into individual pots. Keep them warm and watered, watching them grow. Before planting out, you'll need to harden them off properly for a week or two, gradually getting them used to outside conditions. Wait until all danger of frost has passed, and the soil is good and warm. Plant them out in a sunny spot, maybe 18-24 inches apart. They'll need a bit of support, a stake or a cage, especially the taller types, as those pods get heavy. They do well in good-sized containers too, 5-gallon buckets are grand.