Crops › Mild Chilli
How to grow Mild Chilli
in the US
Sow February to March, plant out April to May, harvest June to September. About 75 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Right then, mild chilies, or sweet peppers as some call 'em, they're a cracking addition to any backyard. Dead easy to grow, honestly, and nothing beats picking your own for a proper fresh taste. They're part of the Solanaceae family, just like tomatoes, and given a bit of sun and warmth, they'll really thrive on your plot.
Sowing
You'll want to get your mild chili seeds started indoors, oh, about 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date. For those in warmer spots, like USDA zones 8 and 9, you could be sowing as early as January or February. Zone 7 might start in February or March, and if you're in zones 5 or 6, March and April are your best bet. Sow them about a quarter-inch deep in good seed compost, keep 'em warm, 70-80°F (21-27°C) is ideal, on a heat mat if you've got one. They're not keen on being direct sown, you see, need a head start, and you won't often find plug plants for these.
Growing on
Once they've got a couple of proper true leaves, you'll need to prick 'em out gently into individual pots. Keep 'em growing on in a bright, warm spot, like a sunny windowsill or a greenhouse if you've got one. Before planting out, harden them off for a week or two, gradually getting 'em used to the outdoors. Don't rush it though; transplant 'em out only after all danger of frost has passed and night temperatures are consistently above 55°F (13°C). Give 'em about 18-24 inches (45-60cm) between plants; containers work well for these too, and bigger varieties might need a stake or cage to stop 'em lodging over.
Looking after it
Mild chilies love the heat, so a good trick is to lay down some black mulch or fabric. It warms up the soil proper, you know, keeps 'em chuffed. Keep the soil evenly moist, don't let 'em dry out completely, and feed 'em lightly but regularly, a balanced liquid feed works a treat. If your nights are still a bit nippy early on, a row cover can give 'em a good boost and help them get established.
What goes wrong
Now, you might run into a few critters. Aphids and whiteflies can be a bit of a nuisance; a good blast of water can dislodge 'em, or some insecticidal soap if it's really bad. Cutworms can snip young plants right at the base, so a little collar around the stem at planting time helps stop 'em in their tracks. Keep an eye out, that's the main thing.
Harvest
You're looking at about 75 days from sowing till your first harvest, which is pretty quick, to be honest. You can pick most mild chilies green for a bigger yield, but if you want maximum sweetness, let 'em color up fully on the plant. Just snip 'em off with a sharp knife or scissors, leaving a bit of stem attached. Store 'em chilled in the fridge for the longest life.
My best tip? If you've got a spare bucket, drill some drainage holes, fill it with good compost, and stick a plant in it. You can move it around to catch the sun all day long, and it makes all the difference.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Bell – Red A classic blocky bell pepper, it turns from green to a lovely bright red. Perfect for eating fresh in salads or roasting up for a proper sweet flavor. | No club votes yet |
| Bell – Yellow This crisp, juicy bell ripens to a sunny yellow with a nice mild flavor. Great for adding color to your meals and very reliable. | No club votes yet |
| Bell – Orange A sweet and fruity orange bell pepper with thick, crunchy walls. Excellent for eating raw or throwing on the grill. | No club votes yet |
| Bell – Purple These attractive bells start purple and eventually mature to a deep red. They've got a lovely crunchy texture, a bit different. | No club votes yet |
| Bell – Chocolate A unique brown-skinned bell pepper that boasts a rich, sweet flavor when fully ripe. A real treat for something a bit different on your plate. | No club votes yet |
| Shishito These thin-walled Japanese frying peppers are mostly mild, but you'll get an occasional spicy one in the mix. Crack 'em in a pan with a bit of oil and salt for a cracking snack. | No club votes yet |
| Padrón A Spanish tapas pepper, best picked green and quickly blistered in hot oil. Just a few turn hot when they ripen red, makes for a nice surprise. | No club votes yet |
| Poblano Heart-shaped green pods, these are ideal for stuffing and roasting up a treat. Let 'em dry and you've got Ancho chiles, proper versatile. | No club votes yet |
| Ancho These are simply dried, ripened Poblano peppers, offering a gentle heat and rich flavor. Perfect for making those deep, complex sauces you find in Mexican cooking. | No club votes yet |
| Anaheim A long, mild chile, this one's a classic for roasting and canning green chiles. Very dependable and gives you a good yield. | No club votes yet |
| Cubanelle A sweet frying pepper with a tapered shape and thin walls, proper Italian style. They're dead easy to grow and brilliant in stir-fries or grilled. | No club votes yet |
| Sweet Banana A prolific plant giving pale yellow pods that sweeten up nicely as they turn red. Absolutely cracking for pickling, keeps you going through winter. | No club votes yet |
| Corno di Toro A long, horn-shaped Italian sweet pepper, superb for roasting or grilling whole. It's got a lovely sweet flavor and looks great on the plant. | No club votes yet |
| Marconi Red This large, elongated sweet pepper offers high yields and a rich, satisfying flavor. A reliable choice for a good crop, honestly. | No club votes yet |
| Jimmy Nardello A beloved heirloom for frying, these are very sweet with thin walls and dry well too. A proper gardener's favorite, you know what I mean. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Mild Chilli seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | January to April | June to September |
| Zone 4 | January to April | June to September |
| Zone 5 | March to April | July to September |
| Zone 6 | February to March | June to September |
| Zone 7 | February to March | June to September |
| Zone 8 | January to February | May to August |
| Zone 9 | January to February | May to August |
| Zone 10 | January to April | June to September |
Cook the harvest
A golden, slightly sweet cornbread loaded with diced mild chillies that give every bite a gentle warmth without overpowering heat. Baked in a cast iron skillet for a crispy bottom crust, this is the cornbread that goes with chili, soup, barbecue — or just butter and honey on its own. A Southern staple elevated.
32 min · easyWhole mild chillies (think Anaheim or Cubanelle) stuffed with a seasoned cheese filling and baked until tender and melty. They have just enough heat to be interesting and enough sweetness to be crowd-pleasing — the perfect entry point for anyone who finds jalapeños too intense. A great appetizer or side dish.
40 min · easyA classic green salsa made with roasted mild chillies and tomatillos — bright, tangy, gently warm, and far better than anything from a jar. This forms the base for enchiladas, the dipping sauce for chips, the braising liquid for pork, and the flavor backbone of green chili. Make a big batch.
30 min · easySoft corn tortillas rolled around seasoned shredded chicken, smothered in a homemade mild green chili sauce, and topped with melted cheese. This is weeknight Mexican-American cooking at its most comforting — the kind of dish that empties the pan before it reaches the table. Made with fresh mild chillies, the sauce is incomparably good.
60 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: Basil, Marigolds, Carrots, Onions
Questions people ask
When do you sow Mild Chilli in the US?
Sow Mild Chilli from February to March in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out April to May, after the last frost.
How long does Mild Chilli take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 75 days, with the harvest June to September.
Which Mild Chilli varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Bell – Red, Bell – Yellow, Bell – Orange, Bell – Purple and more.
Track your Mild Chilli from packet to plate
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.