Chilli peppers (Capsicum annuum) were actually discovered by Europeans in the Americas (Ecuador/Peru for example) as early as 1560. Our diets here in Ireland took a while to catch up however and we only started using them in cooking in and around the 1960's and 70's. Now they are enthusiastically added to bolognaise, tacos, salads and used in marinades to give an extra 'kick' to whatever we are cooking.
Chilli's are slow growers and can take from 4 to 6 months to produce a fruit from seed so now is the time to sow them! All you need is a sunny (or bright I know 'sunny' may be a bit much of an ask at the moment), warm spot and a bit of patience.
Firstly you will need some good quality compost such as Gro-Sure Seed and Cutting Compost and a seed tray such as Grow It Seed & Cutting Tray. If you have any old cardboard egg cartons lying about they should work.
Fill up your pots with the compost and moisten lightly.
Now for your seeds. There are so many different types to choose from. The classic chilli that we make Paprika from is an Hungarian variety called Balalaika (goulash being one of their favourite dishes). This variety is quite mild and favoured over the hotter options.
If you are feeling adventurous you could try and grow something a little spicier like the Mexican Red Habanero. Though it's not for the feint hearted!
For those of us not a fan of the heat there is Petit Cevenol heirloom which produces a very gentle heat and was produced with the help of a Michelin chef who wanted a 'suggestion' of chilli flavour in his cooking without the heat.
Whichever seeds you choose do try and get ones that have been harvested and grown in Ireland as these will be more acclimatised to our less sunny conditions and so will be stronger growers here.
Once you have your seeds push them gently into your seed pods or pots about 2-3cm down and cover over. You can add a layer of Perlite to keep in heat and moisture if you like though it's not crucial.
Now just leave them in a sunny spot such as a windowsill.
Once the seedlings have sprouted and gotten to be about 1 inch tall you can transplant them into their own smaller individual pots of multipurpose compost keeping them in the same warm spot as before.
Finally once they have gotten bigger and their roots are showing through the bottom of these pots you can transplant them into a larger pot and give them support such as Grow It Plant Sticks to help them keep their shape.
Once May comes your plant should be ready to produce or already producing chilli's!
Bear in mind that because of our climate Chilli Peppers will never be able to thrive outdoors and so will have to be left either inside or in a greenhouse or polytunnel but if you have a very successful grow rate they make excellent presents for friends and family and there are 100's of variety's to try and grow. Try and grow a few different ones and take a 'heat taste' test once they fruit :)
Happy Sowing!
Sophie X
