Grow Your Own Green Chili Plant to Get Your Heat On This Summer
Green Chillies vary from mild to hot. What some people don’t know is that green chillies are actually red chillies that are picked before they turn red. You can decide how spicy you like your chillies and pick them according to your heat preference. Here’s how to grow your own green chillies to get your heat on this Summer!
Starting and Planting Your Seeds
Start your green chili plant inside so that the seed has time to germinate. The best time to start your indoor green chili is about 6-8 weeks before the final frost. This will give your plant plenty of time to get started before you have to transplant it outside. By the time the seed is 6-8 weeks old, it should be warm enough to transplant outdoors. The temperature at night should be consistently above 50℉. Plant your seedling in an area that receives full sunlight with little shade throughout the day. Your green chili seedlings should be planted 18-24 inches apart to prevent your plants from crowding each other and causing damage to other green chili plants. Each seedling should have plenty of room to grow.
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Caring For Your Plant
You should fertilize your green chili plant immediately after you transplant them outdoors. This will help your seedlings to take off giving you a lot of green chillies. A liquid fertilizer works the best for green chili plants. Try using a fertilizer with nitrogen and phosphorus to get the best results. Water your green chili plant about twice a week. Make sure that you soak the plant so that the water goes several inches deep. The soil should be moist but not soaking wet. In particularly dry or hot weather you may need to water your plant more than twice a week. Because green chili plants need a lot of nutrients you may need to apply a second dose of liquid fertilizer when the plant is 4 weeks old. Check your green chili plant daily for pests. Aphids love munching on green chillies. Rabbits, deer, and other larger animals tend to leave spicy plants alone.
Harvesting Your Green Chillies
When you harvest your green chillies make sure you take care not to get any of the spicy juices in your eyes or on your skin. It can irritate your eyes and cause them to burn. The best way to harvest green chillies is to cut the stem instead of pulling the chili off. Cutting the stem will make it easier to dry or roast the chili. The green chili will be an all over green and shiny when it’s ready to harvest.
Summing Up
Green chillies can add a lot of flavor and heat to your dishes. They can be mild or hot depending on when you harvest your green chili. You’ll love having green chillies thrown into your meals. You can roast them, dice them, dry them, or make chili verde. The possibilities are endless! Try growing them and see how much fun and flavor they can add to your life.
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