The 2025 Chilli Growing Season Has Begun

The 2025 chilli growing season has begun, and so(w) the cycle begins again! Welcome aboard the merry-go-round, folks. With last year's late start, a minor setback in early April, plus the poor weather we had during the summer, I decided this year to sow my chilli seeds a bit earlier. If the weather turns out to be as poor this year as it was last year then at least there will be enough time remaining for the Rocoto peppers to fully ripen. It's all a balancing act, as you know.

Chilli Seeds Sown - 19th January 2025

Yesterday evening, I made up a batch of potting mixture and sterilised it in the oven at 150C for one hour before transferring it into a bucket and leaving it to cool overnight. This afternoon, I set up the grow light in the kitchen, and this evening before sowing my seeds I sterilised the plant pots, clear plastic cups (which I use as lids) and the heated propagator using a mild bleach solution.

Sterilised Plant Pots and Clear Plastic Cups - 19th January 2025

Sterilised Plant Pots and Clear Plastic Cups - 19th January 2025

Sterilised Heated Propagator - 19th January 2025

This year, I'm growing 19 chilli varieties, so what better date to sow the seeds than on the 19th? Out of the 19 varieties that I'm growing, four of them are new ones and the rest are varieties that I've grown before. I won't be posting photos of any new varieties until much later in the season whey I know for sure that they're true to type.

Chilli Seeds Sown - 19th January 2025

Spring is officially 60 days away and already the nights have started drawing out. It won't be long now until the weather warms up and everything starts coming back to life. By this time next month the evenings will be lighter and the New Year will be just around the corner. I wish you a fantastic chilli growing season and I hope you end up with an abundance of wonderful spicy goodness! All hail the Chilli Gods! 😛