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The 2026 Chilli Growing Season Has Begun

Sunday, January 18, 2026

It's that time of year again! The first batch of chilli seeds hit the dirt yesterday evening and so the 2026 chilli growing season is now officially underway. The reverse osmosis unit was in need of some attention, so on the 13th January I changed the pre-filters, DI resin and RO membrane, which is a job I hate doing. It took about 40 minutes just to get all of the canisters unscrewed. Even though I only hand tighten all of the canisters, a combination of water pressure, O-ring compression and plastic-on-plastic threads slightly cold welded together over a 12 month period can make the bonds very difficult to break. Soaking the canisters in hot water for 10 minutes or so can help to loosen the bond, and when unscrewing them I use a couple of old off-cuts from a rubber pond liner. This allows for maximum grip and works very well.

Old Reverse Osmosis Filters - 13th January 2026

Reverse Osmosis Unit - 18th January 2026

On the 16th January, I mixed up a batch of seed sowing compost and sterilised it in the oven and then set up the Ark of the Covenant and the heated propagator on the kitchen table. I also put all of the plant pots and clear plastic cups into a bleach solution overnight to save time the following day. I find these jobs are worth doing ahead of time instead of rushing around like a blue-arsed fly and trying to get everything done on the same day.

Sterilised Seed Sowing Compost - 16th January 2026

Heated Propagator and Homemade Grow Light - 16th January 2026

I normally sow the seeds for all Capsicum species at the same time, but this year I'm sowing the seeds earlier than usual, so I've only sown the C. chinense, C. pubescens and C. baccatum varieties to begin with. The C. annuum varieties will be sown in a few weeks, probably around the second week in February. This year, I'm growing two new varieties and revisiting several others that I've not grown for a while, so it should be fun to see how things work out. I'll update my 2026 grow list when I publish my next post in a few weeks.

Chilli Seeds Sown - 17th January 2026

Wherever you are in the Northern Hemisphere, I wish you a successful 2026 chilli growing season and I hope all of your harvests are bountiful and extremely spicy. All hail the Chilli Gods!

The 2025 Chilli Growing Season Has Ended

Friday, November 07, 2025

The 2025 chilli growing season has now come to an end for me. I took down the remaining greenhouse plants (Bengle Naga, Aji Lemon, Fatalii, Dwarf Chiltepin, and Big Black Mama) on Wednesday 22nd October and the remaining five plants (Malawi Bird's Eye, Red Chiltepin, San Isidro Rocoto and Aji Largo x2) on Tuesday 4th November. All of the growing equipment, such as plant pots, water trays, bamboo canes, garden cane caps, plastic plant labels, buckets and bottles, measuring jugs, measuring pots and stirring rods have now been washed and sanitised and stored away until next season. It's always very sad to see the chilli plants go, especially when they've performed so well, as is most definitely the case this year! 😭

End of Season Pickings from the Rocoto Plants - 4th November 2025

Here are the last photos that I took of the greenhouse plants on the 22nd October. Below them, I've included a few photos of the Aji Largo plants that were also taken on the same day. However, as already mentioned, they weren't taken down until the 4th November, 13 days later, because I was still waiting for some isolated pods to finish ripening for true to type seed.

Dwarf Chiltepin - 22nd October 2025

Orange Habanero - 22nd October 2025

Greenhouse Chilli Plants Taken Down - 22nd October 2025

Aji Largo - 22nd October 2025

These next photos show some of my recent chilli harvests and they were taken between the 10th October and the 4th November. If you're curious, the varieties shown in the photos below are Aji Largo, San Isidro Rocoto, Fatalii, Orange Habanero, Aji Lemon, Big Black Mama, Bengle Naga and Dwarf Chiltepin.

Aji Largo - 10th October 2025

San Isidro Rocoto - 10th October 2025

Chilli Harvest - 10th October 2025

End of Season Pickings from the Greenhouse - 22nd October 2025

San Isidro Rocoto and Aji Largo - 25th October 2025

End of Season Pickings from the Rocoto Plants - 4th November 2025

Aside from managing to dry lots of ripe Ring of Fire chillies and Malawi Bird's Eye chillies around the house on windowsills during the summer, some of which are shown in a photo below, I've pickled all remaining unripe Rocoto peppers and Chiltepin peppers and I've also been working on a new Andean Hot sauce recipe which is made using C. pubescens and C. baccatum varieties. It's now in its final stages and I'm really impressed by how well it has turned out. It only needs a few minor tweaks and the recipe is finished. I'll be making another batch in a few days just so I can free up some space in the freezer. I've also made a batch of spicy lime pickle, but that won't be ready to eat for another three weeks yet.

Pickled Chillies - 6th November 2025

Spicemad's Andean Hot Sauce - 6th November 2025

Spicemad's Spicy Lime Pickle - 6th November 2025

Dried Chillies - 2nd October 2025

Just to think, that in about 10 weeks from now it will be time for me to sow the 2026 chilli seeds. In the meantime, I now have an upright freezer filled to the brim with the devil's fruits to keep me warm during the winter! If you're unsure about how to preserve your chilli harvest then check out the page I wrote on preserving chilli peppers. 😈

The Chilli Freezer - 7th November 2025

To say that I'm impressed by how well this growing season has gone would be an understatement. Many growers I know have also said the same thing. Anyhow, I'll see you in a few weeks — when the madness begins again! Until then, I have a few new additions for the site and some edits to do, so if you need me I'll be in the back room. All hail the Chilli Gods! 🌶

Chilli Plant Update - 28th September 2025

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Well, the weather is now starting to cool down quite significantly, which unfortunately isn't good news for the chilli plants. I don't know about you, but I've had a bumper crop of chillies this year and there are still quite a few more yet to ripen. Since posting the last update I've now got rid of all the Ring of Fire plants because I already have lots of them in the freezer at the green stage and semi-ripe stage and I also have lots of dried ones too. The Peruvian White Habanero plant has also gone, along with the Aji Mochero plant because all of the chillies had ripened up and are now in the freezer awaiting further instructions. The good news is that at least I can now get in the greenhouse without having to take out some of the plants first!

Chilli Harvest - 9th September 2025

Some of the plants are still setting fruit, namely Papa Joe's Scotch Bonnet and Orange Habanero. This year's Orange Habanero plant has been very prolific. I already have a bagful of ripe chillies from the plant that I picked when it was growing indoors. However, several weeks ago I moved it into the greenhouse and since doing so it has now set a lot more fruit. This is good going considering that the plant is only growing in a 5-litre pot. Orange Habanero has always been one of my favourite varieties. I think the next plants to be taken down will be Fatalii, Aji Lemon, Mako Akokosrade, Chocolate Habanero and Biker Billy Jalapeño, all of which have nearly finished. That will just leave Aji Largo x2, San Isidro Rocoto, Dwarf Chiltepin, Orange Habanero, Bengle Naga, Papa Joe's Scotch Bonnet, Malawi Bird's Eye and a brown superhot variety.

Anyway, that's enough rambling from me. Here are some photos that were taken over the last month showing some of the chilli plants and a few chilli harvests. I also have three new varieties to add to the website but I've been extremely busy and will do so when I get time.

Chilli Plants in the Greenhouse - 8th September 2025

Aji Largo - 9th September 2025

Aji Largo - 27th September 2025

Aji Lemon - 9th September 2025

Aji Mochero - 28th August 2025

Aji Mochero - 9th September 2025

Dwarf Chiltepin - 9th September 2025

Fatalii - 28th August 2025

Fatalii - 9th September 2025

Fatalii - 27th September 2025

Orange Habanero - 27th September 2025

San Isidro Rocoto - 9th September 2025

San Isidro Rocoto - 24th August 2025

San Isidro Rocoto - 9th September 2025

Chilli Harvest - 24th August 2025

Chilli Harvest - 9th September 2025

Chilli Harvest - 28th September 2025

Rocoto Harvest - 28th September 2025

I estimate that the chilli growing season will end for me around the end of October. I have a hunch that it's going to be a very spicy winter. All hail the Chilli Gods! 😈

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The 2026 Chilli Growing Season Has Begun

The 2025 Chilli Growing Season Has Ended

Chilli Plant Update - 28th September 2025

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