How to Grow Chillies

Chillies are easy to grow from seed and come in wide varieties, from mild to fiery hot! They’re perfect for adding extra flavour to stir-fries, curries, Mexican dishes, or even daring treats like chilli-infused vodka and chocolate desserts. You can start from seed or buy small plants from your local garden centre.

Unwins have a wide variety of chilli seeds that are easy to grow and full of vitamins.

When to Sow

Chillies are best sown from January to April. They need plenty of warmth to germinate:

Indoors (January): Sow seeds in a heated propagator on a windowsill.
Greenhouse: Once the weather warms and the last frost has passed, you can grow chillies outside in a greenhouse.

How to Sow Seeds

Fill a seed tray or small pots with John Innes Seed Sowing Compost or Westland Seed and Cutting Compost.
Scatter the seeds on top and cover lightly with compost or vermiculite.
Water well – chillies thrive in moist (but not soaking) compost.
Cover with cling film if you don’t have a propagator to retain heat.
Place on a windowsill or in a greenhouse, depending on the temperature.
Check seedlings regularly, keeping compost evenly moist.
Germination usually takes 7–10 days.

Transplanting Chilli Plants

Once seedlings are strong enough to handle:

Transplant into individual 7.5cm pots using John Innes No.1 Young Plant Compost, enriched with Carbon Gold biochar to improve root health, water management, and nutrient retention.
Keep plants on the windowsill until the last frost passes.
Transplant into their final positions: a 2L pot, or a flexible solution like the Westland Multi-Planter Growbag, which allows you to grow multiple vegetables, herbs, and salad crops in one space-saving container.