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Question by Chuck: How to grow hot chilis?
I have read that growing chilies is similar to growing tomatoes. But how similar? Can I use tomato fertilizer? What soil should I use? Do they require a cage to grow up. (I can’t remember what they’re called. I think trellis.) I have the seedlings and have used cinnamon and chamomile tea to beat damping off. My seedlings are Jalapeno, Habanero, Bhut Jolokia, and Trinidad scorpion. How hot of temperatures can they handle? I live in Nebraska and we sometimes get to 110 degrees during the summer. Sorry for the bombardment of questions.
Thanks
Best answer:
Answer by HelperGirl
Hot chilies do not need a trellis really. They do grow like tomatoes though. I would recommend planting them in pots first near a porch with plenty of sun and water. The when thy about three inches tall transfer them to your garden. All chili plants vary on if you want a trellis on them but I’ve never really used one. As for soil it can be any as log as its chocked full of nutrient and I use tomato fertilizer also on mine because they have very similar skin. With weather wise they can last pretty hot temperatures. Just soak the roots in the morning and check on them sometimes.
What do you think? Answer below!
well they like about the same weather as tomatoes, mainly you dont want them to get chilled, 110 is pretty hot, they may be alright as long as they dont dry out, planning to keep the direct midday sun off may be best .. I grow them right in the garden, sandy, loamy soil, with plenty of compost .. any dirt should be ok lol .. yeah the water situation can be tricky if theyre potted, they like plenty of water but drained well, and the more root space the better .. fertilizer, i have good luck with granular 6-6-6, about every two weeks just work it into the soil around the base, again potted is more tricky to fertilize its easy to overdo it in a pot so go easy, if theyre green theyre happy … when they get lots of fruit i usually stake them and loosely tie them up so they dont break over in the wind ..
Peppers and chilis like warm weather, lots of sun, and similar growing conditions. Both do NOT want to expereince temps under 40. Peppers don’t need caging, although I occaisionally have some sprawl a bit. But with peppers, you generally don’t have the problem of the fruits rotting if they touch the soil. So I wouldn’t bother caging them.
Both will not set fruit when the night temps are above a certain level. If you get a heat wave, with day highs above 100, and nights not cooling off (staying above 80), you’ll find that although your plants still grow and live, they are making new fruits. But it’s okay. Be patient, and when the weather cools down a bit, they kick in and produce. My peppers give me the most fruit starting in late August and September. it’s not yet cold, but the nights are no longer beastly.
I haven’t tested them in extreme heat, as I rarely see above 100. If leaves show signs of scortch, it would be simple enough to erect a shade cloth for the duration of the extreme heat. But I suspect as long as they get an inch of water once a week, they’ll endure the heat just fine.