One of the many questions that newbie chili growers ask is “how can I make my chili grow faster?” Whether you want to grow chilis that are mildly or fiercely hot, there’s a type of chili fit for every occasion. Even if you’re not a fan of spicy food, a little bit of chili mixed into your food can stimulate your taste buds and appetite, making your dining experience more appealing.
Chilis are relatively easy to grow and they can easily brighten up your garden with their vibrant colors. They grow into small to medium-sized bushes and they can live for a few years in places where the climate is warm. They also grow best in areas where they can get plenty of sunlight.
How to Grow Chilis Faster
Chilis are extremely one of the most versatile plants out there. You can grow them on your windowsill, greenhouse, or directly in your garden’s soil. It’s best to start planting the seeds indoors around January to February to give them enough time to ripen before the end of the summer.
Usually, the best advice for growing chilis is to keep them warm all the time. You can use indoor lights if the weather is still cool to maintain a warm environment for your newly-sown chilis. If you’ve planted them indoors, make sure to place your containers in an area where it can receive full sun, as it plays a big role in helping them grow big and strong.
If you want to speed up your harvest, here are some tips that you can follow:
Tip #1. Choose early-season pepper
One trick in speeding up your chili harvest is to choose variants that grow fast. As a general rule, the hotter the chili is, the longer it will take for it to grow and ripen. If you want to enjoy your chili a few months after planting, you can opt to grow milder chili variants.
Tip #2. Speed up seed germination
If you’re planting your chili from seed, another trick you can use is to speed up its germination rate. You can do this by following certain techniques.
First, you need to presoak the seeds for about 10 to 12 hours or overnight before you plant them in the soil. Soaking them will help weaken the shell of the chili seeds so that by the time they’re planted in the soil, they won’t have to work so hard to break out into the surface. Studies show that presoaking the seeds will speed up the chili seeds’ germination rate by 20% to 30%.
Second, you need to place them in a damp paper towel to facilitate their germination. This will speed up the germination rate by 40%. Be sure to top the seeds with a dry paper towel before you fold it and place it in a Ziplock for at least 3 to 4 days.
Third, you can place your seedling trays inside a hobby greenhouse. Although this may not be the quickest way to germinate chili seeds, this is a common practice among countless home gardeners. Since placing them in a hobby greenhouse allows you to control the temperature and humidity levels inside the enclosed space, this can help speed up their germination rate.
Tip #3. Mix potting soil with compost
Nitrogen is an important component in planting almost any type of plant, including chili. When planting your chili seeds, be sure to add compost to your potting soil as this will help in speeding up the growth of your chilis in the first month. It will also add beneficial microbes to your soil which is helpful in the development of your plant.
Tip #4. Plant your chilis in an area that gets a lot of sunlight
If your chilis are planted in an area where it receives partial sun, chances are, the growth could slow down and it won’t be as productive as it should be. Chilis love sunlight and when they receive a full dose of it, its growth and development will speed up. On average, it should get a minimum of at least 5 hours of sun exposure, but if you want it to be productive, you should give it at least 8 hours of direct sunlight.
The Many Perks of Having a Hobby Greenhouse
Want to protect your plants from extreme drops or increase in the temperature? Do you want to grow pest-free crops? If you have a hobby greenhouse, it’s possible to achieve all of that.
One of the main purposes of having a greenhouse is for your plants’ protection. Since all of them require different temperatures to thrive, any changes in the weather could affect their development. In a hobby greenhouse, you will have full control of the environment because you can regulate the temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors.
Other benefits of hobby greenhouse gardening that are worth mentioning include longer growing seasons, protection against pests and destructive animals, protection against harsh weather conditions, and the endless opportunities to grow any type of plant.
The Next Step to Knowing the Answer to “How Can I Make my Chili Grow Faster?”
There are a lot of ways in which you can speed up the growth of your chili plants. Strategies like germinating your seeds through soaking or the paper towel method will contribute to the fast growth of your plant. You can also use a greenhouse to grow your chilis if the weather in your area currently doesn’t support the growth of your chili plant.
With the right knowledge, the answer to your question, “How can I make my chili grow faster?” will come easy. However, if you want to take your gardening experience to the next level, consider giving hobby greenhouse gardening a try. Keeping the tips mentioned above in mind, coupled with extra care, and the ideal growing environment of a hobby greenhouse, you can expect your chili harvest to come a little early this year.