Capsicum & Chillies Gardening

1. Capsicum and Chillies
Capsicum spp.
Chillies would have to be about the greatest things on earth (okay, slight exaggeration, but they are
pretty awesome!) I love chillies so much I have driven for two hours just to get one dipped in
amazing Belgian dark chocolate. Apart from combining my two favourite foods, this is a taste
sensation that must be experienced by everyone at least once. For those of you who can’t fathom the
idea, I am considering setting up an offset scheme, where you pay me to eat your share of chilies
dipped in chocolate. Well, it sounds like a good idea to me!
Planting Schedule
Warm: All year (in frost free zones)
Temperate: August – December
Cool: September – November
Position, Position, Position!
Capsicums and chillies are so easy to grow that I have never had a Yummy Yard without them. That
said, it has a lot to do with picking a great position. Just like their cousins the tomatoes, they need a
warm, sunny spot that is not too affected by the wind. They are total sooks when it comes to frost
and in cool areas they tend to die back over winter and re-shoot in spring. In areas with really, really
hot summers, a wee shadecloth tent may be exactly the thing for these guys. I use between a 30% –
50% shadecloth, and consequently have no problem with sun scald or fruit set.
One other thing to remember is that both capsicums and chillies can be grown in pots and
containers. In fact, I have given chilies in decorative pots as Christmas gifts for as long as I can
remember (I really must put a little more thought in this year). Point is, they’re virtually fool proof,

2. look amazing and are so great in pots.
Another thing to remember is that because chillies and capsicums are related to tomatoes, eggplants
and potatoes, it’s important to rotate these crops. Leave about three years between planting any of
these guys in the same patch. See my hot tip for a great idea to overcome this.
Talking Dirty
Like their close relations, chillies and capsicums will do best in a deep, well draining soil with a bit
of compost in it. That said, I have seen capsicums do well in really clay soils and in sandy soils. The
secret to their success is warm soil, mulch and room to breathe. Leave about 50cm – 60cm between
your capsicums when planting out, as this gives them space and free air movement. It also allows
the sun to warm the soil. Prepare the soil a month before planting by throwing in a bit of pelletised
chook poo. Then mulch over and count down the days.
Feed Me!
Feeding these guys is fraught with danger, and is often totally unnecessary. If you must feed, make
sure you don’t do it with a high nitrogen fertiliser. This will turn your plants into big, green wimps,
with heaps of sooky leaves and no fruit. Generally speaking, manufactured fertilizers are too high in
nitrogen which damages both the plant and the environment. Give ‘em a bit of pelletised poo blend
when the fruit first forms, and repeat this each month… that’s it!
What about the Water?
Capsicums are deep-rooted, but this doesn’t mean you don’t have to water them. They need regular,
deep soakings of water which will vary depending on your soil type. Sandy soils need more water,
clay soils less, and combo soils are somewhere in between. Confused? Don’t be afraid to stick your
finger into your soil and check your moisture levels. If the dirt sticks, the soil is damp. If it doesn’t,
water well!!!

3. Are We There Yet?
Chillies are perfect for both the impatient gardener (me) and the lazy gardener (also me), in that
they can be picked at just about any time. In fact, you can leave them on the bushes until they
shrivel, and them thread them on some string (or dental floss, which works well as a string
substitute in a student share house). Chilies at all stages of maturity can be eaten, and the more you
pick, the happier your chili plant will be.
Capsicums are not quite as simple, but they are pretty close. They can be picked at just about any
time, but should never be left on the plant too long as over ripe capsicums become rank and attract
pests. It should be noted here that many people find fully-ripe capsicums easier to digest than green
ones (I have no idea how or why I know that, but it is true).
And, with both chillies and capsicums, cut them off the plant when you harvest them instead of
pulling them off… this hurts the plant and breaks my heart!
Pests and the Rest
Chillies are amazingly pest free, due to the fact that most pests don’t seem to like chilli. Capsicums
can be susceptible to blossom end rot and fruit fly, and can suffer sunburn like a redhead on the
Gold Coast! I have to say that I reckon chilies and capsicums are so trouble free, even my mum could
grow them.
Hot Tips
My hot tip here relates to crop rotation, relations and disease avoidance. But this is not always a
popular tip so take from it what you will. My suggestion is to plant a realistic but limited selection of
tomatoes, capsicums, eggplants and chillis together each season. Then rotate them in this formation

4. every year thereafter. I mean, you only need two chillies, two eggplants, three capsicums and four or
five tomatoes to have a superbly productive patch. And I personally reckon this is the best way to
manage crop rotation. After all, a family that rotates together stays together (or something like that).
Oh, and one other… if you do happen to try the divine chili-chocolate combination, or any other chili
dish, and find the little devils too hot, always have a drink of milk instead of water!
Eat Me
Chilli Sauce
4 Birdseye chilies
3 Tb vegetable oil
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
½ tsp allspice
1 tsp sugar or honey
2 homegrown tomatoes or ½ cup preserved homegrown tomatoes
¼ tsp salt
Put chillies and 350 ml water in a saucepan. Bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes. Save the
water. Chop the chilies
Fry onion and garlic in oil. Add allspice, salt, sugar, tomato, and chopped chillies and chili water.
Simmer until reduced and thick.
Serve with Mexican but will also blow your socks off with Lebanese, on wraps and sandwiches, with
barbecued meat, baked fish etc
One Two Three Ratatouille
This makes enough for a very large feast of fresh, homegrown vegetables. You can easily half it to
make enough to serve 2 people.
1 eggplant
2 onions
2 cloves garlic
2 red capsicums
2 zucchini
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 cups tomatoes
2 tbsp freshly picked herbs
3 tbsp olive oil
Chop all vegetables into even sized chunks.
Crush garlic
Place one tbsp oil into a large mixing bowl. Add eggplant and toss until coated with the oil.
Heat a large wok, deep frypan or wide saucepan over high heat.
Add eggplant to the pan. Try not to stir the eggplant too much but turn it methodically with tongs so

5. it browns on all sides. Place a lid on the pan between each time you turn the eggplants.
When the eggplant is tender and soft, remove and set aside. Leave the pan on the heat as the
zucchini is coming next.
Place the zucchini in the large mixing bowl with another tbsp oil and toss. Fry the zucchini as you
did the eggplant. Remove it and place it with the eggplant.
Place the onion and capsicum in the large mixing bowl with remaining oil. Toss to combine.
Fry the onion and capsicum until soft and tender. Add the garlic and tomato paste and stir for one
minute. Add the tomatoes. When mixture boils, place zucchini and eggplant back in to the saucepan.
Bring to boil again and reduce heat to a simmer.
Simmer until tomato thickens.
Season, and stir through chopped fresh herbs and serve with either cous cous, polenta, rice,
potatoes, pasta etc
So simple, yet tastes so good using freshly picked herbs and home grown vegies.
For more awesome info on growing your own sustainable vegies and herbs at home, why not check
out the Yummy Yards book at our secure online shop.