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Chili pepper

Capsicum spp.

Warm‑season · frost‑sensitive · start indoors

130–170 days from seed to harvest

60–100 days to harvest after transplant

Ideal21 – 32 °C
Tolerates16 – 35 °C

Chili pepper is a warm-season, frost-sensitive fruiting vegetable and fruit spice in the nightshade family. The usual start is indoors, then transplant, and harvest is about 60–100 days from transplant (about 9 to 14 weeks).

Primary method: start indoors

Chili pepper is usually started indoors, then moved outside when the weather suits the tolerable range.

  1. Start seed. Sow seed indoors. Germination typically takes 10–21 days.
  2. Grow seedlings. Keep seedlings growing indoors until they are ready to harden off. About 6 weeks (42 days)
  3. Harden off. Gradually acclimate indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting. About 7 days
  4. Transplant. Move seedlings outside once daytime air stays inside the tolerable range. 16 – 35 °C.
  5. Grow to harvest. About 10–12 weeks indoors before transplant (about 70 days total). 60–100 days from transplant (about 9 to 14 weeks).
Typical days from indoor sowing to harvest — not calendar dates.
  1. Start seed
    Day 0–21
    10–21 days
  2. Grow indoors
    Day 21–63
    42 days
  3. Harden off
    Day 63–70
    7 days
  4. Transplant
    ~Day 70
    when days stay within 16 – 35 °C
  5. Grow outdoors
    Day 71–130
    59 days
  6. Harvest
    Day 130–170
    60–100 days from transplant

Direct sowing

Direct sowing is not the usual method for this plant, so there is no separate direct-sow schedule here.

Care basics

Sun: full sun, at least 6 hours of direct sun.

This plant does not tolerate frost.

Types and varieties

Other names: Chile, Hot pepper, Cayenne, Jalapeno, Habanero, Bird's eye chili, Thai chili, Serrano. Variety groups are not listed here.

Growing facts

Growing requirements for this plant. Temperatures are daytime air temperatures in °C.
AttributeValue
Plant nameChili pepper
Scientific nameCapsicum spp.
FamilySolanaceae (nightshade family)
Time to harvest60–100 days from transplant (about 9 to 14 weeks)
Days to germinate10–21 days
Ideal growing temperature21 – 32 °C
Minimum tolerable temperature16 °C
Maximum tolerable temperature35 °C
Start indoorsYes, usual method
Direct sowNot the usual method
Season typeWarm-season, frost-sensitive
Typical start methodStart indoors, then transplant
Lightfull sun, 6+ hours direct sun

Glossary

Ideal temperature
The preferred daytime range for good growth.
Tolerable temperature
A wider range where the plant can still grow, less optimally.
Harden off
Gradually acclimating indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
Transplant
Moving seedlings into the garden.
Days to harvest
The usual time to harvest, counted from the start point named beside the number (seed, transplant, or planting).

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