Pods & fruit
Chilli
Colourful fruit with heat that varies by variety.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Sep-Nov
Core months: September, October, November
Temperate
Sow · Aug-Dec
Core months: August, September, October, November, December
Subtropical
Sow · Jul-Mar
Core months: January, February, March, July, August, September, October, November, December
Tropical
Sow · All year
Core months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Arid
Sow · Aug-Dec
Core months: August, September, October, November, December
Getting started
Start seed in a warm place in pots or trays, then grow seedlings on in good light. Plant out into warm conditions after frost risk has passed.
The right conditions
Give plants sun, warmth and shelter, with fertile soil that drains freely. Cold conditions can check growth and reduce cropping.
As it grows
Keep moisture reasonably even and avoid waterlogging. Support plants when fruit loads pull branches down. Variety and temperature influence how long fruit takes to ripen.
Ready to harvest
Chillies can be picked green or left to their variety's mature colour. Cut fruit off with a short stalk. Handle hot varieties carefully and keep juice away from your eyes.
Related how-to guides
Harvest fruiting vegetables without damaging the plant
Check the plant guide: tomatoes colour at ripeness, while zucchini, cucumbers and many eggplants are usually picked immature and tender.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed against linked sources; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.