GARDENING Get potting for chilli heaven
THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS TO NURTURE THIS FIERY MIRACLE OF NATURE
Chillies often do better in pots, mainly because it is easier to look after them, and to control the amount of water, light and food they receive.
Besides the container varieties that can be grown from seed, the Simply Delicious patio range has La Bomba, a jalapeño-type pepper. It produces an abundance of large, dark-green fruit on a lush, bushy plant. The medium-heat fruit is full of flavour and is best used fresh, chopped or stuffed (for “poppers”).
Practise the just-in-time watering principle – if the soil feels damp, delay watering by another day. However, plants should not be allowed to wilt otherwise they drop their flowers. Feed twice a month with Margaret Roberts Organic Supercharger, because fertiliser leaches out faster from pots than in the ground.
Did you know? Terracotta containers keep the soil cooler than plastic pots. If using plastic pots, avoid dark colours that absorb the sunlight, which “cooks” the roots. tall), bear fruit in the pot and can be harvested when needed.
The thinking behind this range is that instead of buying a packet of chillies (or sweet peppers) from the supermarket, rather pick the fruit as you need it.
Plants are sold in 14cm pots and can remain in the pot, there is no need to transplant. The more light they get, the better they grow. Keep the soil moist but don’t overwater.