Enjoy chilli autumn days

ARUNDEL CASTLE’S HEAD GARDENER MARTIN DUNCAN GIVES HANNAH STEPHENSON SOME TIPS ON GROWING CHILLIES – AND HOW TO MATCH THE HEAT TO THE RIGHT DISH

IF YOU’VE grown chillies this year and you’re still harvesting them, you may want to know which one goes best in which dish.

Arundel Castle head gardener Martin Duncan and his team grow more than 55 types of chilli peppers in the glasshouses, which are still being harvested throughout October.

Chillies were introduced to Europe from South America in 1493, and the plants were soon dispersed around the world for their medicinal properties (ripe chillies have six times more vitamin C than an orange) and pungent flavours.

“You can easily grow chilli peppers at home inside polytunnels, glasshouses, conservatories or on windowsills,” says Martin. “I recommend sowing yours indoors in early spring, with an inside temperature around 21°C.”

So what else do you need to know? Follow our guide to get going with growing chillies, along with Martin’s mouth-watering ideas on matching the right ones for the right dish.

GROWING TIPS

GENTLY level the compost in a pot, sow a few seeds on top, and cover with a fine layer of Vermiculite. Then water. If you don’t have a propagator, cover with a re-used clear plastic bag or film and secure with an elastic band around the pot. Place it on a windowsill that gets the best bright, indirect sunlight.

Once seeds have germinated and grown to 2.5cm tall, re-plant into individual 10cm pots in good seed compost and Vermiculite. Make sure their roots are well covered and the foliage is just above the compost.

When the seedlings have reached 15-20cm tall, pinch off the tops to make the plants bush out. Add fertiliser, such as extract of seaweed, once a fortnight, to ensure a healthy crop.

The flavour profile will develop from the variety of chilli, which determines whether it’s mild, medium or hot. Pick immature chillies to encourage an extended crop, or leave the fruits to mature on the plant to fully appreciate their endless shapes, colours and sizes.

TOP TIP: Near the end of the growing season, when your plants have ripe fruits, you can uproot your plants, hang them upside down in a warm, dry place and wait to collect the seed for next year’s crop. ■ For more information on Arundel Castle’s chilli displays, visit arundelcastle.org