Feeding chilli plants is crucial for growth and fruiting. Learn when to feed, what to feed and how to spot deficiencies.
Feed chilli plants after transplanting with a low concentration of feed and increase as they grow.
Choose the right type of feed for your chillies: organic for long term soil health, liquid for quick fixes or homemade for eco friendly.
Look out for signs of deficiency, yellow leaves or deformed leaves and adjust your feed accordingly to keep your plants healthy.
Choosing the right feed is just as important as knowing when to feed your chilli plants. There are several options each with their own benefits. Organic feeds like compost and manure provide the necessary nutrients and improve soil structure and are eco friendly. Mineral feeds provide immediate nutrients but should be used with care to avoid soil damage.
If you prefer a more hands on approach homemade feeds can be just as effective. Simple ingredients like coffee grounds and nettle tea can provide your chilli plants with the nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus they need to grow. Knowing the different types of feeds and their benefits will help you choose the best for your chilli patch.
Liquid feeds are a favourite among many chilli growers as they provide immediate nutrients. Products like liquid tomato feed can supply the necessary nutrients to your plants quickly especially during critical growth stages. Remember these feeds including tomato feed are highly concentrated and need to be diluted before use to avoid burning the plants.
These feeds are great when your plants start to flower as they can give a quick nutrient boost that helps chilli flowers and hot fruits to develop. Feeding with a diluted liquid feed regularly will keep your plants healthy and productive all season.
For a steady nutrient supply slow release feeds are the way to go. These feeds like horn meal and compost are broken down by soil microorganisms and release nutrients over time. This slow and steady nutrient supply encourages soil life and sustainable soil structure and eventually nutrient rich soil.
When planting chillies incorporate a slow release feed into the soil and your plants will have a constant nutrient supply as they grow. This is great for maintaining soil health and supporting long term plant growth as chillies grow.
For an eco friendly and budget friendly approach homemade feeds are the way to go. Coffee grounds for example provide potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus to your chilli plants. Plus they attract worms which improve soil health.
Another great homemade option is nettle tea which is high in nitrogen, potassium and trace minerals. These homemade solutions feed your plants and the garden ecosystem and are a great alternative to commercial feeds.
Nutrient deficiencies can affect the health and productivity of your chilli plants. One sign of nitrogen deficiency is yellowing of older leaves. Nitrogen is a mobile nutrient and the plant will move it from older to newer leaves when it’s in short supply.
Deformed or droopy leaves is a sign of potassium deficiency in a plant. Over time these leaves will develop brown edges and can even crack the fruit skins. If you see these symptoms you need to adjust your feeding to include more potassium feeds.
Iron deficiency shows up in young leaves which turn yellow while the veins stay green. Recognise these signs early and adjust your feeding accordingly and you’ll have healthy productive chilli plants.
Feeding chilli plants at the right time is key. The first time is after transplanting. Once your chilli seeds have germinated and the seedlings are big enough they need to be moved to a more permanent position. This is when you should start feeding, use pre-fertilised compost or plant based granulated feed to get them off to a good start growing chillies.
As the first leaves appear on your chilli plant you should:
Use a small amount of feed, about a quarter of the recommended amount. This will feed the young plants without overwhelming them.
As you repot the plants increase the feed amount.
Start feeding the plants when flower buds appear to help with flowering and fruiting.
Over feeding or feeding too early can be bad for your chilli plants; so follow these rules:
Start with low feed.
Increase the feed as the plants grow.
This way the plants get the nutrients they need without risk of nutrient burn or other problems.
Feeding chilli plants is not just about fertilising; it’s also about understanding their needs at different growth stages. Start with a low concentration of feed especially for young plants to avoid sensitivity reactions. As your plants grow increase the dose according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Also make sure the soil is moist before applying liquid feeds to avoid root damage. Feed with a high potash liquid feed (tomato feed) once the first flowers appear to support flowering and fruiting.
Feed your chilli plants according to their growth stage. Initially feed every 2 weeks, start with a quarter dose and increase to full strength as the plants grow.
Once your chilli plants start flowering feed weekly with a high potash liquid feed. This will support flower and fruit development and a healthy plant.
Proper dosage is important to avoid over feeding and damaging your chilli plants. Start with a low concentration of nutrient salts especially for young plants to avoid sensitivity reactions.
Increase the feed to the manufacturers instructions within 2 months of first feeding. During the fruiting phase use a high potash liquid feed to support fruit development.
Due to the limited soil volume potted chilli plants have different needs. Make sure you use well draining compost or soil to prevent waterlogging and root damage. After repotting use slow release feeds to provide a steady feed over time.
Potted plants may need more frequent feeding than those in the ground. This is because the limited soil volume can deplete nutrients quickly so regular feeding with plant food is important to maintain healthy growth and fruiting.
To boost fruit production switch to a feed high in potassium and phosphorus during the flowering phase. These are the nutrients for flower and fruit development. Feed with a high potash liquid feed (tomato feed) once flowering starts and you’ll see a big increase in fruit yield.
Feeding with the right nutrients consistently will support the plant’s energy during the fruiting phase. Avoid high nitrogen feeds during this stage as they will hinder fruit development. Instead provide extra potassium and phosphorus to promote high quality fruits.
Not understanding the nutrient needs of your capsicum annuum chilli plants (including bhut jolokia) will reduce yield and affect the quality of the fruits. By knowing and meeting those needs you’ll have a bumper harvest of chilli varieties.
One of the most common mistakes in feeding chilli plants is over feeding. Too much nutrients will result in:
lush foliage but fewer fruits
high salt concentrations from over feeding will damage leaves
reduce fruit set
make plants more disease prone
Using fresh or too much well rotted manure can also cause excessive leafy growth. Follow the dosage and feeding schedule to avoid these problems.
Using universal plant feeds without checking if they are compatible with chilli plants and pepper plants is another mistake. Proper watering is also important, too little water will make hot chillies even hotter and spicier but too much water will stress the plants and affect their growth.
Feeding correctly is important to grow healthy and productive chilli plants. Feeding at the right time, right feed and adjusting the frequency and dosage according to growth stage will make a big difference in your chilli harvest.
By avoiding the mistakes and knowing the needs of your chilli plants you’ll have them thrive and produce plenty of chillies. Happy growing!
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