Profile

chili pepperCapsicum annuum

Learn about growing and caring for chili peppers.

VegetablesFruit vegetablesPepperNightshade family
CalendarAll data
chili pepper (Capsicum annuum): plant portrait for plant portrait - Vegetables, Nightshade family, full sun, warm, sheltered
chili pepper: plant portrait. harvest: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

Quick profile

Key data

Planting

May, Jun

Harvest

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Light

full sun, warm, sheltered

Good neighbors

No data

Avoid

No data

Growing data

chili pepper Growing data

Plant spacing

40 - 60 cm

Row spacing

60 - 80 cm

Sowing and germination

Direct sowing possibleNo
Pre-culture recommendedYes

Planting and spacing

Plant spacing40 - 60 cm
Row spacing60 - 80 cm

Container, support and growth

Height40 - 120 cm
Width40 - 60 cm

Year plan

chili pepper Calendar

All plants
Indoor sowingDirect sowingPlantingHarvest

Indoor sowing

FebMar

Start warm; germination needs high temperatures.

Direct sowing

No data

Direct outdoor sowing is unreliable in central Europe.

Planting

MayJun

Plant after frost risk in a warm site.

Harvest

JulAugSepOct

Harvest green or fully colored depending on cultivar.

Growing

chili pepper Site, soil and care

Light

full sun, warm, sheltered

Spacing

40 - 60 cm

Storage

Storage life: fresh 1-2 weeks, dried much longer, Conditions: cool, clean, and dry or slightly humid depending on crop, Processing options: drying, freezing, pickling

Watering: Water regularly, but avoid overwatering, Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade, Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil, Fertilizer: Use a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks, Pest control: Monitor for aphids, whiteflies, and thrips. Use organic pest control methods if necessary.

Pruning

chili pepper Pruning

Pruning

Goal

Pruning

Pruning timing

Spring

JanFebMar

Pruning Prune to encourage new growth.

Summer

AprMayJun

Pruning Prune to remove dead wood and encourage fruit production.

Remove

  • Dead branches
  • Diseased leaves
  • Infested stems

Preserve

  • Healthy branches
  • Fruit-bearing stems

Avoid

  • Overhead branches
  • Dense foliage

Tools and hygiene

Clean and disinfect tools regularly.

Health

Pests, Diseases

Plant health

AphidsCaterpillarsBacterial BlightRoot rotNitrogenPhosphorusPotassiumCalciumMagnesiumRoot rotLeaf yellowing

Guides

Related guides

Garden guides

Sources

Public sources

  1. Wikidata entity

    Wikidata · 2026-05-12

  2. GBIF species match

    GBIF · 2026-05-12

  3. Deutschsprachige Wikipedia: Chilipfeffer

    Wikipedia · 2026-05-12

  4. English Wikipedia: Chili pepper

    Wikipedia · 2026-05-12

Details

More public plant data

Names
Common

chili pepper

Plural

chili peppers

BotanicalCapsicum annuum
Synonyms
  1. chilli
  2. chilli pepper
  3. hot pepper
  4. chili
  5. spicy pepper
  6. spicy chili pepper
  7. chile
  8. chile pepper
Common synonyms
  1. chilli
  2. chilli pepper
  3. hot pepper
  4. chili
  5. spicy pepper
  6. spicy chili pepper
  7. chile
  8. chile pepper
Regional names
Historical names
Market names
Misspellings
Search terms
  1. chili pepper
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
Clades
  1. Tracheophyta
  2. Angiosperms
  3. Eudicots
  4. Asterids
OrderSolanales
Family botanicalSolanaceae
Family

Nightshade family

Family idsolanaceae
GenusCapsicum
SpeciesCapsicum annuum
Classification
Main groupVegetables
Sub groupFruiting vegetables
Crop groupPepper
Life cycleAnnual
Perennialno
Woodyno
Treeno
Shrubno
Edible parts
  1. fruits
Nutrient groupPepper
Calendar
Sowing indoor
Months
  1. 2
  2. 3
Earliest month2
Latest month3
Notes

Start warm; germination needs high temperatures.

Sowing outdoor
Notes

Direct outdoor sowing is unreliable in central Europe.

Planting out
Months
  1. 5
  2. 6
Earliest month5
Latest month6
Notes

Plant after frost risk in a warm site.

Harvest
Months
  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 9
  4. 10
Earliest month7
Latest month10
Notes

Harvest green or fully colored depending on cultivar.

Month tasks
Cultivation specs
Seed
Direct sowing possibleno
Pre culture recommendedyes
Spacing
Plant spacing cm min.40
Plant spacing cm max.60
Row spacing cm min.60
Row spacing cm max.80
Spacing notes

Adjust spacing to cultivar and harvest goal.

Growth dimensions
Height cm min.40
Height cm max.120
Width cm min.40
Width cm max.60
Site
Sun

full sun, warm, sheltered

Shelter

shelter as needed

Notes

Containers, greenhouse space, or warm wall sites are useful.

Soil
Texture

fertile, loose, well-drained

PH range
Min.6
Max.7
Notes

Use good vegetable compost in containers.

Watering
Frequency

regularly

Method

at the root zone

Notes

Avoid swings between drought and waterlogging.

Nutrition
Fertilizer type

tomato or vegetable fertilizer

Frequency

as needed

Notes

Use more potassium once fruit sets.

Cultivation planning
Succession sowing
Possibleno
Bed planning notes

Plan for a long indoor start and frost-free growing season.

Rotation prioritymedium
Interplanting potentialmedium
Mechanization relevancelow
Deficiencies
  1. Nitrogen
  2. Phosphorus
  3. Potassium
  4. Calcium
  5. Magnesium
Problems
  1. Sunburn
  2. Blight
  3. Root rot
  4. Leaf yellowing
  5. Stem Rot
Problem management
Common pest groups
  1. Aphids
  2. Whiteflies
  3. Thrips
Common disease groups
  1. Bacterial Spot
  2. Fusarium Wilt
Prevention principles
  1. Practice crop rotation
  2. Use organic pest control methods
  3. Maintain soil health
Diagnosis notes

Regularly inspect plants for signs of pests and diseases. Keep records of any issues for future reference.

Disease graph
ScopePlant-wide
Profiles
  1. Slugbacterial-spot
    SeverityModerate
    Conditions
    1. Warm and humid weather
    2. Poor air circulation
    Affected parts
    1. Leaves
    2. Fruit
    Prevention
    1. Practice crop rotation
    2. Use copper-based fungicides
    Organic control
    1. Neem oil
    2. Pyrethrin-based sprays
  2. Slugfusarium-wilt
    SeveritySevere
    Conditions
    1. Warm and dry conditions
    2. Soil-borne fungal pathogen
    Affected parts
    1. Stems
    2. Roots
    3. Leaves
    Prevention
    1. Use resistant varieties
    2. Practice crop rotation
    Organic control
    1. Biological control agents
    2. Soil solarization
Harvest
Timing

from summer to autumn

Harvest indicators
  1. typical cultivar color
  2. firm glossy fruits
Method

harvest gently and cleanly

Storage
Storage life

fresh 1-2 weeks, dried much longer

Conditions

cool, clean, and dry or slightly humid depending on crop

Processing options
  1. drying
  2. freezing
  3. pickling
Kitchen usage
Primary uses
  1. seasoning
  2. sauces
  3. pickling
  4. dried spice
Flavor profile

mild to very hot

Preparation notes

Wash thoroughly before use and use only sound plant parts.

Safety and edibility
Edible parts
  1. ripe and unripe fruits
Inedible or caution parts
  1. capsaicin irritates skin and mucous membranes; use gloves for hot cultivars
Toxicity notes

Do not consume if identification is uncertain; do not infer medicinal claims.

Raw consumption

Edible raw; consider heat level.

Varieties
  1. Capsicum annuum
  2. Capsicum pubescens
  3. Capsicum frutescens
Rootstocks
  1. Capsicum annuum var. Acuminatum
  2. Capsicum annuum var. Fingerhuthii
  3. Capsicum annuum var. Cerasiforme
Woody crop details
Training systems to research
  1. Pruning
  2. Training systems
  3. Support structures
Rootstock relevanceCapsicum annuum var. Acuminatum
Renewal pruning relevanceCapsicum annuum var. Acuminatum
Notes

Chili plants can benefit from being planted alongside beans and cucumbers for natural pest control.

Ecology
Pollinator valueAttracts bees and butterflies
Wildlife valueBirds and small mammals eat the fruit
Biodiversity notes

Provides habitat and food for wildlife

Practical notes
WateringWater regularly, but avoid overwatering
SunlightFull sun to partial shade
SoilWell-drained, slightly acidic soil
FertilizerUse a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks
Pest controlMonitor for aphids, whiteflies, and thrips. Use organic pest control methods if necessary.
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