How to Grow Small Red Chili Pepper From Seed

How long does a small red chili pepper take to grow?

These small Thai-type chiles are usually pickable green around 75 days after transplanting and ripen fiery red about 2 to 3 weeks later. Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost, since they love a long, warm season.

How hot is a small red chili pepper?

Very hot. These Thai-type chiles run about 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units, many times hotter than a jalapeno. A single small pepper can heat a whole dish, so use them sparingly.

How productive is a small red chili plant?

Extremely. The compact bushy plants set dozens of slim upright peppers at once and keep cropping all season in warm weather, so a single plant can supply a household with plenty of fresh and dried chiles.

What are small red chili peppers used for?

Use them fresh, sliced thin into Thai curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes, or dry the red pods to crush into chili flakes and blend into hot sauces and pastes. Their intense heat means a little goes a long way.

When do you pick small red chili peppers?

Pick them green for a milder, crisp pepper, or leave them on the plant to ripen fully to red for more heat and sweetness. Once they are deep red and glossy, snip them off with a bit of stem, and pick often to keep the plant producing.