When to Plant Chilli Peppers in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow August to December. Right now in October you can sow.

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Also called chili, hot pepper.

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Start seed on a heat mat under cover and plant out only after the last frost. Fast C. annuum types crop best, from February until the first...
Days to harvest
about 11 weeks
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). More sun = more heat in the fruit.
Water needs
Moderate and consistent watering. Slightly less water than capsicums. Some controlled...
Spacing
45cm apart, 60cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-6.8

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Chilli Peppers guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Chillies are warm-season Solanaceae grown for their pungent fruit. Five cultivated species exist, with C. annuum (jalapeno, cayenne) and C. chinense (habanero, reaper) being most popular. They thrive in Australian heat and are easier to grow than capsicums because smaller fruit ripens faster. Perennial in frost-free areas.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - S S S T T

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Chilli Peppers sowing time in Melbourne?

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 14.8°C (optimal range: 20–35°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Chilli Peppers in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Start seed on a heat mat under cover and plant out only after the last frost. Fast C. annuum types crop best, from February until the first cold snap.

Soil
Well-drained, moderately fertile soil with compost. Slightly acidic preferred. Overly rich soil produces foliage over fruit.
pH Range
6.0-6.8
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours). More sun = more heat in the fruit.
Spacing
45cm apart, 60cm between rows
Watering
Moderate and consistent watering. Slightly less water than capsicums. Some controlled water stress when fruit is ripening increases capsaicin (heat) levels. Avoid waterlogging.

Companion plants: Basil, Marigold, Tomato, Oregano

Avoid planting near: Fennel, Other Solanaceae in same rotation bed

Grow before, grow after

Chilli Peppers belong with the nightshades, the fruiting crops turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
Grow after it
Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)

Give the bed 3 turns before nightshades go back in. Tomato, capsicum, eggplant and potato share wilts and blights that live on in the soil.

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Chilli Peppers

Recommended Varieties

  • Jalapeno (most reliable)
  • Hungarian Hot Wax
  • Cayenne
  • Cherry Bomb

Key Challenges

  • Very short warm season
  • Cool nights slowing fruit development
  • Super-hot varieties will not ripen

Pro Tips

  • Jalapeno and Hungarian Hot Wax are the most reliable for Melbourne-type climates
  • Greenhouse or polytunnel dramatically improves results
  • Grow in pots to bring indoors for overwintering

Harvesting Chilli Peppers

When ready: Depends on variety and intended use. Green chillies: full-sized, firm, glossy. Ripe chillies: fully coloured (red, orange, yellow etc.). Hotter when fully ripe. Some varieties (jalapeno) can be used green or red.

How to harvest: Cut with scissors or secateurs leaving short stem. Do not pull. Wear gloves when harvesting super-hot varieties. Capsaicin on fingers causes painful burning if you touch eyes, nose or other sensitive areas.

Preserving: pressure canning

1 tested pressure-canning recipe for Chilli peppers: 1 where it is the crop being canned. Each one comes from published home canning guidelines. The conversion to Australian units is ours, with psi beside every kPa. Always follow your pressure canner's manual.

Recipes in this set

  • Capsicums or chillies, peeled

The full recipe details are for members on a paid plan: jar sizes, headspace, process time, the pressure for a weighted or dial gauge at your altitude, the ingredients, the preparation steps and the safety notes.

See the plans

Common Chilli Peppers Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Bacterial Wilt, risk: LOW (score: 30/100)

Organic prevention (Bacterial Wilt): Crop rotation (5+ years away from Solanaceae). Well-drained soil. Raised beds. Grafting onto resistant rootstock is the best prevention in endemic areas.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What chilli peppers costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this October: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Rutabaga (Swede) and Asparagus Pea (Winged Bean).

The pest most likely to find your chilli peppers: Queensland Fruit Fly.

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Common Questions About Chilli Peppers

When do you plant chilli peppers in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does chilli peppers grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is chilli peppers called?

Chilli peppers is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it chili, hot pepper. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.