If you’re keen to grow chillies at home but don’t quite know where to start, our South Devon Chilli Farm Grow Kits are designed to make things as simple (and successful) as possible.
We offer two different grow kits, depending on your experience level and how adventurous you’re feeling.
Our Two Grow Kit Options
All-In-One Grow Kit
This kit is perfect for novice growers or anyone growing chillies (or vegetables) for the first time. It contains everything you need to raise a healthy chilli plant from seed.
Four-Variety Selection Grow Kit
For those who want a bit more choice, this kit includes four different chilli varieties, ideal if you’d like to compare flavours, heat levels, or just grow a bit of everything.
What’s Inside the Grow Kit?
Inside each kit you’ll find:
- A bag of premium compost, blended with perlite and vermiculite for good aeration
- Slow-release fertiliser mixed in to support early growth
- A pack of chilli seeds
- A plant pot
- A propagator lid
- A biodegradable plant label
Everything you need to get started, with no extra equipment required.
Step 1: Prepare the Compost
Because the compost is sealed inside the kit, it will be quite dry when you first open it. This is completely normal, but it does mean it needs to be hydrated before sowing.
Pour all of the compost into the pot- don’t leave any behind. Because it’s uncompacted, it will almost reach the top of the pot. You may notice small yellow beads in the compost - this is the slow-release fertiliser that helps give the seedlings a nutritional head start.
Step 2: Hydrate Thoroughly
Use warm, room-temperature water and water the compost generously, you can place the pot inside the propagator lid to catch excess water while it soaks.
At first, you’ll see bubbles rising, this shows the compost is very dry and needs plenty of water to fully hydrate. Water it several times and allow excess water to drain out of the bottom.
One important thing to know (especially for first-time growers): very dry compost can become hydrophobic, meaning water runs straight through without soaking in. If this happens, either:
- Let the pot soak for a few minutes, or
- Add a tiny drop of washing-up liquid to break the surface tension
Once hydrated, the compost should feel evenly moist throughout.
Step 3: Sow Your Seeds
Make small divots in the compost with your finger and sow the seeds about 5 mm below the surface. They don’t need to be buried deeply, just lightly covered.
Gently cover the seeds and give one final light watering to ensure good contact between the seed and the compost.
Step 4: Add Warmth and Humidity
Chilli seeds love warmth and moisture, especially hotter varieties like Carolina Reapers.
Place the propagator lid on top of the pot and move it somewhere warm, such as:
- A sunny windowsill
- An airing cupboard
- Anywhere that stays consistently around 25°C
The lid helps maintain both warmth and humidity, creating the perfect environment for germination.
Once the seedlings emerge, remove the lid immediately. At this stage, they no longer need humidity; they need fresh air to stay strong and healthy.
Step 5: Potting On
You’ll likely see four to five seedlings appear in the pot. These can stay together for a few weeks while they develop their first leaves.
After that, it’s best to move them into individual pots, using either new pots or clean recycled containers. One plant per pot will allow each chilli to grow properly and even fruit later on. Plants can stay in these pots for several months or be potted up again as they grow.
Step 6: Label Your Plants
Even with just one variety, labelling is important. Each kit includes a biodegradable label, so simply write the variety name and place it in the pot. These labels can go straight into the compost at the end of the season.
Growing Along With Us
At the beginning of March, we’ll be running a grow-along using our grow kits, led by Jason from the team. He’ll guide you step-by-step through the growing process in a home environment - no professional setup required.
We’ll also be running a friendly competition among the South Devon Chilli Farm team to see who can grow the best chillies… so you’ll be growing right alongside us.
Happy growing!
