Updates

• February 26, 2026

Why Buy Your Chilli Plug Plants from South Devon Chilli Farm?

If you’re planning to grow chillies this year and want the best possible start, our chilli plug plants are a brilliant option. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through exactly why buying your plug plants from South Devon Chilli Farm makes a real difference and it’s all thanks to how they’re grown from day one. 1. Grown Using 100% Renewable Energy All of our chilli plug plants are produced using 100% renewable energy. That comes from a combination of: Solar panels on our farm buildings Natural sunlight powering plant growth Renewable energy suppliers when solar alone isn’t enough This means your plants are grown as sustainably as possible, without reliance on fossil fuels -something we’re incredibly proud of. 2. No Pesticides - Ever! We don’t use any pesticides at any stage of the growing process. Aphids and pests can appear later in Spring (it happens to the best of us), but instead of spraying chemicals, we rely on natural predators such as ladybirds and parasitic wasps to keep pest populations under control. This approach protects the plants, the environment, and you - and results in healthier, more resilient chilli plants. 3. Individual Care, Love, and Attention Perhaps most importantly, every plug plant we grow receives individual care and attention. At this time of year, many of the plants that will become our crops and mail-order plugs are just being sown. You’ll find rows of propagators ready to be filled, and others already carefully planted. Each variety is sown separately, by hand, with close attention paid to accuracy and consistency. With so many chilli varieties looking very similar at the seedling stage, meticulous record-keeping ensures that what you order is exactly what you receive.   4. Grown in Optimum Conditions from Day One All of our plug plants start life in warm, well-ventilated polytunnels, giving them the ideal balance of heat, airflow, and light. Hygiene is taken extremely seriously in our nursery tunnels. Everything is kept clean and disinfected to reduce disease risk and give seedlings the healthiest possible start. 5. Carefully Prepared for Posting Sending live plants through the post isn’t something we take lightly - and while we can’t control what happens once parcels leave us, we do everything possible to protect your plants. We only send plug plants once they are: Well-rooted and firmly held in their plug Producing true leaves Strong enough to handle a bit of movement Our custom packaging holds each plug securely in place, while leaving protected space above for the foliage so nothing gets squashed in transit. 6. Limited Numbers, Maximum Quality Because space in our nursery tunnels is limited, we cap the number of plug plants available for pre-order each year. This allows us to maintain the highest standards of care rather than overstretching production. Pre-order plug plants are expected to begin shipping towards the end of March, weather permitting. We’ll be sharing regular updates across our social media channels so you know exactly when to expect your plants. Don’t Miss Out Our plug plants sell out quickly every year, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. If you’re planning your chilli growing season, we’d strongly recommend pre-ordering early to avoid disappointment. Healthy plants. Grown sustainably. Packed with care.  

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• February 9, 2026

An Introduction to Our Chilli Grow Kits (and How to Use Them)

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 KitThis 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 KitFor 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!  

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• January 26, 2026

Top Tips for Sowing Chilli Seeds (and Getting Great Germination)

It’s that exciting time of year when chilli seeds are flying out of the door, and we know many of you will be itching to get sowing. To help you get the very best germination rates, we wanted to share some of our tried-and-tested sowing tips straight from the farm. These are the exact methods Izzi uses here at South Devon Chilli Farm, so you can grow your chillies with confidence from day one. 1. Start with the Right Growing Medium By far our number one tip is what you sow your seeds into. At the farm, we always use vermiculite - and for good reason. Vermiculite is incredibly forgiving and ideal for chilli seeds because: It holds moisture really well without becoming waterlogged It allows plenty of air around the seeds It doesn’t compact, so seedlings can push through easily It maintains warmth and reduces temperature fluctuations It’s sterile, which helps prevent problems like damping off Damping off is a fungal issue that can kill seedlings just as they start to look healthy, often causing the stem to brown at the base and collapse. Using a sterile medium like vermiculite massively reduces this risk. 2. A Little Nutrition (Optional but Helpful) Because vermiculite is sterile, it contains no nutrients. Chilli seeds do carry their own food supply in the early stages, so feeding isn’t essential - but here at the farm, we like to give them a gentle helping hand. When watering our seeds, Izzi will add a very diluted feed of Chilli Focus: Around 5 ml (1 teaspoon) to 8 litres of water This is entirely optional, but it can help seedlings get off to a strong, healthy start. Less is definitely more here – make sure you keep it very dilute. 3. Don’t Sow Too Deep Whether you’re using small pots or seed trays, make sure everything is clean and sterile to begin with to reduce disease risk. Fill your pot almost to the top with vermiculite. Chilli seeds don’t like being buried deeply, so: Gently sprinkle the seeds on the surface Space them out so they’re not overlapping Cover with a thin layer of vermiculite, just enough to hide them A light covering means seedlings can reach the surface easily and access the light quickly. 4. Water Gently and Evenly Use a fine spray if you can - a spray bottle or even a recycled bottle with small holes in the lid works well. Water thoroughly so the vermiculite is evenly moist. If you notice any seeds sitting exposed after watering, add a little more vermiculite on top, but avoid a thick layer. Vermiculite can sometimes look wet on the surface when it’s actually drying out underneath, so keep an eye on it. It’s free-draining, so you won’t do any harm by giving a light watering if you’re unsure. 5. Label Everything (Seriously!) This one’s easy to overlook but incredibly important. Always label your pots with: The variety name (Optional) the sowing date Once seedlings emerge, varieties can look very similar - and it’s surprisingly easy to forget what’s what! 6. Keep Temperatures Stable Chillies love warmth and hate temperature swings, especially hotter varieties and chinense types. At the farm, we use thermostatically controlled heated propagators set around 25–30°C, which gives excellent results. Izzi will even insulate them further using bubble wrap during cold spells. At home, aim for: A warm, sunny spot Stable temperatures day and night Kitchens and heated conservatories often work well. Avoid places that get cold overnight or experience big daily fluctuations. 7. Be Patient (But Not Too Patient!) With the right conditions, you should start seeing germination within a week or two. Some varieties are quicker than others, and some naturally take a bit longer, that’s completely normal. At the farm, we often see strong, healthy seedlings in under two weeks, especially when temperatures are consistent. If nothing appears straight away, don’t panic - keep conditions steady and give them time. Need a Hand? If you have any questions or run into problems, we’re always happy to help. Just drop us an email at: growing@southdevonchillifarm.co.uk One of our growers will get back to you with advice and troubleshooting tips. Happy sowing and enjoy growing your chillies!  

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• January 6, 2026

Inside Our Grow Tent: Preparing Chilli Plants for RHS Malvern 2026

With RHS Malvern coming up in late spring 2026, it’s officially time for us to start propagating our show plants for this year’s event. Living in the UK means winter chilli growing definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted. Low temperatures and limited daylight make it pretty challenging, so we’ve had to pull out all the stops. To give the plants the best possible start, we’re using a grow tent, grow lights, and a couple of portable radiators. Much to the (good-natured) frustration of our shop manager, the grow tent has taken over a section of the shop! As you can see from the photo, it’s a fairly substantial setup, giving us plenty of space to grow a good number of plants and later select the very best ones to take up to RHS Malvern. Over the past few days, we’ve finally got the tent properly “dialled in.” The biggest challenge has been managing the heat produced by the grow lights. To keep things comfortable, we run the lights overnight when ambient temperatures are cooler, which has resulted in a very agreeable and steady 26°C inside the tent. Another key factor is good air exchange. Keeping fresh air flowing through the tent helps in several important ways: it reduces the risk of pathogens settling, helps control humidity (to a point), and ensures the plants have a constant supply of fresh air to thrive on. These are exactly the sorts of conditions home growers should aim to replicate, with good airflow being just as important as hitting the right temperatures. The tent itself has multiple vents, and we’ve installed a speed-controlled extractor fan to pull the old air out. At full power, we can completely change the air in the tent twice every minute! We also learned a huge amount last year from growing out of season and, yes, making a few mistakes along the way. This year, we’re putting those lessons to good use—and feeling much more confident about what lies ahead. 🌱🌶️

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• December 8, 2025

Packing Chilli Seeds at SDCF

Behind the Scenes: Seed Season at South Devon Chilli Farm 🌶️ It’s that busy (and slightly spicy!) time of year again at South Devon Chilli Farm as we dive deep into seed-packing season. Every year we collect around 2.5 million chilli seeds, and each one goes through a surprising amount of care and attention before it reaches our growers. Why Germination Testing Matters Not all seed sellers carry out germination testing, but for us, it’s non-negotiable. We want every grower (whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned chilli head) to have the best possible start. Our seeds go through detailed germination tests to make sure they meet extremely high viability standards. Only after they pass are they sent to our packing area. Manual Packing: Slow, Steady, and Essential Once the seeds arrive in batches of 10,000–15,000, every pack is counted and filled by hand. Yes- every single one! It may sound old-school, but this hands-on approach gives us one last chance to check quality. As we pack, we look out for any dark brown seeds, which may indicate poor viability. If they don’t make the grade, they don’t make it into your packet. All in, we pack around 9,000 seed packets a year. Some varieties are especially popular, like Jalapeño, Carolina Reaper, Ring of Fire, Scotch Bonnet, and Padron- so we prepare plenty of those. New Varieties for the Chilli Community This year, we’re excited to introduce several varieties that chilli enthusiasts will definitely recognise. Look out for: Mantis Claw Purple Death Chocolate Reaper Mustard Bhut Jolokia Fried Chicken – the one everyone’s been asking about! In total, we’re sowing and packing 144 varieties this season. Some seeds are also held back for use in our plug plants and potted plants later in the year. When Should You Start Sowing? For many home growers, the chilli season starts earlier than you might think. Super hots: January Other varieties (like Jalapeños): February - March That means now is the perfect time to browse our seed selection and get ready for your 2026 growing season. Seeds also make fantastic Christmas gifts for the chilli grower in your life! A Quick Look at How We Pack Here’s a peek at the process using Scotch Bonnet seeds as an example: We count out the seeds- Scotch Bonnet packs contain 15 seeds, while some newer varieties come in packs of 10- seal them in airtight bags, and label them ready for you. Properly stored, chilli seeds remain viable for up to three years, but the ones you’ll receive have been freshly picked and packed this season. If you’re planning your next chilli-growing adventure, head over to the shop section on our website and explore all 144 varieties available for 2026. Happy growing- and happy browsing! 🌶️🌱  

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