Valentine's Day is here again, and whilst the shops may be heaving under the weight of red roses and chocolates, it's also a great time to get hot and spicy on the windowsill or in the greenhouse with the first sowings of this year's chillies..... These red devils can vary widely in the time it takes for them to germinate and produce fruit, (depending upon the variety), so getting a head start makes sense.
Sow each chilli variety separately in a small pot, and place them (ideally) in a heated propagator or warm conservatory. At 15-21C, the seeds should still germinate but may take longer, so a warm greenhouse or windowsill will be fine, just be patient.
Transplant the seedlings into individual pots and gradually acclimatise them to cooler temperatures as the plants mature. Although chilli plants are perennials, I find it easier to grown fresh plants each year. That way you are assured healthy, vigorous plants which can expend their energy on producing a good crop of fruits.
Transplant the seedlings into individual pots and gradually acclimatise them to cooler temperatures as the plants mature. Although chilli plants are perennials, I find it easier to grown fresh plants each year. That way you are assured healthy, vigorous plants which can expend their energy on producing a good crop of fruits.
Wondering how hot? The Scoville scale is the traditional measurement used to measure the 'heat' of a chilli. The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) is a function of the capsaicin found in the fruit (the substance that gives the chilli its 'heat'). Devised by Wilbur L. Scoville (1865-1942), it is a subjective test where the chilli extract is diluted in water with sugar until the 'heat' can not longer be detected by a panel of tasters.
Today, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is used to give an exact measure of capsaicin content, but somehow this doesn't have quite the 'romance' of the Scoville method.....
Today, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is used to give an exact measure of capsaicin content, but somehow this doesn't have quite the 'romance' of the Scoville method.....