A Heat Wave's Coming

Fire up your summer with a harvest of chillies

As you settle in for a lazy, hazy hot summer spell, pluck a little chilli fruit from your chilli shrub to spice up your food and feel your energy return – it’s magic! The plants start producing their vibrantly coloured fruit from now until April, brightening up your garden – they look wonderful in your ornamental beds – and putting a punch back in your life.

HEAT SCALE

The pith and seeds give chillies heat but even if you remove them, there will still be a kick in your food. The heat is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHUs). Habanero is near the top while at the bottom is the humble capsicum with 1-100SHUs.

1 Black Beauty

Rumble with this Rumba chilli, which is small but has a big impact. From the pretty purple flowers emerge passionate purple fruit that turns a fiery red, on your plant and on your tongue. It’s hot!

2 Pretty Chilled

Make the chilli corner of your vegie patch as pretty and colourful as your ornamental garden with different colours, shapes and sizes. Even the leaves add variety!

3 Want a cheery bowl of chillies?

Aim for a harvest of heat with tiny Thai, jalapeno, habanero and cayenne chillies heralding a hot summer ahead for you and your family.

HOW TO GROW CHILLIES FROM SEED