Hatch Chili Care

Don't overwater your Hatch chile seedlings! Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes we see gardeners make. Chile peppers DO NOT like soggy feet, so make sure to keep them watered but let the soil dry out slightly between watering. Water the peppers deeply when the soil feels dry at a depth of 1 inch. Avoid over-​watering to prevent root rot.

Early season pepper plant pruning shouldn't be done until the plant is at least a foot (31 cm.) tall and can be stopped once fruit have set. Most pepper plants have an overall 'Y' shape and branches then create smaller and smaller Y's off of the main stems. By the time the plant is a foot (31 cm.).

We love using homemade compost to fertilize our Hatch chile garden beds. We like to dig in finished compost into the soil before planting (even burying some compost deep down so that the roots can grow into it). Make sure to keep fresh compost away from the stems of chile peppers as it can burn plants. Compost is the most natural form of fertilizer and encourages worms and other beneficial soil organisms to thrive, which, in turn, helps your Hatch chiles thrive. Compost = bigger chiles!

They will grow in partial shade, but they won't be as productive. A sunny spot is best. I have very successfully grown many varieties of chili peppers under my backyard deck, which is about 12 feet high. There is partial shade, but the garden gets a good dose of sunlight, so they grow very well.

We recommend that you use soil-based seed and potting-on composts - chillies really appreciate good drainage. We recommend a 'John Innes loam based seed compost' for germination.

The ideal growing temperature for chili pepper plants is between 70-90 F (21-32 C).

Ideally, grow them in a greenhouse or raise them in pots on a south-facing patio or windowsill.

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