Chillies...

Homestead Health is so excited to introduce our incredible chilli seed collection. This collection is a work in progress, with roughly 25 varieties available at the present time (including capsicums), increasing to over 100 varieties by the end of this season if all goes to plan. The more we grow, the more we hope to learn about the different qualities, subtleties and incredible diversity of flavours available. Our long term goal is to provide chilli seeds, plants, fresh chillies, and even our very own range of chilli powders for more convenient use of the more unusual varieties, at home or out and about.

Chillies and capsicums are high in vitamins A & C, and we have a number of heirloom varieties from various origins including India, China, South America and more, these are clearly marked with a [H] for your convenience. Over time there has been the never ending plight for the hard-core chilli fanatic to create an ever hotter chilli... we grow and stock some of the hottest available, with the current Guiness Book of World Records holder for the world's hottest chilli, the Carolina Reaper, not far off. On the other side of the scale we have our capsicum range, with zero heat and maximum taste... then everything in between. Eventually we would like to have the widest range of chillies and capsicums in the Southwest, and who knows, perhaps even WA... we dream BIG!

If your searching for a variety that's not in our webstore, drop us a line, we may be able to source it for you. Wholesale enquiries are also welcome, we'd love to share our seeds or become the growers for the star of that very special dish on your new season's menu. Click on the image above to go to the chilli & capsicum section of our webstore.

Thankyou for visiting...

Growing your chillies...

Chillies find their origins in countries with warmer climates, so will generally only grow in summer, or with the assistance of a greenhouse or heat mats and lighting. Here at Homestead HQ, we favour the germination of our chillies in coir peet and regular sectioned seedling pots. Germination time can vary greatly, and as a rule of thumb, you'll find that the hotter the chilli, the longer the germination time will be. I have heard of some cases where seeds have taken up to 6 weeks to sprout, so don't lose heart if they seem to be taking forever... patience is a virtue where chillies are concerned. Although germination can take place anywhere between about 20-30 degrees, most chilli growers seem to agree that around the 28 degree mark is the sweet spot, and if you have the right equipment, this is the temperature to aim for. Starting seeds in early spring could be quite a challenge, and finding a warm, sheltered position, or a window sill indoors would be the best option, or if you are interested in building a collection, heat mats and lighting can be incredibly beneficial.

Once developed, consider carefully the position you choose for your chilli. Although it is widely stated that they require full sun, depending on your location, the damaging rays of the Australian sun can be too much for chillies to take. We have found filtered sun, or early morning and late afternoon sun alone to be optimum for most chilli plants. It may be worth keeping them in a pot and moving them around your yard until you find the perfect position to plant.

Remember too that chillies and capsicum can be wintered and allowed to re-blossom again for a number of years... don't rip them out and throw them away at the end of the season, they get better and better each year! If you have any further questions in relation to the care and maintenance of your chilli plants, please feel free to contact us.

You may also be interested in going to our Facebook Page, where there is plenty of information, and we are easily accessible to answer your questions.

Happy planting...