Let us know how to plant green chillies in a pot and how to take proper care of it so that you can get a bumper yield.

1. Choose the right seeds and pot

• Seeds: You can buy chilli seeds from a good nursery or you can also use any good and fresh chilli seeds.
• Pot: A 10 to 12 inch pot would be ideal for a chilli plant. It is very important that the pot has holes at the bottom for drainage so that excess water can drain out.

2. Soil and right time of application

• Soil: Chilli plants love fertile and well-drained soil. You can prepare a good mixture by mixing 50% normal garden soil, 30% farmyard manure or vermicompost and 20% cocopeat .
• Planting time: The best time to plant chillies is spring (February-March) and post monsoon (July-August). Plants grow rapidly in these seasons.

3. Method of planting the plant

1. Fill the pot with prepared soil.
2. Make a small hole in the soil about half an inch deep with your finger.
3. Put 2-3 seeds in the hole and cover them lightly with soil.
4. Now water the pot slowly so that the soil becomes moist.
5. Keep the pot in a place where it gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day .

4. Important Care Tips

• Water: Chilli plants need regular watering. Keep the soil moist, but make sure it doesn’t get soggy. Overwatering can cause the roots to rot.
• Sunlight: Green chilli plant needs good sunlight. Keep it in a place where it gets direct sunlight.
• Fertilizer: After one month of planting, give liquid fertilizer or cow dung manure to the plant every 15-20 days. Chilli plant needs more nutrition.
• Pruning: When the plant is 6-8 inches tall, pluck the top few leaves. This will make the plant dense and it will have more branches, which will produce more chillies.
• Protection from insects: If small insects are seen on the plant, then spray neem oil mixed with water. This is the most effective and natural method.

5. Time to pluck the chillies

When the chillies turn dark green, you can pick them. Picking the chillies regularly encourages the plant to produce more fruits.

With a little hard work and care, you can grow fresh and organic green chillies on your balcony or terrace.