Chillies are the one crop worth sowing while the weather is still grim, because they need a long season to ripen. A heated propagator on the windowsill in late January gets them away in good time for a summer of fruit.
Why sow now
Chillies, and especially the hotter varieties, can take five months from sowing to a ripe pod, so an early start matters. Tomatoes are quicker and can wait until late winter, but a few sown now give you sturdy plants ready for the first warm spell.
Warmth gets them going
The seeds need warmth to germinate, ideally around twenty degrees, which a windowsill propagator or even the airing cupboard provides.
- Sow thinly in small pots of seed compost.
- Cover lightly, water gently and keep warm.
- Move into full light the moment the shoots appear.
Beat the leggy seedling
The biggest enemy this early is poor light. Warm seedlings on a dim windowsill stretch towards the glass and flop over, pale and weak. Give them the brightest spot you have, turn the pots daily, and consider a simple grow light if your windows are north-facing.
Pot on and wait
Once each seedling has its first proper leaves, move it into its own pot. Keep them warm and bright, resist the urge to plant them out while frost still threatens, and you will have strong, stocky plants ready to romp away when the season finally turns.