Chili

Fatema
Fatema

Chili peppers originated in Mexico, but are now used in many parts of the world as both food and medicine. Red chilies contain large amounts of vitamin C.

Growing calendar for chilie
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Fatema Khanom

Fatema Khanom. Photo: Sara Heitlinger

About

Seed Guardian, Selby Estate Gardening Club

I’ve been living here for 22 years. But four years ago I started gardening. Before then I didn’t know anything about gardening. Katherine (from the farm) helped us, how to make a garden, how to...
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Where the seeds came from
Someone gave these black chili seeds to my Mum. She gave me the seed. I’ve been growing it for the last two years and saving the seed.

Why I grow black chili
Because I love chili. It smells so nice. Sometimes you feel like, “No I don’t want to eat green chili, I want to eat black chili.” I eat lots of chili.

Recipe
Sometimes we just bite it, when we eat rice. Sometimes I put a whole chili in a curry I’m making. The fresh chili has a nice taste and smell. I don’t dry it unless I’m saving seed.

Fatema on Black Chili

How to grow
It takes time, nearly two weeks to start growing. I put it in a hot dark place. When it has two leaves I take it out and put it somewhere sunny. After a couple of weeks I put in my garden. I feed banana to chilies. Yes, banana. I cut a piece of banana, and put it in the soil to help it grow quickly. Yes, chili plant needs banana. It is fertiliser. Every month I add banana to the soil.

Nathalie Aby

Nathalie Aby. Photo: Sara Heitlinger

About

Seed Guardian, Spitalfields City Farm

I’m originally from France, but I’ve been living here for more than 20 years now. I’ve been volunteering for three years. I work with Lutfun on the vegetable garden. I try to come here at...
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Where the seeds came from
This type of chili is from the southwest of France. It’s grown in a town called Espelette. My sister game me some chilies and I decided to grow them here. That was three years ago.

How to grow
Around April I would normally put the seeds in moist cotton wool to make them germinate. When they reach between 2-5 centimetres, with small leaves, transfer them to compost. They start germinating pretty quickly, within a couple of weeks you will start seeing the shoot coming out of the seed. When the plant is strong enough and has built a root system, then you can transfer them into compost. They don’t need manure in the early stages because it might burn them. Transfer the plant when it’s about 10 cm and it’s got enough leaves, into bigger pots, and then add manure. Just water. Either from the top, or just leave some water in a little reserve at the bottom. You can start seeing fruit end of July, but they’re still green. The fruit will probably turn red end of August or September. They are ready as soon as they’re red.

Nathalie on French Chilies

Tips
A chilli requires heat and sun. In the southwest of France they are perfectly happy outdoors. Here it’s safer to grow them indoors. They don’t require a lot of maintenance or attention. They are pretty easy to grow.

Recipe
I dry them for cooking. The taste is sweet, not too spicy. I use them to replace pepper, just to give that extra kick. It could be in a curry or any fried dish.

How to save seed
Once they’re dried, I will cut them open and remove the seeds. Put them in a little jar and store them in the cupboard.

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