African Birdseye Chili Seeds

Information: The African Birdseye Chilli (also known as Piri-Piri) is one of the African chile pepper wild forms. The plants grow shrubby and produce vast quantities of the small (only approx. 1-2 cm long), upright growing, bright red chilli peppers, which have a fiery heat. They are suitable for drying or spicing soups, stews, hot sauces and poultry dishes. In some parts of Africa, it has recently been grown commercially, often to be used as pepper extract or as organic pest control (protection of fields from monkeys, elephants, etc.).

The Birdeyes chilli belongs to the species Capsicum frutescens. It owes its name to the African birds that like to eat the small pods. In the African climate, the plants grow up to 1.50 metres tall, whereas in Europe they usually only grow 50-70 cm tall. Therefore, they are well suited for pot culture and can also be overwintered indoors without any problems.

Care: Germination temperature is between 22°C and 28°C (germination period: 8-21 days); it is therefore recommended to use a greenhouse and a heating mat. The plants need fresh, well-fertilised, permeable soil, and do not tolerate waterlogging. They should be planted in a sunny, protected place with at least 6 hours of sunlight - preferably more. Put the plants outside approx. 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost. As the plants have a particularly long maturation period, it is recommended to grow them in a pot, so that you can easily bring the plant inside when the temperature falls below 12°C during the day, allowing all the fruits to ripen. To keep the plant over the winter, cut it back by 20cm after harvesting and place in a light place where it is at least 15°C.

You can find plenty of useful tips for successfully growing chili plants in our Chili Cultivation Instructions and in the Chili Diary.