The 2025 Chilli Growing Season Has Ended

The 2025 chilli growing season has now come to an end for me. I took down the remaining greenhouse plants (Bengle Naga, Aji Lemon, Fatalii, Dwarf Chiltepin, and Big Black Mama) on Wednesday 22nd October and the remaining five plants (Malawi Bird's Eye, Red Chiltepin, San Isidro Rocoto and Aji Largo x2) on Tuesday 4th November. All of the growing equipment, such as plant pots, water trays, bamboo canes, garden cane caps, plastic plant labels, buckets and bottles, measuring jugs, measuring pots and stirring rods have now been washed and sanitised and stored away until next season. It's always very sad to see the chilli plants go, especially when they've performed so well, as is most definitely the case this year! 😭

End of Season Pickings from the Rocoto Plants - 4th November 2025

Here are the last photos that I took of the greenhouse plants on the 22nd October. Below them, I've included a few photos of the Aji Largo plants that were also taken on the same day. However, as already mentioned, they weren't taken down until the 4th November, 13 days later, because I was still waiting for some isolated pods to finish ripening for true to type seed.

Dwarf Chiltepin - 22nd October 2025

Orange Habanero - 22nd October 2025

Orange Habanero - 22nd October 2025

Greenhouse Chilli Plants Taken Down - 22nd October 2025

Aji Largo - 22nd October 2025

Aji Largo - 22nd October 2025

Aji Largo - 22nd October 2025

Aji Largo - 22nd October 2025

Aji Largo - 22nd October 2025

These next photos show some of my recent chilli harvests and they were taken between the 10th October and the 4th November. If you're curious, the varieties shown in the photos below are Aji Largo, San Isidro Rocoto, Fatalii, Orange Habanero, Aji Lemon, Big Black Mama, Bengle Naga and Dwarf Chiltepin.

Aji Largo - 10th October 2025

San Isidro Rocoto - 10th October 2025

Chilli Harvest - 10th October 2025

Chilli Harvest - 10th October 2025

End of Season Pickings from the Greenhouse - 22nd October 2025

San Isidro Rocoto and Aji Largo - 25th October 2025

End of Season Pickings from the Rocoto Plants - 4th November 2025

End of Season Pickings from the Rocoto Plants - 4th November 2025

Aside from managing to dry lots of ripe Ring of Fire chillies and Malawi Bird's Eye chillies around the house on windowsills during the summer, some of which are shown in a photo below, I've pickled all remaining unripe Rocoto peppers and Chiltepin peppers and I've also been working on a new Andean Hot sauce recipe which is made using C. pubescens and C. baccatum varieties. It's now in its final stages and I'm really impressed by how well it has turned out. It only needs a few minor tweaks and the recipe is finished. I'll be making another batch in a few days just so I can free up some space in the freezer. I've also made a batch of spicy lime pickle, but that won't be ready to eat for another three weeks yet.

Pickled Chillies - 6th November 2025

Spicemad's Andean Hot Sauce - 6th November 2025

Spicemad's Spicy Lime Pickle - 6th November 2025

Dried Chillies - 2nd October 2025

Just to think, that in about 10 weeks from now it will be time for me to sow the 2026 chilli seeds. In the meantime, I now have an upright freezer filled to the brim with the devil's fruits to keep me warm during the winter! If you're unsure about how to preserve your chilli harvest then check out the page I wrote on preserving chilli peppers. 😈

The Chilli Freezer - 7th November 2025

To say that I'm impressed by how well this growing season has gone would be an understatement. Many growers I know have also said the same thing. Anyhow, I'll see you in a few weeks — when the madness begins again! Until then, I have a few new additions for the site and some edits to do, so if you need me I'll be in the back room. All hail the Chilli Gods! 🌶