Chillies are very easy to grow in your garden and it’s a nice little project to have on the side during summer. They can be planted any time up to May, but starting early means they have more chance to ripen in time for summer, so you can add them to barbecues and summer recipes.

If you plant in January you should harvest in July. That said, you will have to start hem off inside your home because the weather is just too cold, so come mid-May it will be warm enough to plant them outside so they can continue to grow. If you’re growing tropical varieties, or if you are in northern Britain, keep plants in a greenhouse or on a warm sill. And if you can get a plant through the winter, the fruit yield will increase in the second and third years. Of course only use the plant once more if it’s completely free of pests.