Monty Don’s 5pm winter watering rule is crucial — here’s why.

January might feel like the quietest month in the garden, but Monty Don says it’s actually prime time for one of his favourite crops: chillies. The key isn’t just sowing early — it’s when you water.

On his blog, the Gardeners’ World presenter explains that chilli seeds are the first he starts each new year because they can be slow to germinate and need consistent warmth to get going. That means giving them a cosy start indoors — on a heated propagator, a warm bench, or even a bright windowsill above a radiator where the temperature stays steady.

Monty’s usual routine starts with sowing chillies in seed trays, not individual plugs. Once the seedlings are up and have grown their true leaves (the leaves that appear after the first baby ones), he moves them into plugs to give each plant its own space. After that, they’re gradually potted up again through spring: a bigger pot in March, and eventually into their final terracotta homes around May.

But here’s the part that makes his method feel like a secret weapon: chillies love water, but they absolutely hate sitting in it. To prevent problems, he recommends using a free-draining compost and avoiding late watering. His rule is simple: don’t water after 5 pm.

Why does that matter? Because if compost stays wet overnight, it can become heavy and airless. Seeds and young roots need oxygen — and when the soil is soggy for too long, it can effectively smother them. That’s when rot can sneak in, wiping out seeds before they ever push up a green shoot.

Once your plants are growing strongly, Monty also focuses on feeding at the right time. He likes to build a big, bushy plant first by feeding weekly with a high-nitrogen fertiliser until flower buds start forming in early summer. After buds appear, he switches to a high-potash feed to encourage more flowers — and more flowers usually means more chillies.

If you want a chilli plant that actually delivers a serious harvest, Monty’s January start (plus the 5PM watering rule) is a smart place to begin.