CHRIS Roberts is a solid plasterer by day, but once he knocks off work, his children and his other kids – the chilli plants in his back and front yards – are his focus.
Chris is the owner of Tamworth Chilli Temple, growing chilli plants and selling them over Facebook and at the local Tamworth Growers Market.
His interest in chillies began when Chris found odd-looking chillies – Orange Habaneros – in the supermarket about 14 years ago.
“Before then chillies were just a standard pointy shape,” he said.
“I collected the seeds from the ones I bought in the supermarket and got about dozen plants from that. The possums ate most of them but we moved house and had a bigger backyard where we put in a great big vegie patch.”
He’s focused on chillies now, and hasn’t had too much trouble growing them.
“Pretty easy to grow from seed – you’ve just got to have constant warm temperatures to germinate the seeds, but once they're up and going, they’re fine.
“I actually like to start mine off in August when it's still bitterly cold in Tamworth.
“We’ve been here for four years, but we lived in Queensland for 25 years so you can germinate seeds up there anytime you want. I’ve made my own a seed raiser that operates off a fishtank heater that warms the water.”
Once the seedlings emerge, they go in individual pots. They need a 20 to 25-litre pot to grow to maturity, but Chris puts chillies for sale in small five-inch pots, use premium potting mix.
Last year Chris grew 53 varieties, but he’s back to about 45 now, with winter killing off a few plants.
“They vary from mild to extremely hot, and I have the hottest chilli in the world, the Carolina Reaper,” he said.
He has a few shade houses, and is looking to build a fully shaded enclosure for the chillies.
While they’re easy to grow, chillies do need plenty of water, with Chris watering every day in summer.
“With the little pots, you need to water them every day, because the plants suck moisture out very quickly, and the bigger pots are usually every second day.”
Chilli plants are perennial and can last many years.
“If you can get them to survive through the winter they'll grow back the next year,” Chris said.
“I've heard of them growing for 15 years up north where they're pretty comfortable in the heat, and I've got a couple here that are going into their fourth season.”
The main insect problem in the Queensland fruit fly, which he sprays for every fortnight.
“They usually turn up mid November. When I first came here I thought there’d be no fruit fly, but they're worse here than on the Gold Coast.”
Tamworth grower turns up the heat, shares it with the world
Tamworth Chilli Temple owner Chris Roberts sells established chilli plants at the Tamworth Grower Markets each week, and plants are also available through his Facebook page.
“Quite a few mad people are after the super hot chillies but a lot of people just like the mild ones for cooking.”
Chris is a bit of a hothead himself, and is prepared to take on any chilli.He eats chilli every day – using gloves to chop up very hot varieties – but his wife and children aren’t as keen.
“I eat chili every night, but I've got to try to keep it separated from everybody else,” Chris said.
“The kids will have a go sometimes at the mild ones but they don't eat it every day.
“I’ll occasionally make a video of me eating one and post it to the Facebook page – a lot of chilli heads around the world will do that.”
