How to Grow Birds Eye Baby Chillies from Seed
A true miniature grown as chilli bonsai: a dense little bush studded with tiny upright pods, and real bird's eye heat.
Birds Eye Baby is a true miniature. The plant makes a small dense bush covered in tiny leaves, neat enough that people grow it as chilli bonsai and small enough to live in a modest pot on a kitchen windowsill. For its size it crops absurdly hard, studding itself with dozens of little upright pods.
The heat is the real bird's eye article, 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville units, clean and sharp. It germinates readily and fruits far quicker than the superhots, making it one of the best first chillies there is.
Species
Capsicum annuum
Heat
50,000 to 100,000 SHU
Sow
February to April
Harvest
July to October
Best Grown
Windowsill pot
Difficulty
Full growing method
Birds Eye Baby is grown like every other Capsicum annuum. Our species guide covers sowing, potting on, feeding and problems step by step.
Read the Capsicum annuum guide →About this Variety
The fruit
Fat-based cones a couple of centimetres long, standing upright and ripening green to purplish-brown to red.
The plant
A small dense bush of tiny leaves, perfect for a windowsill pot or chilli bonsai.
Drying
Pods are small enough to dry in a couple of days.
Not to be confused
This compact Thai-style bird's eye is a different plant from our taller African Bird's Eye piri piri.
Handling
Wash your hands after cutting the fruit, and keep it away from your eyes.
Sowing & Harvest Calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow under cover | ||||||||||||
| 🪴 Final pots | ||||||||||||
| 🌶️ Harvest |
Variety Specifications
Chilli bonsai for the windowsill
Sow in spring, keep it in a small pot by the kitchen window, and pick dozens of fiery little pods.
Shop Birds Eye Baby Seeds →