Frequently Asked Questions

Hot Pepper Hub is a global directory and community platform for chilli lovers. We list chilli festivals, markets, vendors, growers, and makers in one place — with a map. You can also find growing guides, recipes, sauce reviews, and preservation guides in our Read section. Everything is free to browse and free to list.

Yes. Browsing events, vendors, markets, and articles is completely free. Submitting an event or vendor listing is free. Creating an account is free. The only paid option is Featured placement, which puts your listing at the top of search results — and that's optional.

Click "Sign in" in the top navigation, then choose "Create account". You'll need an email address and a password of at least 12 characters. We'll send you a verification email — click the link to confirm your account and you're in.

Without an account you can browse all events, vendors, markets, and articles. You can use the map, search, and filter. To submit an event or vendor, save items to your dashboard, or write reviews, you'll need a free account.

Hot Pepper Hub is a global platform. Events and vendors from any country can be listed. Our roots are in South Africa but we welcome the entire chilli community. If your region isn't well represented yet, submit your local events and help us grow the coverage.

Use the "Report" link found on every event, vendor, and article page. Our moderation team reviews reports within 24 hours. For urgent issues, email us directly from the Contact page.

Click "Submit" in the navigation or go to /submit/event. Fill in the event name, date, venue, description, and ticket information. You'll need a free account to submit. Once submitted, our team reviews it — most events are approved within 24 hours.

Most submissions are reviewed and approved within 24 hours. During busy periods, it may take up to 48 hours. If we have a question about your submission, we'll email you before making a decision.

Yes. Sign in with the account you used to submit and go to your dashboard. You'll see all your events with an Edit option. Changes to approved events may be briefly re-reviewed if they affect key details like date, venue, or ticket information.

We list chilli festivals, food markets with a chilli focus, hot sauce tastings, eating competitions, grow workshops, fermentation classes, and market days where chilli vendors are present. Events should have a genuine chilli or hot food element.

Yes. Online chilli events — virtual tastings, live cooking classes, webinars about growing — are welcome. When submitting, select the "Online / Virtual" venue option and include the link or platform details in the description.

Featured events appear at the top of listings and get a "Featured" badge for 30 days. See our Featured pricing page for current rates. Featured placement is managed through your dashboard once your event is approved.

Go to /submit/vendor and fill in your business details — name, description, location, and what you sell or make. Basic listings are free. You'll need a free account to submit. Approval takes up to 24 hours.

We accept hot sauce makers, chilli growers, chilli seed suppliers, spice blenders, chilli-focused food stalls and markets, restaurants with a chilli or heat focus, and chilli-related product sellers. The common thread: chillies or heat.

No. A basic listing is free forever. There's no commission on sales, no monthly fee for a standard profile. The only paid option is Featured placement, which boosts your visibility in search results.

Sign in and go to your dashboard. Under "My Listings" you'll find all your vendor profiles with an Edit button. Updates to key information may be briefly reviewed before going live.

Yes. Your vendor profile includes a products and services section where you can describe what you make or sell, heat levels available, and seasonal offerings. We're also building a dedicated product listing feature — watch the changelog for updates.

Complete profiles with a good description, photos, and accurate location perform significantly better in search. Featured placement adds further visibility. Staying active — updating your listing, adding events — also signals an active business to our ranking.

Jalapeño, cayenne, and African Bird's Eye (peri-peri) are the most beginner-friendly. They germinate quickly (7–14 days), grow vigorously, produce well, and are forgiving of minor care mistakes. Start with one of these before attempting slower, fussier varieties like ghost peppers or reapers.

In the southern hemisphere, sow indoors in July–August (6–10 weeks before your last frost). In the northern hemisphere, sow indoors in February–March. Chillies need warmth to germinate — ideally 25–28°C. They won't germinate well in cold conditions.

Yellow leaves most commonly indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiency. Check the drainage — waterlogged roots can't absorb nutrients even if they're present. If drainage is fine, a balanced liquid fertiliser often resolves yellowing. Less commonly, it indicates pest damage or disease.

Depends heavily on variety. Jalapeños can fruit 60–70 days after transplant. Habaneros take 90–100 days. Ghost peppers and Carolina Reapers need 120–150+ days. All of these timelines require consistently warm, sunny conditions.

Yes, with adequate light. A south-facing window can work for mild varieties, but for reliable results with all varieties, a grow light (full-spectrum LED, 14–16 hours per day) is far more effective. Chillies need high light intensity that most windows don't provide year-round.

Well-draining, slightly acidic (pH 6.0–6.8), rich in organic matter. A good mix: 60% quality potting mix, 30% perlite (for drainage), 10% compost. The perlite is important — root rot from waterlogged soil is one of the most common causes of chilli plant death. Never use garden soil in containers.

Sign in and go to your dashboard, then Profile Settings. You'll find a password change form there. You'll need to enter your current password to confirm. If you've forgotten your password, use "Forgot password" on the login page to reset via email.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is available in your account security settings. Go to Dashboard > Profile > Security. You can set up 2FA via an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, or similar). We strongly recommend enabling 2FA for accounts that manage listings.

Yes. Go to Dashboard > Profile > Account, and scroll to the account deletion section. Deleting your account removes your personal data but event and vendor listings you've submitted will remain (anonymised) unless you request their removal separately. Contact us if you want both removed.

Click the bookmark icon on any event or vendor card or page. Saved items appear in your dashboard under "Saved". You'll need to be signed in — the save button will prompt you to log in if you're not.

Standard users can browse, save items, submit events and vendors, and write reviews. Vendor managers have additional controls over vendor profiles. Moderators can review and approve submissions. Admins have full site access. Most users will only ever need the standard role.

Use the Contact page (linked in the footer) to send us a message. For urgent issues, include a clear subject line. We aim to respond within 24 hours on weekdays. For technical bugs, describe what happened and what browser/device you were using — this helps us investigate faster.