THE GREAT Dorset Chilli Festival is encouraging people to get green fingered for the launch of its Chilli Plant Competition.

The event organisers want to remind growers we are in prime seed sowing season and judging for the competition will take place at the popular Chilli Festival on Saturday August 1 at St Giles Park, Wimborne St Giles.

There are 2 classes to enter - Class 1 is for the ‘Calico’ variety of chilli, with variegated leaves and deep purple fruit, and Class 2 is an open class for any chilli plant variety.

A spokesman from the event said: “You’d be forgiven for thinking that nothing grows in the cold, dull days of January, but this is the ideal time to sow chilli seeds to achieve productive plants come the warmer summer months.

“An increasing number of people, green fingered or not, are discovering the joy of growing their own chilli plants. Not only do they look good on a windowsill, but there’s nothing to beat picking a fresh homegrown chilli from the plant when a recipe calls for a bit of heat.”

The competition is sponsored by Dorset vegetable seed company Sea Spring Seeds and Longleat-based Simpson’s Seeds, both of whom hold a huge range of chilli seed varieties, with trophies and rosettes for the winners.

In addition, Dorset-based Stewarts Garden Centres of Christchurch and Broomhill have generously sponsored a £50 garden centre voucher for the winner of each chilli plant competition class.

The two-day specialist food festival celebrates the popular world of chilli peppers, from growing chilli plants and sampling chilli sauces, to enjoying spicy international street food and of course watching the chilli eating competition.

The Great Dorset Chilli Festival also has 20 packets of Calico seeds to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning, please email with your name and address to info@greatdorsetchillifestival.co.uk.