How to Grow Ghost Peppers

Cori Sears is a writer with over a decade of experience, specializing in houseplants, gardening, and home decor. She writes about trending news, interior design, houseplants, and gardening for The Spruce. Her expertise in these areas has led her to contribute to other major publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Apartment Therapy.

transplanting ghost pepper plant

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

transplanting ghost pepper plant

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Ghost Peppers vs. Habaneros

  • Growing in Pots
  • Propagating
  • Growing From Seeds

Overwintering

  • Pests and Diseases
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Add more than a bit of spice to the pepper plants in your garden with ghost pepper plants ( Bhut jolokia ). Native to India, ghost peppers are a hybrid of the species Capsicum chinense and Capsicum frutescens. They are over 200 times hotter than jalapeños .

The plants have green stems and foliage. The peppers typically come in red, though they also can be orange, yellow, or chocolate. And they stretch roughly 2 to 4 inches long. A healthy ghost pepper plant can produce up to 100 peppers. Ghost pepper plants are perennial in zones 8 to 11 but can be grown as annuals in cooler climates. They are very slow-growing peppers, requiring around 120 days or more to mature, and they should be planted in the spring.

How to Plant Ghost Peppers

When to plant.

Because ghost peppers require such a long growing season, it's best to start seeds indoors around eight to 12 weeks before your area’s last spring frost date. They can be planted outside once the nighttime temperatures are reliably above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Selecting a Planting Site

The planting site should get lots of sun and have well-draining soil. Container growth is also an option. High and consistent temperatures and humidity also are essential for healthy growth. Ghost peppers don't like fluctuations in their environment, which is why many gardeners opt to grow them in controlled greenhouse spaces. 

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Plant seeds around 1/4 inch deep, and situate nursery plants at the same depth they were in their previous container. Space the plants 2 to 3 feet apart. You might need to stake your plants to prevent the stems from breaking when they're heavy with peppers, especially if your plants are exposed to strong winds.

Ghost Pepper Plant Care

During their four- to five-month growing period, the plants require consistently hot, bright, direct sunlight. When growing them indoors, supplementing natural light with grow lights is required. They should receive at least six hours of full sun on most days.

Loamy , well-drained soil with a slightly acidic soil pH is best for ghost pepper plants. Add some organic matter, such as compost, into the soil at the beginning of the growing season, especially if the soil is sandy.

A good rule of thumb is to wait for the top two inches of soil to dry before watering ghost pepper plants. Aim to maintain a regular watering schedule, as inconsistent watering can shock the plants.

Temperature and Humidity

Ghost pepper plants are extremely particular about their temperature and humidity conditions to produce a crop of fruit . They must have a growing season of longer than three months in temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. Four to five months of extreme heat and humidity is ideal. Rapid temperature changes and cold periods can cause ghost pepper plants to drop their flowers or fail to thrive.

Fertilize ghost pepper plants immediately after planting, and then twice more throughout the growing season, using a balanced fertilizer . Although it might be tempting, do not fertilize ghost pepper plants more often than that, as they are very sensitive to overfeeding.

Pollination

Ghost pepper plants are self-pollinators with the help of animals and the wind.

Ghost peppers and habaneros are closely related. However, ghost peppers are slightly larger than habaneros and are significantly hotter. Plus, habaneros have a slightly fruity taste while heat dominates the flavor of ghost peppers . 

Harvesting Ghost Peppers

As ghost peppers ripen, they typically will turn from green to red. Bright red color and slight wrinkling of the skin are signs that they have reached full maturity. Reaching maturity will take between 120 and 150 days on average. They can be harvested at any stage of development if desired, but they are spiciest when fully mature. This is because the compound responsible for the spice in ghost peppers, capsaicin, increases in concentration until the peppers reach full maturity. 

Always wear protective apparel when harvesting ghost peppers, and be careful to avoid touching your eyes or skin after handling the hot chilis. They can cause burning or stinging via skin contact. Cut peppers off the plant with a knife or pruners, leaving around an inch of stem. They can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week in plastic. They also can be dried. 

How to Grow Ghost Peppers in Pots

Growing ghost peppers in pots is a good option in case you need to move the plants indoors to protect them from an unexpected cold snap. Select a pot that’s at least a foot wide and deep per plant to give the roots plenty of room. And make sure the pot has ample drainage holes. Unglazed clay is a good container material to allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls. If the pot has a saucer, promptly empty it if it collects water. You'll likely have to water a container plant more often than plants grown in the ground. But make sure the soil is never waterlogged.

Pinching back the stem tips as ghost pepper plants grow is recommended to encourage bushier growth, but it is not essential.

Propagating Ghost Peppers

Ghost pepper plants can be propagated via stem cuttings , though this is not always successful. Still, it is an inexpensive way to essentially clone a plant that is particularly vigorous or otherwise preferable. The best time to take a cutting is in the late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing and before it is producing fruit. Here's how:

  • Cut a 4- to 6-inch piece of healthy stem. 
  • Remove the foliage on the lower half of the stem, as well as any flower buds. 
  • Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and then plant it in moist soilless potting mix. 
  • Keep the cutting in a bright, warm spot, and maintain a moist but not soggy growing medium. Roots should start to form in about three weeks.

How to Grow Ghost Peppers From Seed

Ghost pepper seeds can take three weeks or longer to germinate. Before planting, soak seeds in hydrogen peroxide for a minute to increase germination success. Then, plant them in a moist seed-starting mix that is between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It's critical to keep the temperature and moisture level consistent. Use full-sun fluorescent grow lights to maintain temperatures when starting seeds indoors.

Potting and Repotting Ghost Peppers

When potting ghost pepper plants, ensuring that the growing medium drains well is of utmost importance. Use a quality organic potting mix. Aim to use a pot that will accommodate the plant's full size right from the start, so you don't have to disturb it by repotting.

Unless you have a climate-controlled greenhouse, it is very difficult to maintain the right amount of heat, humidity, and light for ghost pepper plants over the winter. This is why many gardeners treat the plant as an annual outside of its growing zones.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Ghost pepper plants are susceptible to several common pests and diseases when grown both outdoors and indoors. Some of the pests most likely to afflict a ghost pepper plant include aphids , spider mites , slugs, snails, and thrips . Common bacterial and fungal diseases include anthracnose , bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew , and pepper mosaic. The best way to keep a ghost pepper plant healthy is to conduct regular inspections and catch issues early. Treat problems with organic methods to maintain the edibility of the peppers.

Ghost pepper plants can be tricky to grow. They need consistent levels of high heat and humidity.

Ghost peppers take around four months from planting to maturity on average.

Ghost peppers are perennial in hot, humid climates. But in other areas, they are often treated as an annual.

Ghost pepper production . University of Florida

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Care Of Ghost Chili Peppers: How To Grow Ghost Pepper Plants

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Ghost Pepper Plant

Some like it hot, and some like it hotter. Chili pepper growers that enjoy a bit of heat will certainly get what they ask for when growing ghost peppers. Keep reading to learn more about these HOT pepper plants.

About Ghost Pepper Plants

Ghost pepper plants, otherwise known as Bhut Jolokia, are a type of hot pepper plant grown in India. I used to think that habanero peppers were spicy at a Scoville heat unit measure of 250,000 units, but now that I know of the ghost pepper and its Scoville rating of 1,001,304 units, I shudder to think what it might do to my gastric system. In fact, the fruit from a ghost chili pepper variety called Trinidad Moruga Scorpion has been recorded as the world's hottest pepper in the Guinness Book of World Records. The name "ghost" pepper came about due to a mistranslation. Westerners thought the Bhut Jolokia was pronounced "Bhot," which is translated as "Ghost."

Uses of Growing Ghost Peppers

In India, ghost peppers are used as a medicine for stomach ailments and eaten to cool the body by inducing perspiration during the hot summer months. Really! Ghost pepper plants are also spread on fences to repel elephants-- and I suppose any other creature that is likely to attempt a crossing. More recently, another use has been discovered for growing ghost peppers. In 2009, scientists in India suggested the peppers could be utilized as weapons, in hand grenades or as a pepper spray, with a resulting temporary paralysis but no permanent damage to terrorists or invaders. Ghost pepper plants are quite possibly the next environmentally friendly, non-lethal weapon.

How to Grow Ghost Peppers

So if one were interested in growing ghost peppers for either the novelty of doing so or because one would actually want to ingest these flaming fruits, the question is, “How to grow ghost peppers?” Growing ghost peppers is difficult compared to other hot peppers due to their requirements for a certain amount of humidity and heat, which is in direct relation to their heat index. In order to best grow these peppers, your climate should most closely match that of their native India, which has five months of intensely high humidity and temperatures. If your growing season is short, the ghost pepper plants can be moved indoors in the evening, however, these plants are sensitive to shifts in their environments and a lot of moving around may damage the plants irreparably. The surest way of growing ghost peppers is indoors or in a greenhouse where temperatures can be maintained at the 75 degrees F. (24 C.). Seeds for ghost peppers take around 35 days to germinate in very warm soil between 80 and 90 degrees F. (27-32 C.), and the soil must be kept moist consistently. Soak the seeds in hydrogen peroxide for a minute to increase germination success and use full sun fluorescent light bulbs to maintain temperature and humidity.

Care of Ghost Chili Peppers

Sensitive to over fertilization, changes in temperature, and other environmental stressors, ghost pepper plants must have a growing season of longer than three months in temperatures of above 70 degrees F. (21 C.) in order to be grown outside. If growing ghost peppers in containers, use a well-draining potting medium. Peppers growing in the garden may need to have organic matter added to the soil, especially if the soil is sandy . Fertilize the newly planted ghost pepper plants and then two or three more times during the growing season. Alternatively, use a controlled release fertilizer to feed the plants during the whole growing season. Lastly, in the care of ghost chili peppers, maintain a regular watering regime to avoid shocking the delicate peppers.

Harvesting Ghost Peppers

To be on the safe side when harvesting ghost peppers, you might want to wear gloves to prevent any burns from the peppers. Harvest when the fruit is firm and brilliantly colored. If you are seriously tempted to eat ghost peppers, again, be sure to wear disposable gloves when preparing and only take a tiny bite at first to test your ability to handle the hottest pepper in the world.

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Amy Grant has been gardening for 30 years and writing for 15. A professional chef and caterer, Amy's area of expertise is culinary gardening.

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How to Grow Ghost Peppers

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden . Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 70,060 times.

Want to add some spice to your garden (literally)? Ghost peppers have a Scoville rating of over 1 million, which is about 400 times hotter than a jalapeno. These tasty peppers are easy to grow, especially if you live in a warm, humid climate. In this article, we’ll share everything you need to know about growing ghost peppers, including starting them from seed, transplanting them outdoors, and harvesting.

Things You Should Know

  • Start ghost peppers indoors in late winter or early spring.
  • Move the peppers outdoors after 1 month. Pick a sunny, well-draining location that stays warm.
  • Water the peppers daily, and fertilize them once they start bearing fruit.
  • Harvest the peppers once they turn red and wrinkly, or after 100 to 150 days.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Step 1 Plant the seeds indoors 1 to 2 months before the final frost date.

  • It’s a good idea to start your peppers indoors so you can control the temperature of the soil and the air around them.
  • Ghost peppers typically take 14 to 30 days to germinate.

Step 2 Sow seeds in...

  • If you have a greenhouse, feel free to keep your pepper seedlings in there. The warm, moist conditions of a greenhouse are perfect for growing peppers.

Step 5 Water the seedlings once a day.

Moving Plants Outdoors

Step 1 Transplant your peppers after about 35 days.

  • Ghost peppers do best in warm, humid conditions. If your area is experiencing cold weather or the frost date hasn’t passed yet, keep your peppers inside in pots.

Step 2 Pick a sunny location with well-draining soil.

  • If your soil pH is too low, adjust it by adding pulverized lime to your soil.
  • If the pH is too high, decrease it by adding organic materials like pine needles or compost.

Step 4 Space the plants 18 to 24 in (46 to 61 cm) apart.

  • Ideally, pepper plants like temperatures 75 to 85 °F (24 to 29 °C).

Caring for Ghost Peppers

Step 1 Water the peppers daily.

  • You can test the soil moisture by sticking your finger into the dirt. If the tip of your finger comes out dry, then the soil is dry and needs to be watered. If your finger comes out damp or with soil stuck to it, the soil is wet and doesn’t need to be watered.
  • If your area is super dry, add mulch to the ground to help lock in moisture.

Step 2 Fertilize the peppers when they start fruiting.

  • Potassium helps plants create new tissue and fruit. The nutrients in high-potassium fertilizer are essential for peppers, and it will help your ghost peppers thrive.

Step 3 Remove any pests or bugs by hand.

  • If you notice your peppers developing a gray mold near the roots, it could mean that your soil is too moist. Stop watering for a couple of days to see if the mold disappears. [14] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source

Harvesting Ghost Peppers

Step 1 Wait 100 to 150 days for your peppers to mature.

  • During the flowering stage, your peppers will grow small, white flowers that eventually turn into peppers.

Step 2 Harvest the peppers when they are red and wrinkly.

  • While you can harvest ghost peppers when they’re green or orange, they won’t be as hot as the red ones.

Step 3 Wear gloves to protect your hands while harvesting.

  • Always wash your hands after handling ghost peppers, and be careful not to touch your eyes. The capsaicin, or the chemical that creates spice, can transfer from your hands to your eyes, causing severe discomfort. [18] X Trustworthy Source University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities Go to source
  • Store fresh ghost peppers in your pantry for 2 to 3 days, or keep them in your fridge for 2 to 3 weeks.

Expert Q&A

Maggie Moran

  • Ghost peppers are perennials, meaning that they’ll grow back every year. [19] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source However, ghost peppers often have a hard time surviving winter in colder climates. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Things You’ll Need

  • Ghost pepper seeds
  • Starter pots
  • Soil pH test kit
  • High-potassium liquid fertilizer
  • Gardening gloves
  • Grow light (optional)
  • Plant pots (optional)

You Might Also Like

Ask for Feedback

  • ↑ https://www.bountifulgardener.com/when-to-harvest-ghost-peppers/
  • ↑ https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1618
  • ↑ https://totalgardener.com/grow-ghost-peppers/
  • ↑ https://www.canna.com.au/ghost_pepper_grow_it_yourself
  • ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/346586/capsicum-chinense-bhut-jolokia/details
  • ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/grey-mould
  • ↑ https://ucanr.edu/sites/camasterfoodpreservers/files/337928.pdf

About this article

Maggie Moran

To grow ghost peppers, you’ll want to start them indoors 6 to 10 weeks before the last frost. First, soak the seeds in a cup of water for at least 8 hours. Then, plant them in peat pods or small seedling containers. Place them in a warm spot like a sunny windowsill and keep the soil moist. When the pods are 3 inches tall, plant them in compost at least 12 inches apart somewhere they’ll get 6 hours of sunlight a day or more. Keep the soil slightly damp but not soaking. You can also mix blood and bone meal or fish and kelp fertilizer into the soil to give your seedlings a nutrients boost. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to harvest your ghost peppers, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Pepper joe's gardening tips - transplanting hot pepper plants.

Transplanting Sweet Peppers - Pepper Joe's

O.K. You've nursed those seeds through the germination stage and the fragile seedling stage. They are growing fine and you're ready to move to the next step, moving them outdoors. There are 2 key stages ahead the "Hardening Off" and the actual "Transplant" stage. Keep in mind it will all be worth it. The selection of plants available from most nurseries, discount stores and grocery stores is meager at best.  To get started, try watching a short video of 6 easy steps on how to transplant your pepper plants:

For a more detailed process, try watching my video Growing Hot Peppers 101 .

By starting your own seeds indoors you open yourself up to an endless selection of Peppers. Literally hundreds of varieties! Anyway the most crucial step is the next one.

Hardening Off

This is absolutely KEY. Gardening is mostly common sense. Keep in mind your plants have been in a controlled indoor climate. Probably between 65 and 70 degrees with no wind and partial sunshine through a sunny windowsill in most cases. These are not the conditions outdoors where these tender plants will have 30 degree swings in temperature, direct sunlight and some windy conditions. Not to worry ... just let them adapt GRADUALLY.

I recommend bringing them outdoors the first day for 1/2 hour in just partial sunlight in an area protected by the wind. Some gardeners start out even simpler than this by opening the window where plants are growing a few inches for an hour, then two, then three hours per day. After your plants are outdoors for 1/2 hour somewhat protected increase the time daily to 1 hour, 2, 3, 4, leading up to 8 hours per day. Then leave them out overnight for a full day.

As the amount of hours increase you can gradually expose them to more direct sunlight and some wind. Keep in mind the soil will dry faster outdoors due to sun and wind so water more frequently outdoors. The soil in containers will dry faster than your actual actual garden will. This entire process takes about 2 weeks. If there is a thunderstorm or high winds..obviously skip that day. Again your primary objective is to let your plants acclimate gradually to the new outdoor environment.

Transplanting

You are just about there now. Your plants are adjusted to being outdoors and you're moving them to their permanent home. The key now is:

  • Don't disturb the roots.
  • Create a favorable soil environment.
  • Transplant the right depth.

To prepare the soil I like to mix into the hole a healthy shovelful of sand (most peppers originated in a tropical climate..besides sand allows the roots to aerate) and a shovelful of composted cow manure or compost. This will continually feed your plants throughout the growing season. When transplanting to the garden, put 1 teaspoon of sulfur into the hole first. Handle the roots gingerly and place into hole about 1" above the established root line so that more of the plant is underground than when in pots.

Peppers will grow additional roots from the stem that is now underground. This will "anchor" the plant better and it will grow stockier. Immediately water the plants well at the soil level. It's best to do your transplants at early evening so that they are not immediately in full sunlight.

Watch the transplants closely the first week. If the weather is real hot they'll need more water. If plants start to wilt slightly water them right away. Occasionally I've had to partially shade them if the weather was real hot with a temporary cardboard shelter.

If you are looking to up your gardening game, check out our growing supplies that you can use to maximize your yields and make the most out of your grow. 

Thriving Plants

I prefer to give my plants a watering with fish emulsion every 2 weeks. On the alternate weeks I'll spray them with 2 tbsp. of epsom salt per quart of water top give them a magnesium shot-in-the-arm. But any commercial type of plant food will work if you are not an organic gardener.

I also prefer mulch to keep the soil moist. My preference is grass clippings. I apply it around the stem about 2 weeks after transplanting. You can actually make your garden maintenance free by picking up grass clippings throughout the neighborhood and spreading a 6" layer of mulch into the whole garden. If you're organic just check with the homeowner to see if he uses chemicals. Actually I seek out imperfect lawns with some weeds to be safe.

Want to expand your growing list?  Don't forget to look into our huge selection of pepper seeds and live pepper plants .  From the hottest to the sweetest, we got the perfect pepper for you.  

Great Gardening,

Featured collection, carolina reaper pepper seeds | hp22b, ghost pepper seeds - bhut jolokia pepper seeds, carolina reaper pepper plants, pepper joe's jalapeno pepper seeds, habanero pepper seeds, chocolate habanero pepper seeds, carolina reaper summer sausage, pepper joe's giant jalapeno pepper seeds, ancho poblano pepper seeds, moruga trinidad scorpion pepper seeds, spice up your inbox.

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Gardener's Path

How to Plant and Grow Ghost Peppers

A close up of ripe ghost peppers, ready for harvest, growing on the plant, surrounded by foliage and fading to soft focus in the background.

Capsicum assamicum

The ghost pepper, bhut jolokia, was the first hot pepper to be measured at over 1 million Scoville heat units.

In 2007 it was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “hottest pepper in the world” – but it has since been knocked off its podium by the sinister-sounding ‘Carolina Reaper.’

The “heat” of a pepper is measured in Scoville heat units (SHU), which measures the concentration of capsaicin.

A close up vertical picture of a red ripe ghost pepper ready for harvest, on a green soft focus background. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links,  we may earn a commission .

For comparison, the popular jalapeno pepper weighs in at between 2,500 SHU at the mild end, all the way to 8,000 SHU at its spiciest.

So at over a million SHU, what can we possibly do with ghost peppers, and why would anyone want to grow them?

Because they are delicious. In very small quantities.

What You’ll Learn

What is a ghost pepper, when and how to plant, how to grow, growing tips, where to buy, managing pests and disease, harvesting and preserving, recipes and cooking ideas, quick reference growing guide.

The ghost pepper, bhut jolokia, also known as naga jolokia or ghost chili, is a member of the nightshade family, Solanaceae , which includes eggplant , tomatoes, and of course, the bell pepper, Capsicum annuum – which has a Scoville rating of 0.

A vertical close up picture of a bright red 'Bhut Jolokia' chili hanging from the plant, ready for harvest, on a green, soft focus background.

The Capsicum genus comprises over 200 species, and the ghost was thought to be an interspecific hybrid of C. chinense , a habanero type pepper, and C. frutescens.

Cultivated in northeast India, primarily in the Assam region, as of 2018, it has been reclassified as its own species, C. assamicum,  on the basis of morphological studies.

Bhut jolokia is a tender perennial, often grown as an annual, suitable for gardeners in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11.

Ripe peppers are usually red, two to three inches long and about an inch wide, with slightly wrinkled skin. They taper to a small point at the bottom of the pod.

A close up of two ghost peppers attached to the plant. One is green, meaning that it is not yet ripe, and the other red, ready for harvest. The fruits are surrounded by foliage and pictured on a soft focus background.

In the right conditions, plants can reach a mature height of four feet, though mine have never managed more than two feet, but have never failed to provide me with an abundant harvest.

Apart from the mind-blowing heat, bhut jolokia has an almost sweet, smoky aftertaste. It’s not advisable to eat it raw.

It’s a good elephant deterrent. In parts of India, ground-up ghost peppers are smeared on fencing to keep crops safe from wild elephants. This is a tactic used in parts of Africa as well, to good effect. On that basis, it’s unlikely you’ll have a problem with deer!

You can refer to our hot pepper growing guide to learn more. Here I’m going to cover specific tips for cultivating ghost peppers in your garden.

Ghost peppers require a long growing season – up to 150 days from planting to harvest – so it’s best to start seeds indoors at least  eight to 10 weeks before the average last frost date in your area.

Soak seeds in a little water overnight before sowing.

Sow 1/4 inch deep in trays filled with potting soil . You can use biodegradable pots to prevent damage to the roots when you transplant into the garden or to your container.

A close up of a biodegradable seed starting tray with measurements on a white background.

Cow Pots™ Biodegradable Seed Trays

You can use peat pots, but I really like Cow Pots™, as they are made from composted cow manure from a dairy farm in Vermont and will nourish your plants as they break down.

Find Cow Pots™ in a variety of sizes from Arbico Organics .

Seeds need an even soil temperature of 80-90°F in order to germinate.

A close up of a seedling heat mat on a white background.

Heat Mat for Seedlings

To maintain this, you may need to use a heat mat, such as this one available at Burpee , or from Amazon .

Keep the soil evenly moist, but not waterlogged, and in 14-21 days your seeds should germinate.

Be patient, as it can sometimes take up to 35 days for sprouts to appear. If you are using a heat mat, you’ll need to be vigilant with your watering as the soil can dry out quickly.

After germination, move them to a sunny windowsill or place seedlings under grow lights .

Keep the grow lights two to three inches above the top of the sprouts. Continue to water regularly, keeping the soil moist – but be careful not to overwater.

Seedlings thrive in daytime temperatures above 70°F, and no less than 60°F at night.

Once your seedlings are four to six inches tall – about six to eight weeks after germination – it’s time to transplant them out into the garden, or into a container.

A close up of almost ripe 'Bhut Jolokia' fruit growing on the plant, pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

If you intend to grow them in containers, make sure your pot is at least eight inches deep and 11-12 inches wide.

Before planting out, you’ll need to harden off your seedlings.

To do this, decrease the daytime temperature to 60-65°F for one week before planting out.

Alternatively, place the plants in a sunny but sheltered area outdoors for a few hours each day, gradually increasing the amount of time they spend outside.

To get a jump on the growing season, you can purchase transplants from your local nursery and harden them off prior to planting out.

In their native environment, these peppers grow in hot, humid conditions.

A vertical close up of 'Bhut Jolokia' fruits in various stages of ripeness, growing from the plant, pictured on a soft focus background.

Ghost peppers require a full sun location , and well-drained, organically rich, fertile soil, with a pH of 6.0-6.8. You may wish to conduct a soil test to determine the pH and nutrient level of your soil and amend accordingly.

After all risk of frost has passed, and nighttime temperatures are above 60°F, you can plant your baby peppers.

Space plants 24-36 inches apart. Dig a hole the size of the root ball – or biodegradable pot, if using – and place the transplant into the hole, tamp down the soil, and water in well. Unlike tomatoes, peppers do not need their stems to be buried.

You can mulch with compost or straw to help prevent weeds and retain moisture, just make sure to keep the mulch at least an inch away from the stem to prevent rot.

You can use floating row covers to maintain an even temperature and protect young plants from wind and driving rain.

Ghost peppers require regular watering, about 1 inch per week , but they do not like wet feet. Check your soil, and if it’s dry to an inch deep, the plants need water. Be extra vigilant when flower buds form, and maintain even moisture.

Fertilize your plants regularly during the growing season, according to package instructions, with a 5-10-10 (NPK) fertilizer or tomato food. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizer as this can cause the plant to grow a lot of foliage and no fruit.

A close up of the packaging of tomato food from Burpee, on a white background.

Tomato + Vegetable Granular Plant Food

You can find tomato food at your local garden center or from Burpee .

Bhut jolokia plants are very sensitive to temperature changes. The ideal temperature is between 70 and 90°F, and rapid changes can cause the plant to drop its flowers, or fail to thrive.

As they grow, you may need to stake your plants or use a tomato cage to prevent the stem from breaking in high winds, particularly when fruiting.

I like to pinch the growing tips to encourage a bushier plant, though this is not absolutely necessary.

A close up of a large 'Bhut Jolokia' plant with an abundance of red ripe fruits, growing in the garden in the bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Here in Zone 9b I grow my bhuts in containers on my deck. This way, I can ensure they get enough sunlight (six to eight hours per day) and they are protected from heavy rain and excessive wind.

Over the winter months , I prune them hard, and then they overwinter in my garage. I’ve had some success with a good crop from my second-year plants, but my third-year plants have not been very abundant this season.

Fruit will start out green and gradually turn red – or yellow, depending on the cultivar you are growing. They are ready to harvest when they have turned fully red, and the skin is slightly wrinkled.

A close up of a ripe, red ghost pepper attached to the plant, surrounded by green foliage on a soft focus background.

From the time I see the flowers start to appear, I feed my container plants every two weeks with tomato food and spray with an Epsom salt mixture on the alternate weeks.

The Epsom salt provides a source of magnesium to the plant, which helps to increase fruit yield.

To do this, I dissolve 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt into a spray bottle filled with warm water and use it as a foliar spray. Plants that are deficient in magnesium will produce lots of flowers but fail to set fruit.

  • Plant in a full sun location, with organically rich soil.
  • Fertilize regularly with 5-10-10 (NPK) or tomato food.
  • Keep soil moist but avoid overwatering.

You can often find transplants available at your local garden center to get you started.

A close up of bright red 'Bhut Jolokia' peppers, freshly harvested and placed on a rustic fabric surface.

4” Ghost Pepper Plants via Bonnie Plants

Bonnie Plants offers 4-inch plants in 19-ounce pots, available at Home Depot .

A close up of 'Bhut Jolokia' fruits growing on the plant, ready for harvest, surrounded by foliage on a soft focus background.

Ghost Pepper Seeds via Eden Brothers

Or, if you want to try your luck with starting seeds, you can find packets in a variety of sizes available at Eden Brothers .

Given that ghost peppers can be used to deter elephants, you’d be forgiven for thinking that they are untroubled by pests and disease. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

A cluster of bright red ghost chilies ready for harvest, pictured on a soft focus background.

Aphids can enjoy feeding on your plants, but a strong blast from the hose can be enough to get rid of them. If they persist, then I recommend spraying with neem oil.

I do this once a week, making sure to target both the top and bottom of the foliage.

Check out this guide to learn more about managing aphids in your garden .

Spider mites, thrips , and flea beetles can also cause damage. Keep an eye out for these, and spray with neem oil, or apply diatomaceous earth . To deter  slugs and snails , I use beer traps.

Read more about controlling pepper plant pests here .

Diseases that you might encounter include fungal leaf spot and powdery mildew, which can also be treated with neem oil or a targeted fungicide.

Bacterial leaf spot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris , is a serious disease that’s usually a result of planting infected transplants or seeds. Plants will need to be removed and destroyed.

It’s been a long wait! About 120-150 days after starting your tiny plants, you will be rewarded with bright red peppers to liven up your garden and blow your head off.

A close up of freshly harvested ghost peppers. Bright red, with slightly wrinkled skin, and placed in a wooden bowl, on a soft focus background.

Harvesting is easy, just cut off the peppers as they ripen.

It’s recommended to wear gloves when you handle ghost peppers, and avoid contact with your skin – and definitely avoid touching your eyes or any other sensitive regions after handling.

Like other hot varieties, ghosts will last five to seven days in the refrigerator, after which time they can start to get mushy and possibly discolored.

I like to freeze my peppers. To do this, I simply place them in a plastic container or baggie and store them in the freezer – they’ll last for six months to a year.

A close up of a small bag of red 'Bhut Jolokia' fruits that are labelled and frozen, set on a wooden surface.

You can also dry them . Using a dehydrator or a very low oven, spread them out whole, and keep an eye out for when they shrivel up. Store in a cool, dark, dry spot in an airtight container.

A little goes a very long way. Ghosts can be added to all your favorite recipes that call for hot peppers.

But be careful – even if you are used to throwing in habaneros by the handful, the ghost is up to 11 times hotter!

A close up of freshly harvested red ghost fruits, set in a wicker basket on a wooden surface, with a garden scene in sunshine in soft focus in the background.

To prepare your ghost pepper, you’ll need to remember that the capsaicin will not just infuse your food with mind-blowing heat, but also your chopping board, and skin that comes into contact with it.

Wear gloves and eye protection when handling it – and wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes, mouth, or other sensitive areas. Remove and discard the seeds and inner membrane, and slice thinly.

A close up top down picture of a bowl of chili, sprinkled with grated cheese and herbs, set on a wooden surface, with small bowls of cheese and herbs to the right of the frame in soft focus.

My recommendation is to start slowly, adding a very small amount at a time to your favorite chili or salsa recipes. I love this recipe for slow cooker game day chili, from our sister site, Foodal .

You can also make hot sauce, infused oil, or add it to your favorite salsa recipes – you can find some good ideas over at Foodal .

Remember that the flavor will develop over time. Your hot sauce will get spicier the longer you store it.

And please don’t forget to label your ghost peppers, and anything you make with them.

Respect the Ghost

I once added an entire ghost pepper to my beef chili. I mistook it for a habanero. That was a mistake I won’t be making again.

One bite and the heat was overwhelming. I ended up making a fresh batch of chili and mixing the two together. It was still one of the hottest dishes I’ve ever eaten.

In small quantities, the ghost gives a delicious depth of spiciness, but it needs respect.

Have you grown ghost peppers? Are you tempted to try? Let us know in the comments and share your favorite recipes!

If you want to learn more about growing peppers , you’ll need the following guides next:

  • How to Grow Ornamental Peppers
  • How to Plant and Grow Serrano Peppers
  • How to Plant and Grow Poblano Peppers
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Photos by Clare Groom and Meghan Yager © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos via Arbico Organics, Bonnie Plants, Burpee, and Eden Brothers. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock.

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Clare Groom

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When and How to Harvest Garlic

guest

Loved your article, it was on point. I didn’t know hot sauce got hotter as it sits in the jar. Greatly appreciated. ????

Clare Groom

Hi Anthony, I’m so glad you enjoyed the article! Hot sauce.. the hotter the better, eh?

Brian

Great article, just started growing ghost plant for sauces. I’m excited the family is scared lol

Ghost peppers are great for sauces, and your family is right to be scared! Maybe you’ll manage to convince them to give it a try? 🙂

Glen

I grow a lot of super-hot peppers. I have numerous Bhut Jolokia varieties and crosses growing in pots here in Panama where I am retired. Panama has perfect weather for growing these sensitive pepper plants. I say sensitive because they need shade during the hottest part of the day and if it’s windy you also need to protect them from that as well. Easy to grow. Using these peppers is just a matter of getting used to the heat!! I make sauces with it and use it every day on the bland food they have here. I have varieties that …  Read more »

Hi Glen, I agree with you – once you get used to the heat, you only want more (hotter!) peppers. I’m very envious of your tall plants! Here in Zone 9b I overwinter mine in pots in the garage, or indoors with mixed results. Some plants seem to thrive the next season and others limp along not producing very much. Happy gardening! And thank you for taking the time to comment. Clare

Tom

used my first ghost peppers this week that I bought in a local (80 km away) grocery store… i made my annual batch of roasted garlic, roasted pepper (including 3 ghost peppers, 3 habaneros and 5 jalapeño peppers… are those now equal to bell peppers? the other ingredients (fresh peaches because they were going to go soft; dried mango and roasted red bell peppers)… I ended up calling it WTF sauce after a web thread i stupidly followed… I did save some seed from this afternoon’s experiment to use up parsley… (green apples, that you can grow in Saskatchewan (growing …  Read more »

Hi Tom – WTF sauce, love it! That sounds delicious. With some grow lights you could try growing your ghosts indoors – let me know how it goes!

Dan

Hi. I’ve been growing my own ghost peppers and they’re just now starting to produce peppers. How long does it take for them to change color from light green to orange or red?

Hi Dan, Congratulations on your ghosts – those are looking great! Ghost peppers are a bit slow to ripen and can take four to five weeks to change color. While you are waiting for the color to change be careful not to overwater. It’s a good idea to carefully prune any new flower buds that appear at this stage. In my experience, just when my patience is starting to run out, suddenly they turn from green to orange and in a day or two are completely red!

Charles

I have never grown any vegetables at home but we saw three varieties of peppers at our local nursery. We will be attempting to have ghost, Carolina reaper and black scorpion peppers. Our salsa shall light up anyone’s palate for sure!!

Kevin

Great article. I grew some ghosts when we lived in Oakville, and just came across some seeds so was refreshing the knowledge. We dry smoked some as well and they turned out fabulous. The flavour is incredible from these peppers, but be careful how much you use.

Don’t you just love the ghosts? But you’re quite right, be very careful how much you use! Also, be careful and don’t do what I did and fill a dehydrator full of ghosts and run it in the house. The capsacin was literally eye-watering! If you like ghost peppers, you might also like to try ‘Devil’s Tongue,’ very aromatic, but with a kick that would make most mules jealous. Good luck with your ghosts, let me know how they go!

Anthony S

Good to know, my plan was to start dehydrating some hot peppers if I’m able to get a large enough harvest. Don’t want to bomb the house lol. I actually did that with some dehydrated reapers I bought. I decided to turn them into pepper flakes and I filled my food processor canister with them. Probably had close to 60 peppers in there. When I hit the go button it was like a pepper bomb when off. It sent both me and my wife coughing and gagging with burning Lungs running out of the house lol. I put an N95 …  Read more »

Woahhhh – after learning the hard way, I have set my dehydrator in a garden shed. But I also made the mistake of making hot pepper powder from some freshly dried reapers. Let’s just say that the coffee grinder I used is not suitable for coffee beans any more, and as you found, the house was somewhat uninhabitable for a few hours! We only make these mistakes once (hopefully!)

Anthony S.

Lol yeah no kidding. It’s amazing the power of the super hot peppers, personally I’ve never had much problems with them burning my fingers I can chop them without any gloves no problem, the skin on my hands and finger tips is very tough. But the eyes and lungs that’s another story. I’m kind of afraid to try doing any sautéing with anything hotter than a habanero I don’t want to need a hazmat suit and ventilator in the kitchen lol.

Sauteing super hots is a very good way of making your house uninhabitable! lol

Ron

Hey good info , I’ve grown ghost a couple of times always used seedlings ( Im in the Toronto area of Canada) a challenge with a short season but have gotten a couple of ok harvest which is ok because I’m the only one that uses them an I usually dehydrate , then custom blend then with other hot variety’s for good a flavor . tried to start some of my own seeds until now didn’t know it took so long so mine might still be coming lol but got a seedling since I thought they were not gonna go …  Read more »

Hi Ron, yes the growing season for these super hots is definitely a long one! What I recommend, and do myself, is to start seeds as early as you possibly can, as early as November or December. I use a heat mat and a grow light to maintain the temperature and light that the seedlings require, and then harden them off after all risk of frost has passed. Then either plant them out or keep them in containers. You can also overwinter your ghosts, I’ve had good success with these and other varieties. The advantage of overwintering is that you …  Read more »

Victor Caldwell

I’m in zone 8 in Sierra Nevada foothills at an elevation of 2550 ft. on fully exposed mountain top. In spring of 2013, I planted my carefully germinated seedling and did harden it off , but knew NOTHING at the time about all of your wonderful growing tips and instructions for a vibrant outcome. You may not believe this…my fully matured plant had a main trunk diameter of 1.25 inches and over 4 feet in height. The yeild was medium and really varied sizing of pods. They were a minimum of 1/2 inch to maximum of 3 1/2 inches. Just …  Read more »

Hi Victor, I’m always happy to hear from people who grow their superhots as perennials! So many folk just keep them as annuals and toss them at the end of the season. I’m a bit fan of overwintering hot peppers – it gives you a huge jumpstart at the beginning of the next season. This past season my three-year-old habanero grew to about three feet tall – it was in a container, so probably could have gotten bigger if it had been in the ground. Good luck with your new start! Let me know how it goes!

Jason

This is my first year growing Ghosts and I’m growing from seed. Thanks for the tips! I’m working on a large planter box to keep my peppers separate from my wife’s other veggies ????. I had some luck a few years ago when I adopted 3 half-dead Reaper seedlings from a friend who started growing them in his hydro setup and then remembered that he has no heat tolerance (i.e jalapeños are murder to him). I lost one plant, gave another to my boss, who is also a big pepper head and managed to wake up the third for a …  Read more »

Hi Jason, good luck with your baby ghosts! A large planter box sounds perfect for them. I don’t understand people who find jalapenos too hot, I mean, those are easily confused with sweet bell peppers aren’t they? Ghosts and reapers are pretty hardcore though!

Carmen

My ghost pepper plants are really bushy, espe6close to the ground. Do I need to prune them at all?

Hi Carmen, during the growing season, I don’t typically prune my plants. That said, if the plants are fairly large, you could take off a couple of the lower branches if they’re too close to the ground. The problem with them touching the ground is that they may pick up fungal diseases from the soil. Can you possibly upload a photo so I could have a look and advise you further?

transplanting ghost pepper plant

Ghost Pepper Plant (All You Need to Know!)

Ghost Pepper

If you are a chili pepper grower who enjoys the hottest pepper, you can grow the Ghost pepper plant. Ghost peppers are the favorite of those who want a high kick and a bigger burn.

Here are the detailed basic facts for growing, planting, caring for, and harvesting the ghost pepper. It’s all you ever wanted to know and more!

How to Grow a Ghost Pepper Plant  

Ghost Pepper Plant (All You Need to Know!) - Green Garden Tribe

The Ghost pepper plant is a fussy plant to grow but is possible to grow at home, and here we show you how in great detail.

1.     Growing Conditions  for the Ghost Pepper Plant 

Growing a Ghost pepper plant is more complicated than growing other hot pepper plants. 

Where to Grow

The hotter and more humid it is, the better it is for recreating the native Indian environment to which the Ghost pepper plants are familiar.

You can grow your Ghost pepper plant indoors or outdoors.

When to Grow  

Ghost pepper plants have a long growing period. It is, therefore, best to start the seeds indoors 8 to 12 weeks before the last spring frost date. When planting outdoors, make sure the nighttime temperature is above 60 0 F. 

Your Ghost pepper plant will prefer loamy, well-drained soil. The soil should also be slightly acidic with 6.0- 6.8 pH. It is also best to add some organic matter (compost) into the ground at the beginning of the growing season.

Your Ghost pepper plant will require bright, direct sunlight during its four-give-month growing period. Your plant should get at least 6 hours of full sunlight every day.

When growing your plant indoors, you should supplement natural light with grow lights (artificial lights that help indoor plants grow).

Temperature and Humidity  

Your Ghost pepper plant will be fussy about temperature and humidity conditions.

During the three months or longer growing season, the temperature should be above 70 0 F with high humidity. Your plant will love extreme heat and humidity for 4 to 5 months of the growing season.

Your plant drops its flowers and stops thriving when exposed to cold periods and rapid changes in temperature, especially sudden drops. A temperature drop of below 70 0 will kill your plant.

On the other hand, high temperatures above 90 0 will cause the plant’s flowers to fall, which means it may not bear fruits.

2.     Planting Ghost Pepper Plants

Your Ghost pepper plant is perennial in hot, humid climates and an annual in cooler climates. It is a slow-growing plant and is best planted in the Spring.

The spot you choose to grow your Ghost pepper plant should have enough space to house the seedlings. If you are growing Ghost peppers indoors, you should have enough room for a larger plant that may not yet be ready to be transferred outside.

  • Your Ghost pepper plant has a long growing season. It can take about 150 days from the time of planting before you can harvest some Ghost peppers.
  • Start seeds indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date in your area. You must soak the seeds in water overnight before planting.
  • Ghost peppers have a long germination time. They sprout after 35 days, just like other hot peppers.
  • You can start seeds eight weeks before moving your plant outdoors.
  • Fill your trays with potting soil and sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep.
  • Transfer the trays to a sunny windowsill after germination or you can use grow lights. You can place the grow lights about two to three inches above the sprouts.
  • Make sure always to keep the soil moist but avoid overwatering.

Ghost Pepper Seedlings - Little Devils!

Transplanting

In time, you will have to transplant your Ghost pepper plant. Your seedlings are ready for transplanting when they are about four to six inches tall. This should be about 6 to 8 weeks after germination. You can transplant them into a pot/container or your garden.

If you are going to grow your plant in a pot/container, choose one that is about 8 inches deep and 11 inches wide.

If you are transplanting outdoors, do so after the last frost. You need to harden off the seedlings before moving them outdoors.

Allow your plant to adjust outdoors slowly. Start by placing your plant in a sunny but sheltered area in your garden for a few hours each day. Gradually increase the number of times you place your plant outside.

3.     Caring for Ghost Peppers   

Your Ghost pepper plant needs a lot of care to ensure a good harvest.

You should make sure to keep the soil moist, especially when blooms start showing up. Avoid wetting the leaves.

Generally, the top two inches of the soil should be dry before watering your plant. This should be about two times per week when there is little rainfall.

 You need to have a regular watering schedule; otherwise, you can shock your Ghost water plant. Lack of moisture can also limit the production of fruits.  

Apply balanced fertilizer to your Ghost pepper plant immediately after your Ghost pepper seedlings form their first true leaves. This should be about two weeks after sprouting. Start off with a 1/4 to 1/2 strength fertilizer.

Apply fertilizer two more times throughout the growing season. This plant is sensitive and should not be overfed.

Use a fertilizer that is high in potassium. Your plant needs potassium for the maximum growth of fruits. Avoid using fertilizers with high nitrogen contents because it can cause your plant to grow lots of foliage but little or no fruit.

Add fertilizer about four inches from the side of the plant’s stems.

You may or may not prune your Ghost pepper plant. Many chili growers recommend that you do bottom pruning to protect your plant from pathogens in the soil.

Propagation

  • Ghost pepper plants pollinate with the help of the wind and animals. You can also propagate your Ghost pepper plant via stem cuttings.
  • Propagating Ghost pepper plants via stem cuttings will not always be successful, but it is an inexpensive and preferable way of cloning a plant.
  • Late Spring to early summer is the best time to get some stem cuttings. This is when your plant is actively growing and before it is growing fruits.
  • The cut should be about 4 to 6 inches from a healthy stem. The lower half of the branch should be free of any foliage and flower buds. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone before planting it in moist soilless potting mix.
  • Commercial rooting hormones are available in liquid, gel, or powder form. You can also make homemade rooting hormone with apple cider vinegar, aloe Vera, aspirin, honey, or willow water.
  • Make sure to keep it in a bright, warm spot. Make sure, too, that the growing medium is moist but not soggy. New roots should start to grow from out of your cutting in about three weeks.
  • You can also opt to plant Ghost pepper seeds.
  • Ghost pepper seeds are often not readily available from garden centers. You can harvest seeds from your Ghost pepper plant for next year’s crop.
  • After harvesting, dry some of your Ghost peppers in a cool, dark, and dry area.
  • When they are dry wear a pair of gloves and break open each Ghost pepper.
  • Scrape the seeds inside the fruit.
  • Dull white seeds are mature seeds that are difficult to plant. The glossy, bright white seeds are immature seeds ideal for planting.
  • Soak the seeds in a bowl of lukewarm water for about three days. After the seeds have hydrated, you can start planting them.
  • You can also opt to save some Ghost pepper seeds. They can still be worth planting after several years if stored properly.
  • Dry the seeds for several days after removing them from the fruit and store them in an air-tight container.

Your Ghost pepper plant will be prone to several pests when grown indoors and outdoors. While some pests do not bother hot pepper, other pests can infest your plant regardless of the heat and flavor.

You must know what pests are munching on your Ghost pepper plant to eliminate them. These pests can be aphids, spider mites, and slugs.

You can remove aphids , tiny insects that hide beneath the leaves of your plant, and slugs by hand. Spider mites, though, are more difficult to get rid of.

You can spray your plant with a mixture of two teaspoons of neem oil, one teaspoon Castile soap, and one-quart warm water. You can spray your plant with this mixture from top to bottom.

Companion planting can also limit your pest problems. Carrots, radishes, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, chard, lettuce, and spinach are some plants that do well when planted close to hot peppers.

Avoid planting beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, and turnips near your Ghost pepper plant.

Your Ghost pepper plant will be susceptible to common fungal and bacterial diseases such as powdery mildew and bacterial leaf spot.

White powder on the underside and yellow blotches on the top of your plant’s leaves means your Ghost pepper plant has been infected with powdery mildew.

You can treat powdery mildew by liberally spraying your plant with a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda, one-half teaspoon of liquid soap, and one gallon of water.

Lesions on the leaves of your Ghost pepper plant are most likely bacterial leaf spots. The spots first appear on the lower leaves and move on to the fruits causing cracks and spots.

You can prevent bacterial leaf spots by rotating your crops every year.

You can water your plant using a soaker hose so the soil does not splatter on the foliage.

Your Ghost pepper plant can also suffer from magnesium deficiency and may produce several blooms but dew pepper fruits. You can remedy the magnesium deficiency of your plant by spraying it directly with a solution of one tablespoon of Epsom salts dissolved in water.

Regular inspections to catch the issues of your Ghost pepper plant are the best way of growing a healthy plant. It is also best to treat diseases of your plan with organic remedies to maintain the edibility of your pepper fruits.

4.     Harvesting Ghost Peppers   

Ghost pepper plants have a long growing season. Under the right conditions, you can start harvesting some fruits after about 90 days, but they will reach full maturity in 120 – 150 days.

Common Ghost peppers will begin green. They will slowly turn yellow and finally bright red.

Your Ghost peppers can stay green for a long time before they mature and turn bright red.

Your Ghost peppers are ready to harvest once they turn red and slightly wrinkled skin. You can also opt to harvest your Ghost peppers when their pods are about 2.5 to 3.5 inches long and about 1 to 2 inches wide at maturity.

You can also determine the harvest time of your Ghost peppers when depending on the variety, they have reached their final color (e.g. chocolate Ghost peppers have turned deep brown or peach Ghost peppers have ripened to a light peach color).

You can harvest your Ghost peppers at any stage of their growth but they will have a higher Scoville heat level when mature.

This is so because when mature the capsaicin compound increases its concentration. 

Wear garden gloves when harvesting because the high capsaicin content of the Ghost peppers can harm your hands (chili burn). Use a knife or clippers to detach the Ghost peppers from the plant, leaving about an inch of the stem.

A healthy Ghost pepper plant should be about to produce about 100 peppers.

What is a Ghost Pepper?  

The Ghost pepper has been around for centuries, but it was only in 2000 that it became known to the western world.

It was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 as the “hottest pepper in the world.” The Carolina Reaper has since dethroned it.

It was the first hot pepper to measure over 1 million Scoville heat units SHU). The SHU of hot pepper is measured on the Scoville Scale based on its capsaicin (an active ingredient in chili peppers that is responsible for their spicy hot taste) content.  

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In India, “Bhut Jolokia” literally means “Ghost pepper.

The Ghost pepper is a member of the Solanaceae family along with tomatoes, eggplants, and bell pepper.  

The Ghost pepper is a perennial plant but is often grown as an annual. It grows well in areas within the USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11. It has been classified as a separate species (C. assamicum) in 2018.

A Ghost pepper plant can be up to 4 feet tall. When grown in pots or containers, they can only get to be 2 feet tall. The plant can have a spread from 1 to 2 feet.

Plant Features

All varieties of Ghost pepper plants come with a full canopy and large, broad green leaves. It has green stems as well. They have small to medium white flowers.

Varieties  

The Ghost pepper plant comes in many varieties, each having a different color. They also have different flavors and spice levels.

Red Ghost Pepper. Widely known and one of the hottest Ghost pepper varieties. It has pedant-shaped pods and a bumpy texture. It is typically 2.5 to 2.5 inches long.

This Ghost pepper starts off green and turns red upon maturity. It has a smoky flavor and a fruity aftertaste.

Yellow Ghost Pepper. Some say it is not as hot as the red Ghost pepper but still hotter than most chilies. Its pods start as green and turn yellow upon maturity. It tastes similar to red Ghost peppers.

Green Ghost Pepper. This is the younger version of the red Ghost pepper. It does not have the same heat level as the red variety but its strength builds up and remains as you eat it. It has a grassy flavor with floral and fruity notes.

Purple Ghost Pepper. This Ghost pepper variety has smaller pods. It carries the same flavor as the rest of the Ghost peppers but they are not as hot.

Some purple Ghost peppers may never turn purple. They start green and then turn red like a typical red Ghost pepper.

Peach Ghost Pepper. This is a natural mutation of the red Ghost pepper. It has longer pendant pods than other Ghost peppers. It is typically about 4 inches long with the largest getting to be about 6 inches.

The pods of the peach Ghost pepper start green and turn to a beautiful peach color. If you do not harvest them, they may turn orange on the vine.

They are not as hot as the red Ghost pepper but they also have a fruity aftertaste.

Chocolate Ghost Pepper. This variety has a long germination time. It takes about 6 weeks for this variety to germinate.

It comes with a  tasty , smoky flavor. It is so aromatic, too. It has the same heat level as the red Ghost but a different sweet aftertaste.

White Ghost Pepper. This is a rare variety. It turns off-white during maturity, and has smooth skin without the usual bumps. It also has lots of heat with a citrus flavor.  

Orange Ghost Pepper. This is the most prolific grower of all Ghost pepper varieties. It has the same heat level as the red Ghost peppers.

This Ghost pepper variety is the favorite choice for hot sauce because of its more pronounced citrus-like flavor.

Appearance  

The fruits of the Ghost pepper plant have a pod-like appearance with wrinkled skin and a pock-marked texture. The typical Ghost pepper plant has fruits that mature from green to red.

This hot pepper has a slow-building heat. You will experience the flavor for a few seconds – it has a smoky, earthy palate with a fruity aftertaste. Its heat can last for about 15 to 20 minutes in your mouth.

How to Overwinter Ghost Peppers  

When you have been successful with your Ghost pepper plant, you would not want your plant to die during winter.

Ghost pepper plants will die when left outdoors in most areas in the United States. With the right indoor care, you can successfully overwinter your plant.

The goal of overwintering your Ghost pepper plant is to keep it alive!

It is best to start overwintering Ghost peppers that are growing in pots to avoid disturbing their roots, and therefore, the risk of failure.

If your healthy and strong Ghost pepper plants are grown in the ground, dig them up and transplant them into large containers. Make sure to take as much of their original root ball as possible.

Your goal is to reduce the top growth by 1/2 to 3/4 to allow for the foreseeable loss of roots.

If you are growing your Ghost pepper plant in a pot or container, prune it so it will fit the space where you are going to overwinter it. Use clean shears to cut just above a bud.

Through Fall, the stems of your plant will further die. This is normal. Prune them to where the stems are still green. It is also normal for the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.

Your Ghost pepper plant can be leafless all through winter and will again grow several leaves in the Spring.

Make sure to prune your plant to a manageable size in the pot before transferring it indoors. 

Keep your overwintered pepper plant where it can remain comfortable above freezing. It may be on the windowsill and far away from heat sources. Place your plant on the sunniest windowsill in your home.

When overwintering your Ghost pepper plant, water it infrequently. Keep it barely moist with your potting mix, almost dry before watering.

Your plant should soak up the moisture during each watering session, but make sure excess water drains freely from the pot. The roots of your plant should not be always wet.  

Your overwintered Ghost pepper plant will be prone to aphids when indoors. Wipe them off each time they resurface by spraying water or with a damp cloth.

Repot your plant with fresh compost and general-purpose organic fertilizer  to give your plant a  boost as it starts growing again. Repot your plant at about a month before the last frost.

Scrape off about 1- 2 inches of the old growing medium near the rootball and repot your plant in the same container or a slightly bigger container. Start watering your plant more often when you notice new growth.

When Spring comes, you can transfer your overwintered Ghost pepper plant outside. With better light levels and rising temperatures, your plant’s leaves will be thicker. It will develop new branches, too.

Start feeding again when you notice your plant producing flower buds. A liquid feed high in potassium will promote more flowering and fruiting.

If you have done overwintering correctly, your plant should grow fruits one month ahead of the other Ghost pepper plants sown just in Spring.

Ghost Pepper Plant Care Tips  

1.     The best way to grow your Ghost pepper plant is indoors where you can maintain the temperature at 75 0

2.     Soak the seeds in hydrogen peroxide for one minute before planting to increase their chances of germination.

3.     Regularly water your Ghost pepper plant. It is not a drought-tolerant plant, so keep the soil always moist.

4.    Avoid overwatering your plant. A drench and overly soggy soil can lead to root rot.

5.     Regularly apply fertilizer to your plant throughout the growing season to ensure the best harvest.

6.     Avoid fertilizers that have high nitrogen content to prevent your Ghost pepper plant from growing more leaves and fewer peppers.

7.     Watch out for pests getting into your plant. You can control them early by spraying your plant with water and natural insecticide (e.g. neem oil).

8.     Place mulch around your plant to help retain moisture in the soil and prevent weeds’ growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Ghost pepper plants regrow every year?

In hot, humid climates, the Ghost pepper plant is a perennial. In other areas (cooler climates), it is annual.

Being perennials, Ghost pepper plants return during the Spring growing new branches after being dormant during winter. Winterize or overwinter your Ghost pepper plant to allow them to survive the cold winter months and grow again in Spring.

Overwintering your Ghost pepper plants will allow them to survive winter and grow again in Spring and make your older plants grow larger hot peppers in greater quantities.

How long is the lifespan of a Ghost pepper plant  

With proper care, most Ghost pepper plants can live for a few years.

Are Ghost pepper plant leaves edible  

Yes. You can steam or sauté Ghost pepper leaves. They have the same flavor and consistency as spinach.

What is the Ghost pepper plant not producing fruits?  

The weather , watering, and fertilizing are the most common reasons your Ghost pepper plant is not producing fruits. Make sure you are growing your plant in ideal conditions and give it the right care.

How long does it before you can harvest Ghost peppers?  

It usually takes about 150 days from planting seeds to harvest time.

Storing and Preserving Ghost Peppers  

Did you harvest too many Ghost peppers than you need? Ghost peppers can last for around 3 – 5 days when stored in your pantry or at room temperature. You can extend the shelf life of your hot peppers by storing them in the fridge or freezer.

Whole Ghost peppers can last in the fridge for 3-4 weeks and in the freezer for 4-6 months. On the other hand, Sliced Ghost peppers can last 2 hours at room temperature, 3-4 days in the fridge, and 4-6 months in the freezer.

You can maintain the flavor and freshness of your Ghost peppers by storing them in the fridge or freezer. Use a paper towel to dry your Ghost peppers before storing them.

After drying, place them inside a plastic bag and seal well.

Sealing the plastic bag will limit humidity and maintain the freshness of the Ghost peppers.

Place the sealed plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge or freezer. Make sure your Ghost peppers do not touch any cold surfaces of the fridge because they may develop cold spots.

Your Ghosts peppers will show some physical signs of going bad such as:

  • Its skin getting excessively wrinkled
  • Furry or fuzzy mold near the stem
  • Soft spots on the surface of the pepper
  • Brown or dark spots
  • Reduce spiciness

Throw away the Ghost peppers if you notice any of these signs.

How to Eat Ghost Peppers  

Eat Ghost peppers very carefully. Ghost peppers are made into sauces and super hot powders. Fresh Ghost peppers are also used in cooking. Given that it is very hot, Ghost peppers are also a favorite in drunken dares and eating contests.

Popping a whole Ghost pepper in your mouth will soon make you feel like you are dying. But eating Ghost peppers can be good for you because they contain some health benefits.

Spicy Hot Bhut Jolokia - Ghost Pepper Plant - Green Garden Tribe

Ghost peppers are low calorie, low fat, and contain some Vitamin C. Eating about 2 grams of Ghost peppers, which is not too uncomfortable, can provide about 4% of your recommended daily Vitamin C.

The capsaicin content of Ghost peppers may also be able to lower your blood sugar and cholesterol. It also contains antioxidants that can lower free radicals in your body to protect you from some illnesses.

Eating Ghost peppers or any spicy food can also boost your metabolism and, thus help you lose some weight. If you have a sinus infection, the heat of Ghost peppers can clear your nasal passages.

Of course, Ghost peppers have their culinary uses. If you can handle the heat, you can enjoy Ghost peppers with your favorite recipes. You can chop some Ghost peppers and add them to your marinades, stir-fries, and salsas.

You can also use Ghost peppers for making hot sauces and pepper powders. Pickled Ghost peppers are great, although the pickling process reduces their spiciness.

Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce

Ghost pepper hot sauces are extremely popular and there are several ways and limitless recipes to make them. There are hot sauce kits you can buy. This kit contains everything you need to make your own hot sauce including funnels, bottles, etc.

Homemade Ghost pepper hot sauces become hotter a few weeks after you make them. As the days go by, the peppers in your sauce mature and meld. So even if you know your sauce is hot, take extra caution with your concoction.

Ghost Pepper Powder  

You can make Ghost pepper powder by dehydrating the peppers and grinding them up. You can dry up the peppers with a dehydrator and use a grinder pr mortar and pestle to grind them up.

You can add the powder directly while cooking or mix it with your seasonings.

Remember that Ghost peppers are scorching so you need to use a mask and goggles to protect yourself. Intense fumes are also being released during dehydration, so make sure there is enough airflow. Better yet, do the dehydration in your garage or some other area.

As for your grinder, use it only for your hot peppers. Do not attempt to use it for something else, like coffee, because you will get a lot of heat in your cup of coffee.

Cooking with Ghost Peppers  

Do not be overconfident with Ghost peppers even if you like spicy food. If you think the Habanero pepper is intensely hot, Ghost peppers are about 10 times hotter.

If you are new to cooking with Ghost peppers, try them off first with simple recipes to better understand their flavor and heat.

Ghost peppers are slow-burning, and the heat builds up over time. Simple recipes will allow you to learn the right proportions of Ghost peppers against other ingredients.

Start with under-spicing your recipe and add a little bit more at a time. If you overspice with Ghost peppers, you may end up with an inedible dish.

Final Thoughts on the Ghost Pepper Plant  

Ghost peppers are more challenging to find in grocery stores than other hot peppers. So, growing Ghost peppers at home will give you plenty of enjoyable, super-hot peppers that are readily available.  

Planting a Ghost pepper plant indoors or outside will ensure you have a fresh supply of Ghost peppers throughout the year.

A Ghost pepper plant has a long growing season. The wait will be worth it because you can harvest up to 100 Ghost peppers in just one plant once they mature.

You can successfully grow your Ghost pepper plant as an annual in most parts of the United States. Overwintering your plant allows you to maintain it as a perennial.

With the right growing conditions and care, you can enjoy your home-grown Ghost peppers for years to come.

Read More: 

Patricia Godwin

Patricia has many years of experience as a content writer on various subjects, but her first love is gardening. She’s never met a plant she didn’t like and, consequently, she writes about every type of plant you can think of. Once an avid gardener with a herb garden, a succulent rockery, and a rose garden – to mention a few. Nowadays, she’s constantly on the move searching for interesting plants to bring to your attention; and explain to you all the details you need to grow, care and maintain these plants.

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transplanting ghost pepper plant

How To Grow Ghost Pepper Plants in Pots

Hello fellow gardeners!  As a woman who loves to dabble in gardening, I am excited to share a comprehensive guide on growing ghost peppers in pots.  Ghost peppers, or Bhut Jolokia, are known for their extreme heat and unique flavor, making them a sought-after ingredient for many spicy dishes.  You can cultivate these fiery peppers at home with the proper care and attention.  And learning how to grow ghost pepper plants in pots isn't hard!

In this step-by-step guide, we'll focus on growing ghost peppers in pots, covering everything from starting your seeds to harvesting your peppers.  So, let's dive in!

1.  Starting Your Ghost Pepper Seeds Indoors

Depending on the variety, ghost peppers require a long growing season, typically between 150 and 200 days.  To ensure a successful harvest, start your ghost pepper seeds indoors about 35 days before the last expected frost in your area.  Here's how to do it:

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  • Fill seedling trays or small pots with a well-draining, sterile seed-starting mix.
  • Place 2-3 ghost pepper seeds 1/4 inch deep into each cell or pot.
  • Moisten the soil gently with a spray bottle, ensuring it is consistently damp but not waterlogged.
  • Place the trays or pots in a warm location, ideally between 75°F and 85°F.  A heating mat can help maintain the desired temperature.  We actually think a heat mat is essential to germinate hot peppers.  Invest in a heat mat; it's worth it.
  • Be patient!  Ghost pepper seeds can take anywhere from 14 to 28 days to germinate.

2.  Providing Proper Lighting for Your Ghost Pepper Seedlings

Once your seeds have sprouted, they will need plenty of light to grow strong and healthy.  Here's what you need to know about providing the proper lighting for your ghost peppers indoors:

  • Ghost pepper seedlings require a minimum of 14 hours of light per day.   Grow lights are an excellent choice to ensure they receive adequate light, especially during the darker winter months.
  • Position the grow lights approximately 6 inches above the seedlings, raising them as the plants grow.
  • Keep the lights on a timer to maintain a consistent light schedule.

3.  Transplanting Your Ghost Peppers to Larger Pots

When your ghost pepper seedlings have grown about 3 inches long and have developed their first set of true leaves, it's time to transplant them into larger pots.  Follow these steps:

  • Choose pots that are at least 3 gallons in size and have drainage holes at the bottom.
  • Fill the pots with a high-quality, well-draining potting mix.
  • Carefully remove the seedlings from their original containers, not damaging their delicate roots.
  • Plant each seedling in its own pot, burying it in the first set of true leaves.
  • Water the transplanted seedlings well, ensuring the soil is evenly moist.

4.  Acclimating Your Ghost Pepper Plants to Outdoor Conditions

Before permanently moving your ghost pepper plants outdoors, you must acclimate them to the outside environment.  This process, hardening off, helps the plants adjust to temperature, humidity, and sunlight changes.  Here's how to harden off your ghost peppers:

  • Begin approximately 10-14 days before you move your plants outdoors.
  • Place your ghost pepper plants outside in a sheltered, partially shaded location for 1-2 hours on the first day.
  • Gradually increase the amount of time your plants spend outside each day and their exposure to sunlight.
  • After 10-14 days, your plants should be acclimated and ready for their final outdoor location in their pots.

5.  Choosing the Perfect Spot for Your Ghost Peppers in Pots

Selecting the right spot for your ghost pepper plants is crucial for their growth and productivity.  Keep these factors in mind when choosing a location:

  • Ghost peppers require a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.  Ensure that the chosen spot receives plenty of bright light.
  • Place the pots in a location with good air circulation to reduce the risk of diseases.
  • Position the pots on a hard surface, such as a patio or deck, to help maintain consistent soil temperature and moisture.

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6.  Caring for Your Ghost Pepper Plants

Your ghost pepper plants will need proper care and attention to ensure a successful harvest.  Here are some essential tips for maintaining healthy ghost pepper plants:

  • Watering: Ghost peppers require regular watering to moisten the soil but are not waterlogged.  Be careful not to overwater, leading to root rot and other diseases.  Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings.
  • Fertilizing: Feed your ghost pepper plants a balanced, slow-release fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.  Be cautious not to over-fertilize; too much nitrogen can lead to excessive foliage growth and reduced pepper production.
  • Pruning: Prune your ghost pepper plants to encourage bushy growth and increased fruit production.  Remove any dead or diseased leaves and branches as needed.  Pinching back the growing tips can also promote branching.
  • Pest control: Inspect your ghost pepper plants regularly for signs of pests, such as aphids or whiteflies.  Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control any infestations.

7.  Harvesting Your Ghost Peppers

After a long growing season, it's finally time to reap the rewards of your hard work!  Here's what you need to know about harvesting ghost peppers:

  • Ghost peppers start out green and gradually ripen to their final color, typically bright red, but can also be orange, yellow, or chocolate brown, depending on the variety.
  • Harvest your ghost peppers when they reach their final color and are firm to the touch.  Use a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears to cut the peppers from the plant, leaving a small stem attached.
  • Handle ghost peppers with care, as they are extremely hot!  Wear gloves when harvesting, and avoid touching your face or eyes.

8.  Storing and Preserving Your Ghost Peppers

Once you've harvested your ghost peppers, you may wonder how to store and preserve them.  Here are a few options:

  • Refrigeration: Fresh ghost peppers can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.  Place them in a paper bag or wrap them in a paper towel to help absorb excess moisture.
  • Drying: Ghost peppers can be dried and stored for long-term use.  String them up by their stems and hang them in a well-ventilated, dry location until entirely dehydrated.  Alternatively, you can use a food dehydrator or an oven set to its lowest temperature.
  • Freezing: Ghost peppers can also be frozen for later use.  Simply place the peppers in an airtight container or freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 12 months.

Growing ghost pepper plants in pots can be a rewarding and spicy adventure.  With the proper care and attention, you'll be able to enjoy these fiery peppers in your favorite dishes all year round.  Happy gardening!

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Pepper Geek

Ghost Peppers – Everything About The Bhut Jolokia

Posted on Last updated: 01/30/2024

The ghost pepper is one of the most notoriously spicy peppers on the planet. It is a result of ancient plant breeding, and is a cross between the species Capsicum chinense and Capsicum fructescens .

In the late 2000s, ghost peppers became famous as the hottest peppers in the world. The name was perfect for such a super-spicy pepper, and gardeners began growing them all around the globe.

Ghost Pepper

In This Article:

  • What is a ghost pepper
  • Ghost pepper plants
  • Ghost pepper scoville scale
  • Ghost pepper varieties
  • Growing ghost peppers
  • When to pick ghost peppers
  • Where to buy fresh ghost peppers
  • Ghost pepper uses
  • Ghost pepper burn cure

What Is A Ghost Pepper

The ghost pepper, or bhut jolokia, is a pepper variety originally discovered in India. It is thought to be a Capsicum chinense variety that was at some point likely crossed with a Capsicum frutescens variety. It is now well-known for its intense heat and unique, wrinkly shape.

Where Is The Ghost Pepper From?

All Capsicum chinense varieties likely originated in South America and across the West Indies. One of the oldest peppers was found over 6,000 years ago, fully preserved in a cave in Peru.

The ghost pepper is thought to have origins in Trinidad where many of the world’s hottest peppers are found. Eventually, it made its way to Assam and Nagaland , India by way of human trade.

Red Ghost Peppers

In India, the ghost pepper was cultivated by local hands and still grows naturally in Northeastern India. Though the exact origins are unknown, this is the most likely course of events for the ghost pepper.

Fun fact : Naga means ‘Serpent’ in Sanskrit. Many ghost pepper varieties are named after Nagaland, India, where the peppers grow naturally.

We are happy that the pepper was discovered and seeds are now widely available across the globe for home growers!

Ghost Pepper Plants

Like most pepper varieties, ghost pepper plants are fairly easy to grow and the pods are highly resistant to pests. We recommend buying seeds online and growing them yourself. However, there are ways to buy live plants as well.

Red bhut jolokia plant in container with ripe pods

Ghost Pepper Plant Features

All ghost pepper plant varieties have large, broad leaves and a full canopy. Flowers are small to medium in size, and are usually white. Ghost pepper plants are also highly productive under ideal growing conditions.

Pruning is optional for ghost pepper plants, though we recommend at least bottom pruning to protect against soil borne pathogens. All ghost varieties are slow to mature, so we recommend starting seeds very early indoors.

Ghost pepper plants plants typically take 100+ days after transplanting to produce fully ripened pepper pods!

Given enough soil, light, and fertilizer, ghost peppers will grow to about 2-4 feet tall in a single season, but can often be very wide, around 5 feet or more. Certain ghost pepper varieties, such as the Dorset naga , can grow to be much taller and wider when given a long growing season and lots of soil.

Learn to grow ghost peppers from seed here.

Where To Buy Ghost Pepper Plants

If you want to grow ghost peppers at home, you can either start from seed, or you can simply buy live plants online . Ghost pepper plants are not a huge demand, so you likely won’t find them at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Try calling your local nurseries to see if they sell ghost pepper plant starts. Many gardening centers cater to the local demand, so if you call asking, they might carry them next year!

Ghost Pepper Scoville Scale

A common question regarding the ghost pepper is how spicy it is. Where does the ghost pepper stack up on the Scoville Scale ?

Put simply, the ghost pepper comes in at approximately 1,000,000 SHUs on the Scoville Scale . This was enough to hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s hottest chili pepper for about 4 years from 2007 to 2011.

When compared to a common hot pepper, say a jalapeño, it isn’t even close .

A single ghost pepper is about as spicy as 125 jalapeño peppers!

Since it has been dethroned, the ghost pepper seems tame compared to the new hottest peppers . However, don’t be fooled. The ghost pepper is still an extremely spicy pepper variety, and will give almost anyone a run for their money!

Different Ghost Pepper Colors

One of the great things about pepper crossbreeding is the amazing diversity that we now have. There are ghost peppers of all different colors and sizes. While the various types may look different, bhut jolokia peppers are always super spicy.

Jay’s Peach Ghost Pepper

Peach Ghost Pepper

Behind the peachy exterior of this bhut jolokia variety is a serious punch. Similarly spicy to the original pepper, the Jay’s peach ghost pepper is no joke.

We love growing this variety, as the ripe pods add a beautiful color to the garden.

Buy seeds here.

Yellow Naga Ghost Pepper

Yellow Naga Ghost Pepper

Another brightly colored ghost pepper variety, the yellow naga pepper is a beaut. We had great luck with these plants, with peppers ripening as early as mid-July (super early for ghost peppers)!

Add a splash of yellow to your garden with these ghost peppers. You’ll have no trouble knowing when to pick these.

Chocolate Ghost Pepper

Ripe Chocolate Naga Pepper

This ghost pepper has a much more sinister look, and a truly scorching heat level. The chocolate, or brown bhut jolokia pepper, is a monster!

Note: This is the spiciest ghost pepper color variety we have tried to date!

Once again, we had relatively early ripening from these plants. A great, bizarre look in the garden, and perfect for making extra-spicy foods.

Find seeds here.

Growing Ghost Peppers

Growing ghost peppers is similar to growing other pepper varieties. Surprisingly, ghost peppers are one of the easiest hot peppers to grow , which makes them a bit dangerous to those who haven’t tasted their heat level.

Follow our detailed guide to growing ghost peppers here .

Ghost Pepper Plant

However, there are a few things to know specifically about growing ghost peppers.

Some things to keep in mind about ghost peppers:

  • We highly recommend bottom heating with a seed mat .
  • Growing season is longer . Some early pepper varieties can take as little as 75 days to have mature pods. Ghost peppers will need at least 100 days from the day of transplanting to produce ripe peppers.
  • Beware of handling the pods . While the outer skin of a ghost pepper does not contain capsaicin, a small crack can let out a ton of it. We recommend using latex gloves whenever you plan to handle the fresh peppers ( especially when slicing them).

When To Pick Ghost Peppers

Knowing when to pick your ghost peppers is usually very easy. All peppers, including ghost peppers, will change color when fully ripened. Unlike jalapeños or banana peppers, ghost peppers are almost always picked when fully ripe.

In short, pick ghost peppers when they change in color from green to bright red (or whatever color variety you are growing). The change in color is obvious and will usually take just a few days once the peppers begin to turn.

Signs of ripe ghost peppers:

  • Change in color
  • Mature size

Unripe Ghost Peppers

How to pick ghost peppers

Our method for harvesting ghost peppers is simple: Remove the peppers with your hands, careful not to damage the plant. We find that an upwards motion works well to get a clean ‘pop’ as the pepper is removed.

Another option for harvesting ghost peppers is to use sharp scissors or pruning shears. Simply cut the pepper’s stem about halfway up, being careful not to nick the plant’s branches or leaves.

Where To Buy Ghost Peppers

Not looking to grow ghost peppers yourself, but still want some fresh peppers? You’ve still got options. Here are some places where you can buy ghost peppers (both online and in person).

Thanks to the huge boom in popularity of spicy food, the ghost pepper is famous. That means you may start seeing fresh bhut jolokia peppers for sale in specialty grocery stores.

We have personally seen them for sale (during the summer months) at Whole Foods Market. You can also buy fresh ghost peppers online from individual growers.

Ghost Pepper Uses

Ready to start using some ghost peppers from the garden? These versatile spicy peppers can be used in a number of ways. You can preserve them for later use, use them fresh, dehydrate them for spicy pepper powder, and even save the seeds to grow again next year.

Warning: Always take precautions when slicing or cooking with ghost peppers. Wear gloves, eye protection, and respiratory protection. You’ll thank us later!

Ferment Them

Ghost peppers make a delicious fermented pepper mash . This natural and ancient process preserves your fresh produce, while also developing a rich and complex flavor.

After your fermented mash is finished, you can store it in the refrigerator for many months, or use it to make an easy hot sauce. Try fermenting your ghost peppers with other produce such as onions, carrots, tomatoes, fruits, and other peppers!

Make a Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce

We sure do love making homemade hot sauce . You get a ton of sauce for your hard work, and it is a wonderful preservation method.

Fresno hot sauce recipe

Using a simple preparation of peppers, vinegar, salt and any other fruits and spices, you can blend up your very own sauce. However, go easy on the ghost peppers (try using some jalapeños to decrease the heat level). A single ghost pepper is plenty hot to spice up a whole bottle of hot sauce!

Tip: We love using fresh fruits, especially pineapple or blueberries, in our sauces. Get creative!

Make Ghost Pepper Salsa

Making a super-spicy ghost pepper salsa is a great way to use a few ghost peppers. Similar to hot sauce, this vinegar, tomato and onion based dip is a classic. Usually made with jalapeños, salsa is begging to be made spicier.

Put Them In Some Chili

You’ll want to be careful not to overdo this, but you can try making some ghost pepper chili. Throw a half of a pepper, finely chopped, into your next batch of chili to kick things up.

We love dehydrating foods, especially peppers. This is a great option if you want to save your peppers for later, or create a spicy pepper powder .

Dehydrated Ghost Peppers

Slice your bhut jolokia peppers in half lengthwise before dehydrating. These peppers are thin, so they should dehydrate in around 8-10 hours at 125°F (in a proper food dehydrator ).

Saving Ghost Pepper Seeds

Saving pepper seeds can be worth the extra effort. Seeds will stay viable for years if stored properly, meaning you can re-grow your favorites in the future.

We wrote a detailed guide on saving pepper seeds here .

How to save ghost pepper seeds:

  • Wear nitrile gloves (important!)
  • Choose fully ripe ghost peppers
  • Slice the peppers lengthwise
  • Use a spoon to remove the seeds from each half
  • Dry seeds on a paper plate for several days (using a fan can speed up the process)
  • Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark location

Ghost Pepper Relief and Cure

If you are new to spicy food, and happen to try a ghost pepper, you’ll likely need some relief from the pain. The quickest relief is cold milk.

If you have any dairy milk in the fridge, go for that first. It offers the quickest and best relief from any type of chili pepper burn.

If you got some of the ghost pepper oils on your hands , milk is still the best help. However, we also recommend scrubbing your hands thoroughly (even under the nails) with dish soap . The detergent in the soap helps emulsify and remove the pepper juices.

Can A Ghost Pepper Kill You?

While eating capsaicin (the chemical compound responsible for the “burn”) is not toxic, it can cause rare adverse reactions in some people.

There have been cases of people vomiting aggressively after eating ghost peppers, leading to potential esophageal rupture. Though the pepper itself is not fatal when eaten, the reaction in some people may be.

Know what you are eating, first!

If you have never tried a highly spicy pepper, we don’t recommend eating ghost peppers. Work your way up from less spicy varieties like jalapeños and serranos.

I hope this article helped you learn a few new things about ghost peppers. They are amazing peppers to respect and enjoy in moderation.

Calvin Thumbnail

One of the original Pepper Geeks! When Calvin isn’t gardening or learning more about peppers and botany, he might be traveling new places or playing some music.

W Edmund Chambers II

Tuesday 17th of October 2023

The capsaicin in a ghost pepper is not water soluble, it is alcohol soluble which means waking your hands with soap and water usually does not work well. Using alcohol is best at removing the burn. Grain alcohol or vodka work very well. Do not ingest alcohol to tame the burn as when you swallow, you may pull the capsaicin further down your throat causing more pain.

Sunday 26th of February 2023

The bhut jolokia sound wildly hot. Would like to try it plus the different colors and otherbextra hot peppers. Am not up-to-date on using my tablet to order anything and was wondering if you could supply a company with phone no. address, I would aporeciate it. Thanks.

Thursday 28th of July 2022

Hey Calvin! Thanks for all your pepper wisdoms! I'm a fan! This is my first year growing super-hot peppers, and I'm learning so much from you! I'm growing Carolina Reaper, Ghost, Trinidad Scorpion, Scotch Bonnet, and Habanero. I finally have some Scotch Bonnets and a Ghost pepper ripen. It's very exciting, but I'm holding back on picking them, wondering if it'll get hotter the longer I leave it on the plant to ripen further. Does the SHU increase with number of days the ripe pepper stays on the plant before harvesting?

Tuesday 2nd of August 2022

Hey there, thank you! Glad you enjoy our content here :). Sounds like you like it super spicy! Most of those types should stay pretty crisp on the plant without drying out, so that is a plus. However, they should hit peak-heat level right around the time they finish ripening up. Don't worry though, they'll still be plenty hot if you let them sit for a few weeks. Cheers!

Monday 2nd of May 2022

Hey guys, love your work, I have consulted you often while putting my new sauce company together. My first small batch is being made on Wednesday. Where can I find ghost, scorpion or 7 pots in the North Ga area? Are they even available to buy on line? I'm looking for peppers, not seeds or plants, I have found them all over.

I have created a fantastic Caribbean style sauce using Habaneros but would like to use a more "Caribbean" pepper.

I would reach out to other sauce companies that use those ingredients. We've talked with the good people at Karma Sauce co and they definitely source scorpions/other superhots, just not sure exactly where. Best of luck and would love to try your sauce once it is for sale!

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How to Transplant Pepper Plants

how to transplant pepper plants

Whether you started your own pepper seeds , or if you're transplanting peppers from the garden center, here are our top tips for best success. Transplanting peppers is a simple process, though there are a few tricks to help your pepper transplants thrive.

1. Make sure to harden off your seedlings first! This simply means to bring  indoor-started pepper plants outside and expose them to the sun gradually. This will help avoid transplant shock.

2. Create Labels - if you're growing more than one variety of pepper, it's very wise to label all your transplants so that you can tell which is which! This is especially important with hot peppers, you don't want to cut up a hot pepper to put on a salad unknowingly (unless you like that sort of thing like us! haha!)  When creating labels, using a grease marker or pencil will work better than regular markers which can fade in the sun over the winter.

3. Prepare the soil for transplanting: You can plant peppers in containers , or in a garden bed. We like to mix in some homemade compost into the soil first to help feed the pepper plants. Make sure your soil is well draining as peppers don't like soggy feet! This is especially important with containers, use a fast-draining potting soil mix (don't use garden soil or top soil in containers).

4. Dig a hole larger than the root ball of your pepper, then gently remove the pepper from it's container, loosen the soil and roots, then place into the hole and fill the soil in around the plant. You can bury it so that the soil is level with the pepper transplants' cotyledon leaves – their first two leaves – you can pinch these off as well when transplanting. Gently pack down the soil and add more if needed. Make sure to pick a spot that is full sun (at least 6 hours of sun a day). We also recommend pinching off any blossoms or pods on your transplants so that the plant will put more energy into growing roots and leaves instead of fruit.

5. Water-in Pepper Transplants:  Use a rain nozzle or watering can to gently water in your transplanted peppers. This will help settle in the soil around the roots.

How to transplant pepper plants - how deep to plant them

When to Fertilize Pepper Seedlings

It's good to fertilize peppers when they are around three inches tall after sprouting. Once planted in the garden, you can rely on homemade compost to help fertilize and feed the soil, or we also like to use slow-release organic fertilizers, and liquid fertilizers such as Kelp or Fish fertilizers every few weeks in the garden. Don't over-fertilize your pepper plants with Nitrogen, especially later in the season, as too much nitrogen will result in a bushy plant without blossoms or fruit.

When to Thin Pepper Seedlings

We like to thin pepper seedlings after they sprout, you can even gently pull out the extras and plant into their own pods when very young, if you don't want to throw away (or compost) the extras!

How Deep to Transplant Pepper Seedlings

We like to plant peppers so that the soil is level with their cotyledon leaves, also known as their sprouting leaves (the first two leaves).

Pepper Plant Transplant Shock

Peppers can be shocked if you don't acclimate them to the outdoors first before transplanting outside after starting them indoors. We like to harden off  seedlings over a series of days first to get them used to the strong sunlight and breezes. It is also good to transplant pepper plants on an overcast day, or in the early morning or evening so they have some time to settle in without the hot sun burning down on them.

Pepper Transplant Temperature

Ideally, peppers like the temperatures to be above 50-60˚ F consistently, so it's good to wait until it's warmed up before transplanting them outdoors. That said, transplanting them in the early morning, evening, or on overcast days can help them settle in better than if planted in direct sun in the middle of a hot day. Can peppers survive 40˚ temperatures?

How big should pepper plants be before transplanting?

Ideally, pepper plants should be at least 4-6" tall before transplanting into your garden. They can also be larger of course, If your plants are outgrowing their containers and becoming root bound, but it's not warm enough to plant outside yet, transplant them into deeper larger containers if you can so they can continue growing until it's time to get them ready to plant outside. Also be sure to wait until it's properly warmed up before planting outdoors, peppers don't like temperatures below 50˚ F, so wait until the nights and day temperatures are warm enough to avoid stunting your pepper transplants' growth.

Best Peppers for Containers

Do pepper plants like to be in pots or ground?

They like both! We find that larger varieties, such as Hatch chile or Bell Peppers , are better suited when planted in the ground. However, all peppers can be grown in containers – just make sure your container is big enough. We like to plant peppers in pots that are at least 5 gallons or larger in size, the larger the pot, the easier it is to maintain consistent moisture levels as well as allowing for deep roots. Check out some of our favorite peppers to grow in containers.

How hot is too hot for pepper plants?

While peppers like hot weather, temperatures above 90˚ F will often cause the pepper plants to drop their blooms and they may slow down growth. You can provide them with a shade cloth on super hot days to help them thrive until temperatures return below 90˚ F if desired. Peppers, especially bell peppers, also tend to get sunburned so if you provide some shade on super hot days, it will help prevent this. Healthy pepper plants are bushy so the leaves help protect the peppers from the sun, but if you have a lot of exposed bell peppers on plants, protecting them by providing a shade cloth can help keep them from getting sunburned. You can also plant cowpeas (like black eyed peas) around your pepper plants to provide additional shade for the growing pepper pods. As an added benefit, cowpeas also help by fixing nitrogen on their roots which fertilizes your peppers. In fact, a Californian study concluded that cowpeas, when grown alongside pepper plants, help improve the final harvest and yield.

How to transplant peppers for the best harvest

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  • Guide to Growing Ghost Pepper Plant in a Pot

The ghost pepper (Bhut Jolokia) is one of the hottest chili peppers in the world. It is a great option for those who love growing spicy plants at home. Ghost pepper plants can be grown in pots, making it an ideal choice for those who have limited space or live in apartments.

In this guide, we will discuss the steps involved in growing ghost peppers in a pot.

Choosing the Right Pot

When growing ghost peppers in a pot, it is essential to choose the right size and type of container. The pot should have drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to drain out. A pot that is too small can restrict root growth and cause the plant to become root-bound.

A 5-gallon pot is ideal for growing ghost peppers. A larger pot will provide more room for root growth and help prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.

Soil Requirements

Ghost peppers prefer well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. A high-quality potting mix that contains perlite or vermiculite is ideal for growing ghost peppers in a pot. It is also recommended to add some compost to the soil to provide nutrients for the plant.

Planting the Ghost Pepper Plant

To plant the ghost pepper plant, fill the pot with soil up to 1 inch below the rim. Make a hole in the center of the soil that is deep enough to accommodate the root ball of the plant. Place the plant into the hole and gently pack soil around it.

Water the plant thoroughly after planting and place it in a sunny spot where it can get at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.

Watering and Fertilizing

Ghost pepper plants need regular watering, but it is important not to overwater them. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again. If the soil is too wet, it can cause root rot and other fungal diseases.

Fertilize the ghost pepper plant every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer that is high in phosphorus. This will help promote healthy root growth and encourage the plant to produce more fruit.

Harvesting Ghost Peppers

Ghost peppers take between 90 and 120 days to mature, depending on the growing conditions. The peppers will start out green and turn red as they mature. It is recommended to wear gloves when handling ghost peppers as they are extremely hot.

Harvest the peppers when they are fully ripe and have a bright red color. Simply twist the pepper off the stem or use a pair of scissors to cut it off.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Yellowing leaves.

Yellowing leaves can be caused by several factors including overwatering, nutrient deficiencies or pests. Check the soil moisture level and adjust watering accordingly. If the soil is too wet, allow it to dry out before watering again. Fertilize the plant regularly to ensure it is getting enough nutrients.

Ghost pepper plants are susceptible to pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Regularly inspect the plant for signs of infestation and treat with an insecticidal soap or neem oil if necessary.

Blossom End Rot

Blossom end rot is a common problem that affects ghost pepper plants. It is caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant. To prevent blossom end rot, ensure that the plant is getting enough calcium by adding calcium-rich fertilizers to the soil.

How often should I water my ghost pepper plant?

Ghost peppers should be watered when the top inch of soil is dry.

How long does it take for ghost peppers to mature?

Ghost peppers take between 90 and 120 days to mature.

How do I fertilize my ghost pepper plant?

Fertilize the plant every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer that is high in phosphorus.

How do I prevent pests from attacking my ghost pepper plant?

Regularly inspect the plant for signs of infestation and treat with an insecticidal soap or neem oil if necessary.

Can I grow ghost peppers indoors?

Yes, ghost peppers can be grown indoors as long as they receive enough sunlight.

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Ghost Pepper Growing & Care Guide

Thomas Nelson

The ghost pepper, also known as Bhut Jolokia, is one of the hottest peppers in the world. Originally grown in Northeast India, this fiery chili pepper has gained popularity around the globe for its intense heat and unique flavor. Ghost pepper plants are now commonly grown in gardens or on farms, and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the ghost pepper plant, including its history, cultivation, and uses. Whether you’re a seasoned pepper enthusiast or just curious about this spicy plant, read on to learn more about the ghost pepper.

What is a ghost pepper?

The ghost pepper plant, also known as Bhut Jolokia, is a type of chili pepper that is native to India. It is widely known for its extreme heat, which has earned it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the hottest pepper in the world.

The ghost pepper plant is a member of the Capsicum chinense species, which is known for producing some of the hottest peppers in the world. The plant can grow up to 4 feet tall and produces small, wrinkly, and red or orange peppers that pack a serious punch.

The heat of the ghost pepper comes from the compound capsaicin, which is found in the fruit’s seeds and membranes. Capsaicin is what gives the pepper its fiery flavor and is also responsible for the burning sensation it causes in the mouth.

Ghost pepper plants are relatively easy to grow and can be cultivated in both indoor and outdoor settings. They require plenty of sunlight, warm temperatures, and well-drained soil. With proper care, ghost pepper plants can produce a bountiful harvest of spicy peppers.

In addition to their heat, ghost peppers are also prized for their flavor, which has been described as fruity and slightly sweet. They are commonly used in a variety of dishes, including curries, sauces, and marinades.

While the ghost pepper plant may be too spicy for some, it remains a popular choice for those who enjoy a good challenge and a fiery kick in their food.

What does a ghost pepper taste like?

One of the most intriguing aspects of the ghost pepper plant is its taste. This plant is known for producing incredibly spicy peppers, but what do they actually taste like?

First things first, it’s important to note that the ghost pepper is not just a one-dimensional flavor bomb. In fact, it has a complex flavor profile that can be difficult to describe. Some people describe it as fruity and sweet, while others say it has a smoky, earthy taste.

Of course, the most notable aspect of the ghost pepper’s taste is its intense spiciness. This pepper is one of the hottest in the world , with Scoville heat units (SHUs) ranging from 800,000 to over 1 million. By comparison, a jalapeño pepper typically has an SHU rating of 2,500 to 8,000.

Despite its extreme heat, many people enjoy the flavor of the ghost pepper. It’s often used in small amounts as a seasoning or spice, adding a kick of heat and depth of flavor to dishes like curries, stews, and sauces.

Overall, the taste of the ghost pepper plant is complex and unique. While its intense spiciness is certainly a defining characteristic, it’s important to appreciate the other flavors and nuances that this plant has to offer.

How to start ghost pepper seeds

Ghost pepper plants are known for their spiciness and are a great addition to any garden. Starting a ghost pepper plant from seed is a great way to ensure a healthy and thriving plant. Here are the steps to successfully start a ghost pepper plant from seed:

  • Gather Supplies: You will need ghost pepper seeds, seed starting mix, a seed tray or small pots, a spray bottle, and a grow light or sunny windowsill.
  • Planting: Fill your seed tray or small pots with seed starting mix. Place one seed in each pot and cover with a thin layer of seed starting mix. Mist the soil with water from the spray bottle.
  • Germination: Once planted, cover your seed tray or pots with plastic wrap or a clear lid to create a greenhouse effect. The seeds need to be kept moist, so make sure to mist them with water daily. Keep the seeds in a warm place to encourage germination.
  • Transplanting: Once the seedlings have grown their second set of leaves, it’s time to transplant them into larger pots. Make sure to choose a pot that is at least 4 inches in diameter and has proper drainage holes.
  • Care: Ghost pepper plants require a lot of sunlight and warm temperatures. Make sure to place your plants in a sunny location or under a grow light for at least 6-8 hours a day. Water your plants regularly and make sure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Fertilize your plants with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks.

Starting a ghost pepper plant from seed can be a fun and rewarding experience. By following these simple steps, you can grow a healthy and thriving ghost pepper plant.

How to grow ghost peppers

If you’re a fan of spicy food, growing your own ghost pepper plant can be a rewarding experience. Ghost pepper, also known as Bhut Jolokia, is one of the hottest chili peppers in the world, and growing it at home can give you access to fresh, flavorful peppers that can add a unique kick to your meals. Here are some basic steps to follow when growing ghost pepper plant:

  • Choose the right location: Ghost pepper plants thrive in warm, humid environments, so choose a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight. Make sure the soil is well-draining and fertile, as ghost pepper plants need plenty of nutrients to grow.
  • Start from seeds: Ghost pepper seeds can be found online or at your local nursery. Start the seeds indoors in small pots around 8-10 weeks before the last frost of the year. Once the seedlings have grown to around 6 inches tall, they can be transplanted to larger containers or directly into the ground.
  • Water regularly: Ghost pepper plants need consistent watering, especially during the hot summer months. Make sure the soil stays evenly moist, but not waterlogged. Avoid getting water on the leaves, as this can lead to fungal diseases.
  • Fertilize regularly: Ghost pepper plants are heavy feeders and need regular fertilization to produce healthy, flavorful peppers. Use a balanced fertilizer every two weeks, or a slow-release fertilizer once a month.
  • Prune and support the plants: Ghost pepper plants can grow up to 4 feet tall, so they may need support as they mature. Use stakes or cages to keep the plants upright. Prune the plants regularly to promote bushier growth and to remove any diseased or damaged leaves.

By following these basic steps, you can grow a healthy, productive ghost pepper plant that will provide you with plenty of spicy peppers to enjoy throughout the growing season.

When to harvest ghost peppers

Ghost peppers, also known as Bhut Jolokia, are one of the hottest chili peppers in the world. These fiery peppers are not for the faint of heart and require some care and attention when harvesting. Here’s a guide on when and how to harvest ghost pepper plant.

Ghost peppers take around 90-120 days to mature from seed to fruit. The best time to harvest ghost peppers is when they have turned fully ripe. Ghost peppers start off green and turn red, yellow, or brown when fully ripe. They become sweeter as they mature, but they also get hotter.

If you want a milder flavor, you can harvest the peppers when they are still green. However, if you want the full heat of the ghost pepper, wait until they turn fully ripe.

Before harvesting ghost peppers, make sure you wear gloves to protect your skin from the heat. The capsaicin in ghost peppers can cause irritation and burns on your skin.

To harvest ghost peppers, simply cut them off the plant using a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears. Make sure to leave a small stem attached to the pepper, as this will help them last longer.

Once you have harvested the peppers, store them in a cool, dry place. You can also dry them to use as a spice in your favorite dishes. Simply string them up and hang them in a dry area until they are completely dry.

In conclusion, harvesting ghost peppers requires patience and care. Wait until they are fully ripe and use gloves to protect your skin when harvesting. With these tips, you can enjoy the fiery flavor of ghost peppers in your favorite dishes.

Common problems

Peppers are generally resilient plants, but they can encounter a few issues during the growing season. Understanding these common problems and their solutions can help you maintain healthy pepper plants and maximize your harvest. Here’s an overview of some common issues and how to fix them:

  • Poor or Slow Germination: If you’re experiencing low germination rates or slow germination, check the freshness and quality of your seeds. Using fresh, high-quality seeds can improve germination. Maintain consistent soil moisture by watering lightly and frequently, without overwatering. Providing optimal temperature conditions for germination, typically around 75-85°F (24-29°C), can also enhance germination rates.
  • Insufficient Sunlight: Peppers thrive in full sunlight, so inadequate light can result in weak plants and reduced yields. Ensure your pepper plants receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. If growing indoors, consider using reflective mulch or supplemental grow lights to provide sufficient light intensity.
  • Inadequate Watering: Proper watering is crucial for pepper plants. Water deeply and consistently, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot, and underwatering, which can cause stress and stunted growth. Applying mulch around the base of plants can help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
  • Nutrient Deficiencies: Nutrient imbalances can manifest as yellowing leaves, poor growth, or reduced fruiting. Test your soil to identify any nutrient deficiencies and address them accordingly. Use organic or balanced fertilizers to provide essential nutrients. Pay attention to phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen, which are crucial for healthy plant growth. Incorporating organic matter into the soil before planting can also improve nutrient content.
  • Pests and Diseases: Common pests like aphids, spider mites, or caterpillars can attack pepper plants, while diseases like bacterial spot or fungal infections can occur. Regularly inspect plants for signs of pest infestation or disease. Use organic pest control methods such as insecticidal soaps or neem oil if necessary. Promote good airflow by spacing plants adequately and avoid overhead watering, as moisture on leaves can contribute to disease development. Practicing crop rotation can also help prevent the buildup of pests and diseases in the soil.
  • Blossom End Rot: Blossom end rot appears as a dark, sunken spot at the bottom of the fruit. It is caused by calcium deficiency or irregular moisture levels. To prevent blossom end rot, maintain consistent soil moisture by watering evenly and deeply. Mulching around the plants can help regulate moisture levels and prevent rapid drying of the soil.
  • Poor Fruit Set: If your pepper plants are not producing many fruits, poor pollination might be the issue. Encourage pollinators, such as bees, by planting companion flowers and avoiding the use of pesticides harmful to beneficial insects. You can also gently shake the plants to help disperse pollen or use a small paintbrush to manually transfer pollen from flower to flower.

By being proactive and addressing these common problems, you can ensure healthy and productive pepper plants in your garden. With proper care, you’ll be rewarded with an abundant harvest of flavorful peppers to enjoy in your favorite dishes.

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Matt Magnusson

How to grow ghost peppers from seed (Bhut Jolokia)

Ghost pepper fruits, Bhut Jolokia, grown from seed

Welcome to Nordic Lavender and our tutorial on how to grow Bhut Jolokia ghost peppers from seed. We will be growing two varieties of Bhut Jolokia peppers (Capsicum chinense): Chocolate Bhut Jolokia and the more common regular or red Bhut Jolokia.

Hot peppers like ghost peppers are trickier to germinate and grow than milder and sweeter peppers. In fact, the level of difficulty tends to follow the level of capsaicin [1] or how hot the pepper is according to the Scoville scale [2].

And to give you a frame of reference, the listing below will show you how hot ghost peppers are compared to 7 popular pepper varieties as indicated by their SHU (Scoville Heat Units).

5 steps to growing ghost peppers from seeds

The first step of growing ghost peppers is all about planning and preparation. Pepper plants grow slowly and need a long time to develop. And as the plants are not hardy to cold temperatures or frost, you should plan to start your seeds 8-10 weeks before the last frost. 

Watch our “How to grow ghost peppers” video tutorial

transplanting ghost pepper plant

Or click here to watch on YouTube: Grow ghost peppers | Start Bhut Jolokia ghost peppers from seed | Hot peppers | NordicLavender.com

1. Potting soil mix for starting ghost pepper seeds

Choose a lean potting soil mix that drains well. We always add perlite (5-10%) or coarse sand for improved drainage as it is key that the soil mix is moist but never wet.

Pre-moisten your potting soil mix by adding water as you mix. You want the potting soil mix to be crumbly without chunks or large bits of organic matter.

Test your soil by making a soil ball with your hands. The soil mix should hold together but crumble easily. 

2. Fill pots with potting mix

Fill pots almost all the way up and press the soil gently with your fingers. Add more potting mix as needed to maintain a level of soil where the pot is almost full.

We use 18 cell seed trays with plastic domes but any smaller-sized starter pot will work.

If you did not pre-moisten your potting mix, you should bottom water your pots before moving on to the next step.

3. Plant Bhut Jolokia ghost pepper seeds

There are many different stratification techniques where seeds are treated to simulate natural conditions that the seeds need to experience before they can germinate.

Placing seeds in the fridge and then removing them to simulate a “ spring is here and it is time to germinate ” effect and soaking seeds in tea are two techniques used by some gardeners.

Bhut Jolokia seedling grown from seed

All I do is place the seeds in room temperature water for 8 hours before planting. The process also serves as a pre-germination or viable seed test, as dead seeds that float after 8 hours are discarded.

When seeds are soaked, place one pepper seed per pot and cover it with a light layer of potting mix or vermiculite .

Gently press the top of the pot to ensure good contact between the seed and soil.

Mist the pot with water using a spray bottle.

4. Cover and place pots in a warm location

Next, cover the pots to create a moist growing environment and place pots in a warm location.

Covering the seed tray or placing the pots in a plastic bag without sealing them completely works great. But the “warm location” part often confuses. You see, warm is not the same as hot . 

We find that seeds of hotter pepper varieties germinate best with a soil temperature of approximately 24-27 degrees Celsius (75-80 degrees Fahrenheit).

And you want the warmth to come from below. You want the soil to be warm and you want the temperature to be consistent. 

The easy solution is of course to use heat mats. Or, why not use the common hack where pots are placed on a kitchen appliance like a refrigerator that generates heat?

Also, if you see a lot of condensation forming inside the cover or plastic bag, make sure to air the pot once a day and check on the water and moisture levels.

Often, excessive condensation is formed when you over-water and the soil is too wet. And this is not good. You want the soil to be evenly moist but not wet.

5. Watch for seeds to germinate and sprout the first leaves

Bhut Jolokia seeds take anything from 2-5 weeks to germinate even under perfect conditions.

When you see the first leaves sprouting, remove the cover and place seedlings in a spot with at least 8 hours of sunlight.

If you do not have a window sill with 8 hours of natural sunlight, use grow lights and increase time to at least 10-12 hours per day.

When seeds have germinated, the pepper plants benefit from a slightly cooler growing environment around 20 degrees Celsius (68 F).

Transplanting ghost pepper seedlings

It is time to transplant your ghost peppers when seedlings are large enough to handle and have at least 4 true leaves (2 pairs). 

As we only plant one seed per pot or seed tray cell there will be a maximum of one seedling per pot. 

Bhut Jolokia ghost pepper plants benefit from being transplanted several times and each time to a slightly larger pot. 

The roots grow until they reach the drier, less moist soil towards the edge of the pot. The drier soil signals the roots to stop growing in that direction, and instead focus on establishing fresh branching roots.

Read our article on When to pot up or transplant peppers (and how)? or watch the video from our Grow Peppers YouTube series of videos.

transplanting ghost pepper plant

Why grow extremely hot ghost peppers like Bhut Jolokia?

I have come across 3 types of people that grow hot peppers.

  • The novelty hot pepper connoisseur
  • People who actually love hot food
  • Gardeners who relish the challenge

If we start from the top we have the people who want to grow the hottest pepper available – period. All that matters is that it is the hottest. This is not me.

Then you have the people who actually enjoy hot food . You know, the people who will order a Vindaloo curry where everyone else opts for Tikka Masala or Madras curries. And while I am not into the hottest of dishes, I do have an affinity for spicy and hot flavors with full undertones.

And then there are the gardeners who are always up for a challenge . And as hotter peppers want tropical conditions with full sun and humidity they will always pose a challenge for gardeners in non-tropical zones. While I do like a challenge, this does not apply to my decision to grow hot peppers.

Ghost pepper seedling, Bhut Jolokia, grown from seed

[ 1 ] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin

[ 2 ] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale

transplanting ghost pepper plant

Mattias Magnusson: Hello, I'm Mattias, a passionate and experienced gardening enthusiast. I am the creator of MattMagnusson.com, your guide to year-round herb and veggie growing. Let's simplify green living , no matter your space or location.

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House Digest

The Best Way To Transplant Pepper Plants To Ensure A Healthy Harvest

I f you are growing your own pepper plants from seed and starting them off in tiny seedling cells, it's important to remember to transplant them early. Transplanting involves swapping out the initial container for a bigger one in order to give the roots more room to spread out because they have filled the space in the cell. This encourages growth and the potential for maturity -- leading to bigger leaves for better photosynthesis, more capacity for the plant to make food, and results in bigger fruit and vegetables for you to harvest!

When the seedling begins to produce their third set of true leaves -- about 3 to 4 weeks after sprouting -- they should be ready for transplanting. True leaves come after the first set of leaves, called seed leaves. Seed leaves are actually part of the plant embryo, and their main function is to store food until the true leaves can take over and perform photosynthesis. Then, the seed leaves drop off. You may need to wait a little longer depending on the type of peppers you are growing, especially with the spicy pepper varieties , which grow more slowly. Just use your judgment, and if they seem a bit on the small side, an extra week won't hurt.

Read more: 6 Tips For Easily Repotting Your Favorite Plants

How To Transplant Your Pepper Plants

To transplant your pepper seedlings. You will need freshly cleaned 3 ½-inch plastic pots with good drainage and a quality commercial growing compost, free of 'damping off' organisms. Damping off is a soil-borne fungal disease that causes the stems of seedlings to rot. You'll also need a large mixing container to pre-moisten the soil -- why not invest in a 12-inch pot that will also house your fully matured plant later on?

First, fill the mixing container with enough soil for your new pots. Add filtered water slowly and mix as you go to pre-moisten. The soil is ready when it sticks together and can be squeezed without dripping excess water. Add more dry soil if it gets too wet. Next, fill your pots three-quarters full with moist soil, compressing until you feel some resistance, then add a little more. Make a hole in the middle of each pot for the seedlings using your finger, then gently massage the outside of your seedling cell containers to loosen the root balls. Flip the tray and very carefully pull the seedlings out one by one by their stems. Pop the root balls into the holes you made in the new pots, centering the stems, and add more soil around the edges without burying any of the stems, as this could lead to rot. Compress the soil around each pepper plant to add stability. And finally, give them all a quick drink of water.

Why Transplant Pepper Plants For A Healthy Harvest?

Planting your pepper seeds in starter cells and failing to transplant the seedlings promptly could stunt the plant's overall growth. This is because the roots will have limited space to grow. If the roots can't spread out and grow into a larger area of soil, they won't be able to take in enough nutrients, which means your pepper plant won't be able to reach its full potential.

What's more, if you don't free your plant from the tiny seedling cell at the right time, the roots will become squashed and root-bound. The longer you leave it, the worse the overall impact on your plant. The disturbance of transplanting a root bound seedling could  shock the plant , but worse, since the roots will be forced to grow around and round the inside of the pot, they could end up strangling the seedling if left to continue growing like that.

Stunted root growth also leads to stunted leaf growth. If you don't transplant your pepper plant seedlings properly, you may end up with tall and leggy plants that don't have many full leaves. Fully mature and healthy leaves are essential for a healthy plant to sufficiently photosynthesize and make enough food to grow fruits and vegetables. If you have leggy seedlings, you can add a fan for a few hours each day to mimic their natural outdoor environment and encourage more stocky growth.

Read the original article on House Digest .

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How and When to Start Pepper Seeds Indoors

Plant pepper seeds indoors this spring for a longer growing season and a larger pepper harvest.

transplanting ghost pepper plant

Kindra Clineff

Although jalapeño and bell pepper plants are usually sold at garden centers in spring, you can save money on your garden and get your hands on less-common pepper varieties, like aji chilis and fiery ghost peppers , if you grow peppers from seed instead. Pepper seeds can be planted outside in warm climates, but gardeners in cool regions need to start pepper seeds indoors to ensure their plants have enough time to mature before autumn.

In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll discover the perfect time to sow pepper seeds, along with pepper planting and transplanting tips.

When to Plant Pepper Seeds Indoors

Peppers are long-season crops need a few months to mature, but gardeners can extend their growing season by sowing pepper seeds indoors in early spring. Different pepper varieties take longer to grow than others, so it’s a good idea to consult your seed packets for specific planting instructions. Sweet bell peppers take only 60 to 90 days to bear fruit, but some hot chili peppers can take up to 150 days. Most peppers grow well if you start the seeds indoors about eight to ten weeks before your last frost date .  

How to Plant Pepper Seeds Indoors

When you’ve pinpointed the date to start your pepper seeds, here's how to plant them:

  • Fill individual pots or seed-starting trays with a pre-moistened potting mix.
  • Plant two to three pepper seeds per pot or planting cell and cover the seeds with about ¼ inch of soil.
  • Move the growing containers into a warm location that receives between 12 and 15 hours of bright light daily.
  • Water the seeds regularly to keep the soil consistently moist.

Peppers need lots of light to grow, which can be difficult to achieve indoors. Unless you have a bright window, you need a quality grow light to keep your peppers healthy. LED grow lights hung about 2 to 4 inches above the soil will give your peppers the light they need to sprout. Adjust the light upward as the plants grow.

Aside from light, peppers need plenty of moisture and warmth to germinate. Cover the growing containers with humidity domes and place the pepper containers on top of seedling heating mats to keep the soil temperature at around 70°F.

Depending on the variety, pepper seeds take between 1 and 5 weeks to germinate . After the seeds germinate, remove the humidity domes and turn off the heating mats to prevent the pepper seedlings from drying out.

Caring for Pepper Seedlings Indoors

After they sprout, pepper seeds grow quickly as long as they receive adequate light and moisture. Water indoor peppers regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy. You may also want to install a small fan near the pepper plants to boost airflow and protect the seedlings from damping off.

When the peppers are a few inches tall and have at least two sets of true leaves, remove the weakest seedlings by gently pulling them up by the roots or clipping off the stems with scissors, leaving only the strongest seedling in each container. Thinning seedlings out gives the remaining peppers more room to grow and prevents overcrowding.

Depending on the size of the growing containers, you may not need to repot your peppers while they’re growing indoors. However, if you notice that the plants look overcrowded or their roots are poking through the bottom of the pots, it may be time to move your plants into larger, 4-inch containers. When repotting, handle pepper roots carefully and bury leggy pepper stems up to their lowest leaves.

How to Transplant Peppers

Gardeners are excited to start planting outdoors in spring, but patience is key when it comes to growing peppers. These heat-loving plants don’t handle cold temperatures well and can be damaged or die back when planted outdoors too early. Wait until the nighttime temperature is consistently above 50°F and the seedlings are several inches tall with multiple sets of leaves to transplant them outside.

To transplant peppers:

  • Prepare the planting spot by mixing compost and a bit of slow-release granular fertilizer into the soil.
  • Plant the pepper seedlings so their roots are covered with about 1 inch of soil (peppers with weak or leggy stems can be buried a little deeper).
  • After the peppers are situated, water them deeply and start fertilizing the plants regularly with a monthly dose of organic fertilizer.

Some pepper plants benefit from staking, but this isn’t always necessary. You can also improve fruiting and help peppers grow bushier with a well-timed pruning . Bell peppers will usually be ready to harvest earlier than chilis; however, once your peppers start producing, harvest often to encourage the plants to produce more fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Seeds from store-bought peppers may not germinate as well as seeds from seed companies, but it can be a fun experiment. To boost your chances of success, select seeds from fully ripened peppers with red skins.

Boosting soil temperatures with a seedling heating mat is the best way to speed up pepper germination time. Keeping seeds covered with humidity domes and pre-soaking pepper seeds overnight can also make peppers sprout faster.

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IMAGES

  1. How To Grow Ghost Peppers (Bhut Jolokia)

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  2. How to Plant and Grow Ghost Peppers

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  4. Transplanting Pepper Seedlings

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  5. How to Grow Ghost Peppers

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VIDEO

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Grow Ghost Peppers

    Open search form Enter your search term Search Decor Room Design Decorating Design Styles Small Spaces Feng Shui See all Garden Plants A to Z Houseplants Landscaping Pests & Problems Wild Birds In the Weeds With Plant People The Spruce Gardening Review Board See all Home Improvement Skills & Specialties Painting Kitchen Bathroom Interior Remodel

  2. How To Transplant Pepper Plants

    What you'll need Step-by-step instructions Why not move straight to full-sized pots? How To Transplant Pepper Seedlings (Video): What Is Transplanting Transplanting is the process of moving a plant from a small-sized container to a larger one. This allows the plant to continue to grow a larger root system along with new leafy growth.

  3. How to Transplant Ghost Pepper Plant

    Step 1: Choose a Bigger Container If you are transplanting a ghost pepper plant from a small container, choose a bigger container that will accommodate the root ball comfortably. A good rule of thumb is to choose a container that is at least twice the size of the current container. Step 2: Prepare Soil Mix

  4. How To Grow Ghost Peppers (Bhut Jolokia)

    We recommend a loamy, well-draining organic potting soil. Our favorite potting soils: Happy Frog Ocean Forest ProMix You should avoid using an "in-ground soil" if you will be growing your ghost peppers in pots. This soil is too heavy for container gardening and will not allow for adequate drainage and aeration to the root zone.

  5. The Ghost Pepper Planting Guide: A To Zing

    September 5, 2019 by Matt Bray Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. 118 The infamous bhut jolokia (a.k.a. the ghost pepper) is well-known for its super-hot slow burn.

  6. Transplanting Pepper Plants Into Pots (Indoors & Out)

    You can transplant pepper seedlings for the first time about 3 to 4 weeks after they germinate. At this stage, pepper seedlings are generally around two inches tall with four or more true leaves. (It's also time to feed your seedlings if you're not already doing this.) grow tips

  7. Ghost Pepper Plant

    Edible Gardens Vegetables Peppers Care Of Ghost Chili Peppers: How To Grow Ghost Pepper Plants Sign up to our newsletter chilli pepper (Image credit: _jure) By Amy Grant last updated March 01, 2021 Some like it hot, and some like it hotter.

  8. How to Grow Ghost Peppers from Seed

    Part 1 Starting Seeds Indoors 1 Plant the seeds indoors 1 to 2 months before the final frost date. Ghost peppers don't do well in cold temperatures, so it's ideal to start them inside. Wait until later winter or early spring to time your peppers perfectly. [1]

  9. Transplanting Hot Pepper Plants

    Hardening Off This is absolutely KEY. Gardening is mostly common sense. Keep in mind your plants have been in a controlled indoor climate. Probably between 65 and 70 degrees with no wind and partial sunshine through a sunny windowsill in most cases.

  10. How to Plant and Grow Ghost Peppers

    How to Grow Growing Tips Where to Buy Managing Pests and Disease Harvesting and Preserving Recipes and Cooking Ideas Quick Reference Growing Guide What Is a Ghost Pepper?

  11. Ghost Pepper Plant: How to Grow Ghost Peppers

    Written by MasterClass Last updated: Nov 19, 2021 • 3 min read The ghost pepper plant—sometimes called the bhut jolokia pepper or naga jolokia pepper—is one of the world's spiciest peppers and can be straightforward to grow at home.

  12. How to Grow Ghost Peppers (Bhut Jolokia)

    by Matt Gibson If you want to grow your own ghost peppers, be careful. How hot is a ghost pepper? Depending on the variety, ghost peppers clock in anywhere between 855,000 and 1,041,427 Scoville units. A jalapeno, for comparison, can rate anywhere between 2,500 and 5,000 units.

  13. Ghost Pepper Plant (All You Need to Know!)

    Where to Grow The hotter and more humid it is, the better it is for recreating the native Indian environment to which the Ghost pepper plants are familiar. You can grow your Ghost pepper plant indoors or outdoors. When to Grow Ghost pepper plants have a long growing period.

  14. How To Grow Ghost Pepper Plants in Pots

    Place the trays or pots in a warm location, ideally between 75°F and 85°F. A heating mat can help maintain the desired temperature. We actually think a heat mat is essential to germinate hot peppers. Invest in a heat mat; it's worth it. Be patient! Ghost pepper seeds can take anywhere from 14 to 28 days to germinate. 2.

  15. Ghost Peppers

    Ghost pepper plants plants typically take 100+ days after transplanting to produce ripened pepper pods! Given enough soil, light, and fertilizer, ghost peppers will grow to about 2-3 feet tall in a single season, but can often be very wide, around 5 feet or more.

  16. How to Transplant Pepper Plants

    3. Prepare the soil for transplanting: You can plant peppers in containers, or in a garden bed. We like to mix in some homemade compost into the soil first to help feed the pepper plants. Make sure your soil is well draining as peppers don't like soggy feet! This is especially important with containers, use a fast-draining potting soil mix (don ...

  17. Ghost Peppers: How to Plant, Grow, and Enjoy These Super Spicy Veggies

    Ghost pepper seeds have a long germination time and do best when started indoors. Start seeds about 6 to 8 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. Seeds should be sown 1/4 inch deep. Peppers can be transplanted outside once temperatures remain at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

  18. Guide to Growing Ghost Pepper Plant in a Pot

    Planting the Ghost Pepper Plant. To plant the ghost pepper plant, fill the pot with soil up to 1 inch below the rim. Make a hole in the center of the soil that is deep enough to accommodate the root ball of the plant. Place the plant into the hole and gently pack soil around it. Water the plant thoroughly after planting and place it in a sunny ...

  19. Ghost Pepper Growing & Care Guide

    Here are some basic steps to follow when growing ghost pepper plant: Choose the right location: Ghost pepper plants thrive in warm, humid environments, so choose a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight. Make sure the soil is well-draining and fertile, as ghost pepper plants need plenty of nutrients to grow.

  20. Ghost Pepper Plant Scoville, Colors And [Updated] Grow Guide

    Use Heat. Ghost pepper plants, like other chile varieties, need hot and humid conditions to germinate. The key here is to keep the soil warmed between 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (27 to 32 degrees Celsius). A plant heat mat with temperature controller gives you total control over your growing temperature.

  21. How to grow ghost peppers from seed (Bhut Jolokia)

    5 steps to growing ghost peppers from seeds. The first step of growing ghost peppers is all about planning and preparation. Pepper plants grow slowly and need a long time to develop. And as the plants are not hardy to cold temperatures or frost, you should plan to start your seeds 8-10 weeks before the last frost.

  22. Ghost Pepper plant

    Ghost Pepper plant grow and care - shrub‎ of the genus Capsicum also known as Bhut Jolokia, Ghost Pepper plant perennial evergreen but can grow also as annual plant, can grow in tropic, subtropical, mediterranean, temperate or desert climate and also used as ornamental plant, can grow in mediterranean, desert, subtropical, temperate, tropic climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+ as ...

  23. Harvesting a Huge Ghost Pepper Plant

    Join Subscribe 2.3K Share Save 88K views 1 year ago #ghostpepper #peppers #grow Buy our ebook, Growing Perfect Peppers: https://peppergeek.com/ebook ...more ...more Boxlapse 935K views Buy...

  24. The Best Way To Transplant Pepper Plants To Ensure A Healthy Harvest

    To transplant your pepper seedlings. You will need freshly cleaned 3 ½-inch plastic pots with good drainage and a quality commercial growing compost, free of 'damping off' organisms. Damping off ...

  25. How and When to Start Pepper Seeds Indoors

    Fill individual pots or seed-starting trays with a pre-moistened potting mix. Plant two to three pepper seeds per pot or planting cell and cover the seeds with about ¼ inch of soil. Move the growing containers into a warm location that receives between 12 and 15 hours of bright light daily. Water the seeds regularly to keep the soil ...