Habanero Orange Seeds

Habanero Orange Seeds: Flavoursome Fire!

The Orange Habanero chili is one of the most popular in the world, and heralds all the way from sunny Havana, Cuba. It straddles the perfect middle ground, being spicy enough to add some serious fire to your cooking, but not so hot that it overpowers the flavours. In fact, not only does it give the other flavours plenty of room to shine, but it provides a whole load of its own delicious flavours to boot!

How To Grow Orange Habanero Chilies

• Step 1: Germination

With chilies, you can plant the seeds in their final pots, making it a fairly simple process. However, there are a few things you must do to assist germination. Bury seeds about 1cm deep in the soil and keep it moist, but not soaked. Cover the pots with cling film to maintain a high humidity, or else the seeds won’t pop. Place them in a warm space. Habaneros like very warm soil to germinate; anything between 25 and 28°C is perfect.

When deciding on pot size, it’s really up to you and how much space you have. Bigger pots mean bigger harvests, but also a longer grow cycle. So if you’re impatient, a smaller pot may suit you!

Seeds can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks to germinate. As a general rule, the hotter the chili, the longer the germination time.

• Step 2: Patience

All going well, you should eventually see a seedling pop above the ground. Once you do, remove the cling film and move the pot to a well-lit space (if it isn’t already). For watering, just treat it as you would a normal house plant.

Using a tomato feed should suffice, but if you want to avoid the dreaded blossom-end rot, you may want to give your plants a little extra calcium via a foliar spray.

How and When To Harvest Habanero Orange Chilies

Habanero orange chilies are easy enough to harvest. Once they’re orange (plus a few days), they’re ready. It should take around 100 days for them to reach maturity, at which point the plant is likely to be around 80cm high, and the pods themselves about 5cm long.

This maturation time is a rough guide, and the real duration will depend on a few factors. So take the cues from the chilies themselves. Once they initially turn orange, they’re almost ready. Simply pluck them from the plant; if they come away easily, they’re ripe. If they cling onto the plant, give them a few more days and try again.

A Word of Warning

Orange Habaneros are pretty hot, and if you’re handling them or their seeds regularly, you should wear gloves to avoid pepper burn. And be extra careful about not touching your eyes or going to the toilet before washing your hands (if you don't wear gloves)—it hurts!

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