Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) Seeds

Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) Seeds: Weapons Grade Heat!

Formerly the hottest chilli in the world, Bhut Jolokia peppers can still get hot as hell! Reaching up to just over 1 million SHU on the Scoville scale, they’re enough to blow your head off. In fact, the Indian army uses them to make chilli grenades, which should make you pause before eating one!

Their life cycle is on the slightly longer side, taking around 135 days to reach harvest. But for lovers of heat, the wait is well worth it. Once they’re fully grown, the plant should be around 75cm tall, and the chillies themselves will be red and wrinkled, looking a bit like shrivelled hearts.

How To Grow Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) Chillies

• Step 1: Germination

To germinate, simply bury your seeds around 1cm deep into their final pots. The pot size will determine how long the overall grow cycle takes, so bear this in mind. A bigger pot means longer growth, but also higher yields.

Keep the soil moist, and cover the pot with cling film to maintain high humidity. Poke a few holes in it to allow for air exchange. Make sure you don’t get them too wet, though, as this can kill them.

Place them in a warm space; between 25 and 30°C is the optimal range.

Hotter chillies tend to take longer to germinate, so you’ll have to exercise patience with the Ghost Pepper. In fact, it can take as long as 6 weeks to sprout, but often much less.

• Step 2: Patience

Now it’s just about caring for them until the chillies are ready to pluck. Remove the cling film once the seedling appears and keep it in a warm place with lots of light exposure. Water as you would any other house plant.

To feed them, use a tomato fertiliser. A little foliar spray of extra calcium will keep the dreaded blossom-end rot away.

How and When To Harvest Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) Chillies

You’ll know it’s time to harvest your Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) Chillies when they are about 5cm long and red. They should also take on a slightly shrivelled appearance. Once they’ve initially turned red, it’s best practice to leave them a couple more days to make sure they’re completely ripe.

To harvest, simply pull them away. If they come off easily, they’re ready!

A Word of Warning

Whenever handling chillies and seeds, especially Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper), it’s best to wear gloves to avoid pepper burn. If it’s strong enough to make grenades from, it’s strong enough to hurt you.

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