The information on this page applies to seedlings sold by LEAF Nursery during our 2021 Seedling Sale.
Capsicum chinense. Prized by chile aficionados not only for its intense heat, but its distinct fruitiness, the habanero is used in sensational salsas, and will turn a bland barbeque into a fiery feast! Habaneros are said to be 100 times hotter than jalapeños. 100,000-350,000 Scoville heat units (extremely hot). Peppers are frost-sensitive perennial grown as an annual.[1]
Seed Type
| Organic | Heirloom | Non-GMO | Hybrid | Open-pollinated | Untreated |
Additional Information
| Container Friendly | Trellis Needed | Easy to Grow | Pollinator Friendly |
Planting Season
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Growing Conditions
| Light | Temperature | Soil | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sun | 75º–90º F | Well-drained, rich soils with a pH ~6.5. Be sure to plant with plenty of compost and fertilizer. | As needed |
Planting Tips
| Plant Spacing | Plant Size | Days to Maturity |
|---|---|---|
| 12-24" | 24" tall, 18" wide | 100 from transplant |
- Additional instructions: Peppers are adventitious rooters. If one to three leaves are pruned off and the plants transplanted deeply, roots will arise from the buried nodes, fostering better anchorage and greater root mass for foraging. Peppers (especially sweet varieties) need high nitrogen levels to establish the plant size and leaf canopy needed to protect fruit from sunburn, so fertilize well.[3]
- Harvesting instructions: Harvest when peppers start to turn orange-red. When harvesting, take care to avoid touching the interior of any broken peppers, as the capsaicin is an extreme irritant, especially to the eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after harvesting or wear gloves to harvest peppers.[1]
Common Diseases and Pests
- Pests: Aphids, Armyworms, Buffalo treehopper, Corn earworm, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Earwigs, Flea beetles, Hornworms, Leafminers, Lygus bugs, Nematodes, Omnivorous leafroller, Pepper weevil, Snails/slugs, Spider mites, Thrips, Whiteflies
- Disease: Curly top, Mosaic viruses, Phytophtora root and crown rot, Powdery mildew, Spotted wilt virus, Verticillium wilt
Useful Resources
- https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Habanero-Organic-Chile-Pepper-Seeds (seed source)
- http://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/vegetables/vegetable-planting-chart/
- https://casfs.ucsc.edu/documents/for-the-gardener/peppers.pdf
- http://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/peppers/index.html
If you bought this seedling and have any questions or feedback, let us know in the comment section below.