If you love hot sauce and salsa, you probably have the Habanero pepper plant on your grow list. Using these 3 tried-and-true container options, you can grow thriving plants even if you don’t have much outdoor space. Let’s dive into some quick background info — including types of Habanero varieties — then get into the specifics of growing these spicy chilies in pots.
Habanero Pepper Information
The Habanero pepper is one of the hottest peppers in the Capsicum chinense family. Its fruity, spicy flavor and floral aftertaste make it one of the most tasty and versatile of the hottest chili peppers.
Thought to have originated in Cuba, the Habaneros are very important to Yucatán peninsular cuisine. Each year at least 1,500 tons of peppers are harvested there.
As for color, the unripe fruit is green, and mature Habanero peppers can be shades like red, orange, peach, white, or brown. (More on that below.) Generally, a mature Habanero is about 1 to 2 inches long.
Other countries that produce Habanero peppers include Costa Rica and Belize, as well as US states like California, Texas, and Idaho.
Habanero Pepper Varieties
You have a lot of options when it comes to Habaneros. Things like heat level, color, and pod size vary as you’ll see below.
10 Habanero Varieties:
| VARIETY | HEAT | COLOR | SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Habanero | up to 577,000 SHU | brown | 2” long x 1.5” wide |
| Yucatán White Habanero | up to 500,000 SHU | creamy, off-white, | 1” long x 0.5” wide |
| Habanero Orange | up to 325,000 SHU | orange | 1-2 in long and 1.5 in wide |
| Caribbean Red | up to 475,000 SHU | red | ~1.5” long x 1” wide |
| Mustard Habanero | up to 325,000 SHU | mustard yellow | ~3” long x 1.5” wide |
| Red Savina | up to 500,000 SHU | red | ~2” long x 1” wide |
| Big Sun Habanero | up to 325,000 SHU | bright yellow | ~3” long x 2” wide |
| Peach Habanero | up to 325,000 SHU | peach | ~2” long x 1” wide |
| Peruvian White Habanero | up to 350,000 SHU | off-white | ~2” long x ~3/4” wide |
| Black Congo | up to 450,000 SHU | brown | ~3” long x 2” wide |
» Read More: Where to Buy Pepper Seeds Online
Habanero Scoville Units
Orange Habaneros rate between 100,000 to 325,000 Scoville heat units (SHU), which is similar to the Scotch Bonnet pepper. (That’s considered very hot.) Other Habanero varieties can be over 500,000 SHU.
» Read More – Scotch Bonnet vs Habanero: Revealing 3 Key Differences in This Spicy Family
For comparison, the standard Habanero chile pepper is around 100 times hotter than the Jalapeno Scoville.
The Red Savina Habanero pepper — a cultivar of the Habanero — once held the world’s hottest pepper title by the Guinness Book of World Records. The Ghost pepper came afterwards, and now the Carolina Reaper is the current record holder.
Although Habaneros are no longer in the top 10 hottest peppers, they still have lots of heat and are not to be underestimated!
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Growing Habanero In Pots Using 3 Options
Habaneros are definitely worth your time because they have a compact growth habit and produce lots of chillies per plant!
Below, are three popular container options that I personally use during my growing season.
Growing Peppers In 5 Gallon Buckets
The 5-gallon bucket is a classic choice amongst gardeners. You can typically find these pails at hardware stores and garden centers.
The benefit to using a bucket is that it’s a simple, inexpensive option that perfectly suits an Habanero plant.
The downside is that you’ll need to drill holes in the bottom and around the sides. This gives your Habanero better airflow, and it allows the pot to drain excess water.
Circumference (5-Gallon): ~ 32 inches
Tips: Choose a lighter color bucket so it doesn’t get as hot. (I live in a hot-weather climate, so this may be less of an issue for you.) Also, a bucket with a handle comes in handy if you need to move your plants.
Popular On Amazon:
5 Gallon Bucket with Handle
Pack of 3
Growing Peppers In Grow Bags
A grow bag is a fabric pot that comes in many different sizes. So, what size grow bag for peppers? I use at least a 7-gallon bag because I like giving my peppers more room to grow.
The benefit of the grow bag is that it’s breathable and allows for “air pruning” of plant roots. This air pruning prevents roots from becoming “root bound,” and it promotes growth that encourages better uptake of water and nutrients.
The only con I found is that grow bags need more water than other container systems because of the porous material.
Dimensions (7-Gallon): ~ 10.5″ H x 14″ W
Tips: Plant one pepper plant per grow bag for optimal growth. In my experience, a 7 to 10-gallon size works best.
Popular On Amazon:
Growing Peppers In EarthBox
An EarthBox is an outdoor container gardening system that has built-in watering. My experience: it’s the best solution for small-space gardeners because you can fit many plants in a single container — I grow six pepper plants in the EarthBox Original each season.
The benefit of an EarthBox is it takes the guesswork out of growing. Kits include the watering system, fertilizer, and potting soil (optional) so you can just add your plants and go.
One drawback is that pepper plants don’t grow to their full potential because they share a smaller space with other chilies. This isn’t a big issue with Habanero plants because they bush out and produce tons of peppers (as you’ll see from my pics in this post).
EarthBox Dimensions (Original): 29″ long by 13.5″ wide
Tips: Pepper plants with big growth habits (like the Carolina Reaper) can overshadow smaller chile plants. Also, put duct tape over the holes in the bottom — if you add the optional casters — so that spiders don’t start nesting there.
EarthBox on Amazon:
EarthBox Original Garden Kit
Requires Soil
Transplanting Habanero Plants
Before growing Habanero peppers outside in pots, make sure your plants are ready for the outdoors.
Here’s how:
- Wait until the last threat of frost has passed.
- If you started pepper seedlings indoors, harden them off first so they aren’t shocked by going outside. (Here’s how to harden off pepper plants step-by-step.)
- If you purchase transplants, slowly introduce them to full sun to ensure they don’t wilt (see pic). Leave your plants in the sun for a certain period of time the first day, then increase the amount of time each day. Do this for about a week before putting them in their final spot.
When it comes to transplanting pepper plants and pot size, use at least a 5-gallon container (one chile per pot). You can use larger pots for your Habanero plants if you prefer.
You’ll see that a potted Habanero plant fits well into a small space! (And if you’re looking for more ways to compliment a porch or balcony, here are some summer apartment porch ideas to get you started.)
Caring For Habanero Pepper Plants
Good Habanero care means getting the soil, fertilizer, sun, and water needs right. Below are my best growing tips for producing healthy Habanero plants in containers.
Potting Soil
Use a quality potting soil so that your mix has good airflow and moisture retention. Don’t use garden soil or a mix that isn’t labeled for containers because that’s too dense for a pot.
Fill your container with the mix and leave a couple of inches empty at the top. Water as you go to keep the soil moist and not drenched – you should be able to make a ball that holds the shape. (If using an EarthBox, follow the instructions that come with your grow kit.)
Make a hole in the center of the container so that it’s deep enough to accommodate your plant up to it’s lowest set of leaves. Add your Habanero plant, and then lightly water the root zone to help it settle in.
» Related – Soil Calculator for Pots & Raised Beds: Here’s How Much Soil You Need
Recommended Potting Soil:
Ocean Forest Potting Soil
Organic Mix
Adding Supplements To Soil
Add fertilizer to your mix by following the instructions on the package for feeding container plants. I recommend Neptune’s Harvest or FoxFarm’s Liquid Trio fertilizer.
Optional: Use an organic compost to help feed the soil during the growing season. You can drop a handful in the planting hole, or add a couple inches to the top layer to act as a mulch for your Habanero plant. (Mulch helps keep in the moisture.)
Recommended Products:
Neptune’s Harvest
Organic Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer
FoxFarm Liquid Trio
Big Bloom, Grow Big, Tiger Bloom
Dr. Earth All-Purpose Compost
1.5 Cubic Feet
How Much Sun Do Habanero Plants Need?
For the best growth, give your Habanero plants at least 8 hours of direct sun a day. (You may be able to do 6 hours, but 8 hours is better.)
Sometimes direct sun can cause sunscald, which looks like beige lesions on the leaves. (I usually see this on newer plants that haven’t been outside too long.)
In that case, move your plants to a shadier spot (if possible), or use a light cover (such as a bed sheet) on those really hot days.
How Much Water Do Habanero Plants Need?
If you’re wondering how often to water Habanero plants, the answer is only when your plants dry out. Too much hydration can cause the peppers to taste bitter or even die out.
In general, watch for wilting leaves as a visual cue. Habanero plant watering should also happen if the top two inches of soil are dry or the pot feels lighter when you pick it up.
Lastly, early morning or in the evening is the best time of day to water pepper plants. We’ll cover the specifics of watering in different kinds of containers below.
Watering Peppers In Buckets & Grow Bags
Start by picking one day a week to water your containers. Water the top layer of soil until you see the water running out of the bottom of the pot to give it a deep watering.
(Important: Don’t spray water over parts of your plant, such as leaves and stems, when the sun is out. Water acts like a magnifying glass in the sunshine and the plant can burn.)
After watering, you might want to pick up your container to see what the weight feels like. Some people do this as a way to tell when their containers are dry again.
Watering Peppers In EarthBox
The EarthBox has an automatic watering feature that hydrates your plants from the bottom (known as “bottom watering plants“). Simply add water to the fill tube (pictured) until water comes out of the bottom of the container.
Feeding Your Habanero Peppers
Like all plants, potted Habanero peppers need three main macronutrients — Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) — to grow well. Chilies also benefit from secondary nutrients, such as calcium, to help avoid problems like blossom end rot (BER).
More on NPK:
An NPK ratio of 5-10-10 (a typical recommendation for pepper plants) means it has 5% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus, and 10% Potassium.
The 5-10-10 ratio is a good pepper fertilizer NPK, but look at the plant growth stage. Why? You can use a product that better supports your plant during this time: for example, fertilizer higher in potassium is best for helping plants fruit and flower.
Dosage:
Container plants use 1/2 strength fertilizer because they’re not in the ground (unless your particular fertilizer says different).
How often should you fertilize Habanero peppers?
Your fertilization schedule depends on the products you’re using. For instance, I fertilize Habanero plants on a bi-weekly schedule, and then supplement with secondary nutrients every other week.
More on pepper fertilizers:
Here’s all my notes on fertilizer for pepper plants, including what products I use, when I use them, what they do for plants, and more. You’ll develop your own preferences as you go, but this helps you get started!
Recommended Products:
Neptune’s Harvest
Organic Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer
FoxFarm Liquid Trio
Big Bloom, Grow Big, Tiger Bloom
How Long Do Habaneros Take To Grow?
Habanero pepper seeds sprout between 5 to 12 days (depending on pepper variety). In my experience, it generally takes 5 to 6 months to go from seed to a fruit-bearing Habanero plant.
First time growing peppers from seed?
Learn to grow peppers with my step-by-step, illustrated ebook. It’ll help you skip a lot of beginner mistakes so that you can enjoy harvesting your own chilies!
You can eat Habaneros in the green stage for a more vegetable-like spice or when orange for a flowery-citrus heat. As for when to pick Habanero peppers, you’ll likely be harvesting anywhere from 75 to 110 days after transplanting outside.
» Related: When to Pick Peppers (& How) + 2 Ways to Store Chillies
How Long Do Habanero Plants Live?
The Habanero is a perennial plant that can live for years. The key is to “winterize” or “overwinter” your pepper plant to give it the proper conditions for surviving the colder months.
Overwintering involves pruning chilies and carefully transferring them back indoors. Here’s my guide to overwintering pepper plants that steps you through the complete process.
Problems Growing Habanero Peppers
Pests and the wrong growing conditions can mess with the progress of your Habanero plants. Here are two of the most common problems (with solutions).
Hot Pepper Plant Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and more feed on pepper plants. These links help you prevent problems and deal with them when they happen.
Need help keeping your pepper plants healthy?
Learn to treat pests, vitamin deficiencies and other common pepper plant problems with this illustrated ebook. It’ll help you take action before things get out of hand!
Habanero Plant Growing Slow
If your Habanero pepper plants seem to come to a halt during the growing season, there are some common reasons why.
Pepper plant problems:
- Too much water (inappropriate watering)
- Too cold or too hot outside (mine do best in 65F – 85F temps)
- Not enough nutrition (see this post for help)
- pH level of your soil may be inadequate (Peppers like 6.0 to 6.8. Vegetable potting soils are generally adjusted to be neutral and meet this rating.)
- Peppers are root bound (In other words, the container is too small, which causes the roots to circle around and eventually choke itself off.)
» Related: Stunted Pepper Plants? The Most Common Reasons, According to Chile Growers
Habanero Plant FAQs
Wrapping Up
I hope this helps you grow the Habanero pepper plant — and all kinds of spicy chillies — in any space! These recommendations come from my years of successfully growing hot peppers in containers, which is why I’m happy to share them with you!
How to Grow Habanero Plants in Pots
Small outdoor space? Here's how to grow habanero plants in pots so you can grow these peppers even if you don't have a yard.
Materials
Habanero Plants
- One plant per bucket or grow bag
Potting Soil
- ~ 0.77 cubic feet for 5-Gallon bucket
- ~ 0.87 cubic feet for 7-Gallon grow bag
Fertilizer
- Fish and seaweed (or fertilizer for vegetables)
Optional
Tools
Instructions
- Fill your container with potting soil leaving the top 2 inches empty. Lightly water as you go so that if you make a ball with the mix, it holds its shape.
- Add fertilizer by following the instructions on the bottle for feeding container plants.
- Make a hole in the center of the container so that it's deep enough to accommodate your habanero plant up to its lowest set of leaves. (Optional: Drop a handful of compost in this hole.)
- Add your habanero plant to the hole and bury it up to its lowest set of leaves. Level the soil around your plant. (Optional: Add a couple inches of compost to the top layer of soil to act as a mulch.)
- Water the root zone lightly to help your plant settle in it's new home.
- Position your pot in an area that gets at least 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- Continue watering your pepper plant when it gets dry. Start by picking one day a week, and then water the top layer of soil until the water runs out of the bottom of the container.
- Continue to feed your habanero plant by following the instructions on your fertilizer bottle.
Notes
- PLANTS: If you want to purchase habanero seedlings, the Etsy global online marketplace is a good option for finding all kinds of habanero varieties.
- SUN: If your plant gets sunscald (looks like pale lesions on the leaves), move it to a shadier location. Or, use a light cover (like a bedsheet) to protect it on those really hot days.
- WATER: Pepper leaves wilt when the plant is dry. Another way to tell is by using the "weight test." Do this by picking up your container after a fresh watering to get a feel for its weight.
- FERTILIZER: Here's a chile fertilization post you can reference for continued pepper plant care.
Recommended Products
Check out these related products by Grow Hot Peppers.
-
Smart Pots 5-Gallon Smart Pot Soft-Sided Container, Black with Cut handles -
Habanero Pepper Habanero Pepper Plants Capsicum Chinense | Etsy
-
FoxFarm Qt FX14053 Ocean Forest Soil Bag, 12 Quart, Pack of 1, Brown
-
Neptune's Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer 2-3-1, 18 Ounce
-
Dr. Earth 803 1-1/2 Cubic Feet All Purpose Compost, Packaging may Vary
-
Edward Tools Bend-Proof Garden Trowel - Heavy Duty Polished Stainless Steel - Rust Resistant Oversized Garden Hand Shovel for Quicker Work - Digs Through Rocky / Heavy soils - Comfort Grip (1)
Related Posts:
- 24 Recipes Using Habanero Peppers That Really Bring the Heat
- Growing Jalapenos 101: How to Grow Jalapenos from Seeds to Potted Plants
- Pequin Pepper (Chile Piquin): A Tiny Red Pepper That’s Big on Heat
- Chile Puya 101: About This Spicy Delicious Mexican Pepper (+ How to Grow Them!)
- Growing Peppers from Seed to Harvest – The Ultimate Guide
This was really helpful. I grew some great peppers.
Hi am new at planting haberos but I don’t got no flowers or anything and its been a month since I planted it
Hi Tyler,
Sometimes it takes a couple of months to get the flowers. Also, if it’s extremely hot (90 F or more) or too cold flowers won’t grow. Just continue to care for your plant and trim back any dead leaves so that the plant’s energy goes into making peppers.
Hope this helps!
I love these peppers!
I have about 6 Habanero pepper Plants growing this year and the peppers are coming in fantastic. They are actually getting pretty big and cannot wait for them to fully mature so My Wife can make me some Homemade Habanero Salsa. I love these peppers!
Hey all! I got 4 plants growing and they are pretty big! About a foot tall and a foot or two wide. Tons of peppers on each one. Some are finally turning orange. Gonna make hot sause and salsa. Then dry some and make some spices. I like it hot!!
It work’s Got 53 tree’s!!!
My plant is about a foot tall and has only one small pepper, lots of leaves and flowers, can any one tell me why there a not more peppers growing?
Hi Sam, are you using any fertilizer? If so, I would check the NPK rating because too much nitrogen is known to produce mostly leaves without the fruit.
My plant is about 18ins tall & covered in buds which then produce flowers that then just drop off. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong ?
Thx
L
Hi Louise, several factors can cause flower drop in pepper plants. Really hot or really cold temperatures (below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 80 degrees Fahrenheit or more) can make buds drop. Excessive nitrogen in your fertilizer can also do this because the nitrogen can make the chile plant put all its energy into leafy growth rather than buds or chili pods. Lack of fertilization from bees is another possibility. With my plants, the first flower buds of the growing season usually fall off (don’t know why), but then future flowers stick around and produce lots of chillies.
Hope this helps!
Ive had tons of buds but not a single pepper. The plant is about 12-13 inches and around 3 months old, looks healthy. It has been over 100° a few times. Pollination was my first thought, do I need a second plant ?
Hi,
Yes, sounds like pollination is an issue. And no, you don’t need a second plant. What you might want to do is take a paintbrush, or even use using the tip of your finger, and brush the inside of each flower. You can also gently shake the plant each day to help speed things up.
Hello,
I planted my Habanero plant about 6 weeks ago. I used a 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled in it and Miracle Grow Garden soil. The plant gets afternoon sun for about 6 hours. I usually water every night unless it rains. The temp here In Kentucky has been 80-90 degrees. The plant is the exact same size as when I bought it. It looks healthy but will not grow at all. It is about 6 inches tall. What could be wrong?????
Hi Brandon,
I don’t think there’s anything wrong. In my experience, Chinense varieties like the Habanero often take more time to grow then other peppers. Keep taking care of your plant and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Greetings all,
When attempting to dry my habanaros, they eventually turn black and exude a great deal of moisture. Can they be dried ? If not, how to store.
Thanks heaps,
Rodney
Hi Rodney, yep, they can be dried. You have the option to string them up on a clothesline and put them in a cool, dry area like an attic, use a food dehydrator or put them on a metal rack and place them outside and in the sun on a dry day. I’ve even heard of people using their home ovens, but I haven’t personally tried that so I don’t know how well that works.
As for storage, here’s a comment I wrote on the Jalapeno Pepper Basics: Growing Jalapenos 101 page, which works for habs too:
Good luck!
Hi Guys – I’ve got a very decent looking plant that is covered in peppers (dozens and dozens of them) which are orange already (still lots of green ones too). It’s the end of June and the pepers themselves are still very small. Is it a case of waiting for them get bigger? I ask because the plant had big orange peppers when I bought it last year so I’m wondering if I’ve done something that means the peppers will stay very small (if that’s possible).
Many thanks for any tips.
Hi Oliver, thanks for your question. I suggest picking off all of your orange peppers and possibly some of your green ones too since it’s still early in the growing season. A chile plant only has so much energy to produce and grow fruit to full size, so possibly the large amount of peppers on the plant is keeping the chile size small. Congratulations on your plant producing so many peppers though… you’re definitely doing something right!
Hope this helps.
Buenos Dias… I am an American living in Ensenada, B.C., Mexico trying to grow habaneros. For years, I have had little flies buzzing around the plants and laying their small eggs underneath the leaves. Right now the plants are inside, in the kitchen garden window. They are about 2 inches tall and I am worried that they will end up like all of the past years. Ladden with the eggs and slowly but surely wither. I’ve only produced 3, yes three, peppers in the last ten years. How can I get rid of the flies? Please help me… Thank You
Hi Brent, I feel your pain… I’m dealing with little flying bugs myself! I recommend using Neem oil–a natural pesticide–to maintain a bug-free environment. A typical mixture is 1tbsp neem to a gallon of water. Pour the mixture in a sprayer and coat the tops and undersides of the leaves. I hope this helps and I wish you great harvest!
Spray them wit chillli water just boil chillies in water then spray plant when cool kills the infection but doesnt bar your plant
Hi – many thanks for the tip. I will do as recommended ASAP. Your remark got me wondering, though, so I counted the peppers (how sad is that!). 86 actual peppers with probably half as many flowers in bloom too (approximately :-).
Cheers!
Cooked with habaneros and can’t seem to get it off of my fingers. Ideas?
Hi Mike, try washing your hands in an oil-cutting dish detergent and then soak your hands in a bowl of fatty milk or yogurt. The dairy has an enzyme that can help break down the capsaicin. Leave your hands in the bowl for about 15 minutes, or until the burn stops, and then wash your hands again.
Hope this helps!
Hi,
I have a plant that growing in a pot. It has about 10-15 habaneros but they are all green. The size is not small (about right) but I live in the Northeast and with the not-too-hot-weather … I am not sure when my habaneros will turn orange. What should I do? Should I pick it now? Or wait until it turn color? Also is my pot too small? Do I need to switch to a bigger pot to have more habaneros?
Thanks for the help!
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for your questions. As long as the weather doesn’t dip below 50 F your habaneros should be fine. Don’t pick the chillies until they turn orange. As for your pot, what size are you using? Generally, mature habanero plants grow well in 5-gallon containers.
Hope this helps!
@ Mike, I had the same problem when I first grew Habanero’s. The best way is to wear vinyl or latex gloves when preparing the hotter varieties of pepper
I gave these peppers a try in my garden this year with no luck at all. I planted four plants and two died within a week. The other two plants finally started blooming after about 4 weeks, but produced only one pepper per plant. I was told to pick those peppers and then the plants would bloom like crazy. Well, they did exactly that and I had dozens of tiny peppers on my plants. One week later and all of those little peppers were dried up and dead. 🙁 I’m guessing it’s a soil issue in my garden. Everything I plant grows great except pepper plants. My green bell peppers don’t do all to great either.
Hi James,
I’m sorry to hear about your habanero plants! Yes, the soil can definitely be a factor. Peppers prefer a warm, well-drained soil with a pH between 6 to 6.8. You can buy a soil test kit, or contact your local cooperative extension office for help with this. Also, you said you planted four plants; were these plants ones you raised from seed? If so, they would need a hardening-off process before planting in the garden so as to not go into shock.
Hope this helps.
Is it normal for the flowers to fall off before producing peppers? Currently have two plants, first time grower, and the bigger one has dropped a couple of the flowers that it had. Still has a lot of flowers and a lot more coming.
Thanks!
Hi Jerralynn,
Yes, it’s very common for flower drop off, especially if your having lots of hot weather. This isn’t something to worry about and the future buds should start producing chillies.
Good luck!
Hey, Im growing Big Peppers as big as a Ok in your Hand, But They are Green and There Pointy, I Had the Plant for three years now and never had the prob, I grow 40 peppers per every 5 months, aprox, and Another Q. How Many gallons Do i need to water it, i water it every week?
Hi James,
Congrats on such a healthy pepper plant. It’s hard to say how many gallons of water you need. It totally depends on the size of container you are using and what the weather is like in your area. From what you wrote, it sounds like you’re hydrating your chillies properly. I have a lot of pepper plants in 5-gallon containers and I water them every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the heat.
Hi pepper lovers…
I love Habaneros myself and I decided to plant seeds from one of the best tasting Habanero peppers I bought at the store. The seeds sprouted within a couple of weeks. I was so happy to see that 10 of the 12 seeds I plantes sprouted just fine and I kept them indoors.
It has been 6 months since, and now I’m down to 2 little plants. I decided to place the pots outside 10 days ago because these are not growing. It seems like the plants love being outdoors, I see they have grown some.
My question; how long does it usually take from the moment a seed sprouts for it to bear fruit? I know I have to wait to see the little white flowers forming but how long do I have to wait before I see the little white flowers?
Look forward to your reply-
Happy Salsa Creations to you,
Leah
Hi Leah, habaneros typically take 75 days to produce mature fruit. Each pepper variety is different, but the Capsicum chinense variety, which includes some of the hottest peppers like Bhut Jolokia, is known for taking a longer time to produce.
For those that want to dry peppers… The easiest way and it works (I’ve tried it many times) Wash the peppers thoroughly and dry them with a cloth or paper towel till there is no moisture. Set several layers of paper towels (around 4-5) in front of a window that gets plenty of sun and within a few weeks you will see the great results. Of course, you may also hang them on a string but I find the paper towel method much simpler.
Follow up on drying peppers- Make sure to spread the peppers you want to dry over the 4-5 layers of paper towels. Very important; don’t over-lap the peppers. Otherwise, these will grow mold-
I planted habanero seeds in April and the plants grew throughout the summer. I live in Texas and the summer temp was often between 95-100 degrees. When they finally produced fruit in August they were 1-inch or smaller, green, smooth, very hard, round balls. They do not increase in size. I had another plant with more shade time and it also has produced small round fruit. I used seeds from habaneros purchased at my local grocery store. My jalapenos also started with short, squiggly, round fruit but, since the temp dropped to below 85 degrees the fruit is now normal shaped. What’s the problem with my habaneros? Are they not finished growing or is there something wrong with them?
Hi Sofia, it sounds like the temperature was too high for your habaneros. Most peppers have a hard time thriving in temps above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely give them some shade when it gets that hot. Try hanging a shade cloth during the hottest hours (for example, noon to 5pm) so that your chillies get the 8 to 10 hours of sunlight they need, but don’t fry in the heat. Hope this helps!
Hey guys, I make pepernochino with my fresh habaneros. You gotta try it! Chop up 10-12 garlics & simmer them in EVOO. Add finely chopped parsley stalks, habaneros and salt. While thats simmering cook up some spagetti with a teaspoon of salt for 5mins 30 seconds. Add the spag to the garlic/chilli and mix in well, then add some of the salty water you cooked the spag in. Throw in the parsely leaves and quickly stir. Eat then relax on your couch with a big smile. It’ll take you a few trys to get the salt level perfected but man its worth it.
When do I plant Habaneros? Id like to start all my fruits/vegs in starter kits in the house. I live in Iowa, so I wont be able to place in the ground until say … may? Thanks! I green Green Bell Peppers last year & was very excited I had dozens but not very large in size. Im looking to do grow everything for home made salsa this year?! 🙂 Any help would be grealy appreciated. I am a working mom with 3 boys ages of 4,3, & 5 months. I dont really have time to nurse plants a whole lot. Thanks! Lac
We started a plant from seeds that a friend gave us her tree is awesome. But ours is still small I wanted to know more or less when do they start producing the peppers? ours is in a container because we live in an apartment does that make a difference if there in a conatiner vs in the ground?
I have couple of Habanero plants growing in my yard. The problem I have is that some thing keeps eating the leaves, Im not sure if its snail or anything else. I have tried several sprays and products nothing seems to be solving the problem. Anyone has been going through this situation? If so what did you use to kill it?
I found grasshoppers eating my plants leaves. We like organic, so no chemicals are used. Just caught them and killed them.
I got carried away and planted over a 100 habanero plants in my green house ,when is a good time to transplant it is now close to the end of April. Also i have seeds when do you plant them ,I live in eastern Ontario
Am growing 2 pepper pots in 12′ by 8′ pots.From seeds taken from one red pepper and one orange one- both bought at a grocery store. How can I determine which is a Habanero, and which is a Scotch Bonnet”? In understand each type could be either color. Thank You!
I’m not an expert at this, just trying to grow couple of habaneros for the first time in several
years. bought local plans in the past but this time started from seeds and trying to learn
from websites like this. I just sprayed with the epsom sol. like Joe recommends but also
added a few drops of off-brand hot sauce. Another source says THAT will help keep bugs away,
but I don’t know yet…don’t see how it could hurt.
why are their black seeds in some habanero ? this seems to happen only to the red ones,
if picked green will they ripen ?
I’m growing a habanero for the first time this year and its just starting to flower now! I’m really excited waiting to get my first taste! Its great to know the plant can live for several years, I thought it was just an annual. So hopefully I will have my little hab for a long time to come – unless I kill it out of frustration after the first taste!!
I am considering stringing my peppers to dry. Do you have an idea if stringing them to dry in the sun is ok?
Hi Katherine,
You can definitely dry peppers in the sun as long as they stay dry. I haven’t used this technique myself, but my understanding is that it should take 3 to 4 weeks.
It is now November and I reside in California…my habaneros are just turning orange now. It is going to get into the 40’s this week,..do you think my peppers will be okay???? This is my first time growing them and I am elated!!! So beautiful. I pray the rest of the peppers turn orange soon, as not to die. Hope you can help, even thought I see no one has written since last year.
Hi Jay, personally, I would pick those peppers before that cold weather hits. I’ve lost beautiful plants — particularly habaneros — to those cold temps and it’s always heartbreaking. The good news is that if you pick those chiles and leave then on the counter for about a week, they will turn orange.
If you don’t want to pick them, put those plants in garage or some other enclosed shelter, or place frost blankets on top at night.
Hope this helps and good luck!
yes. Mine in Alabama produce even after our first freeze, which when that weather comes down here has wide intervals appearing again. Your Habs will be fine
this is my first attempt at growing habanero peppers the plant is starting to produce peppers but the leaves are curling up, the leaves do not feel dry like not enough water they have been fertilized with 8-4-4 fertilizer could this be from to much sun? or maybe to much water? it has been over 90 for over a week any help would be great thanks!!
Hi Steve,
Wrinkly leaves could be too much sun, but it might also be that the plant needs calcium. Try applying a calcium source like CalMag or bonemeal and see how your plant does.
when is a habanero hotter, when it is green or orange when mature?
Hi Steve,
In my experience, the orange ones are hotter but there are always exceptions.
right before it begins to show color. Once color is shown means it has ripened and ripening converts the capsaicin into sugars to make them sweeter.
I live in Florida and my Habs produced two rounds of good peppers. This last one, however, all the peppers are about the size of a penny or smaller. What causes this?
This is going to be my first time growing habaneros. Wish me luck
Good luck Carlos! Please let us know how you do.
I have 16 plants that were started last April, these have the oddest shape peppers from what I have ever seen. Others are long and fat, almost egg-shaped. Has anybody else seen something similar?
what is safe to get rid of whiteflies on habenero plants with peppers? I know the insecticide soap is good for the larve but what will safely kill the adults? I see pepper spray for other plants so if I make a spray with ground habeneros to spray the plants, will this get rid of the whiteflies and not hurt the plant?
I like using Neem oil for white flies as well as aphids. Its organic and can be used up to harvest.
I’m growing a habanero plant indoors, and the plant is growing very well with dozens of flowers on it, but it won’t fruit. Could you please give me advice on how to produce peppers from the flowers?
Often times while indoors you have no bees or other good insects to pollunate the flowers. Try gently tapping the flowers with your thumb from flower to flower to pollunate them.
*Pollinate*
The weather is getting cold, my habaneros are not yet ready, what can I do so I don’t loose them, can I pick them and bring them inside to finish or what?
I’m from the Philippines I’m planning to grow habaneros indoor. Can you give me some tips, this is my first time
Start the seedlings in a tray (can,buy at dollar stores or walmart usually. Get a higher ph level soil to start them in. Keep them good and wet until they germinate. Keep them indoors if it gets cooler at night then once the plants have 6 leaves, you can transfer them outside. Also, don’t water too much as it will kill them. In fact, the less water, the better and hotter. 🙂
just researching thanks for the article!!!
Glad you found it and hope it helps!
it did!!!!!!!!
Can you guys describe the habanero???