To grow ghost peppers, the soil must be between 75°F and 90°F for the seeds to germinate properly. If your garden does not possess this warmth, you can use an artificial heater at the bottom of the pot (propagation mat). The most ideal temperature for growing ghost peppers is 85°F. Use sterilized soil to steer clear of contamination and remember to always keep it moist—but not too wet to destroy the embryo in the seed. It takes more than 30 days for a ghost pepper plant to germinate, and a span of 160 days before harvest period. Before taking the plant outside, the seedlings should be transplanted 2-3 times. The pepper seeds should be covered in soil by a quarter of an inch and the ghost pepper plants should be at least 36 inches apart from each other. Remember to only take the plant out when the weather is unwavering and if the soil is warm.
Ghost pepper, originally known as Bhut Jolokia, is one of the hottest peppers ever to hit the chili world. Once hailed as the hottest chili by the Guinness Book, ghost pepper is a force to be reckoned with in terms of stinging spice enthusiasts and daredevil newbies alike, and so it’s no wonder why more people are considering growing them in their own backyard.
New Mexico State University Chili Pepper Institute and numerous seasoned growers claim that ghost pepper is far too delicate to grow, and any newbie, daring enough to cultivate it, might be in for a huge disappointment. Working the seeds alone is a tedious process that only growers endowed with patience may be able to withstand the long haul. Imagine 36 days of constant watch and consistently keeping the soil, where the seeds are immersed, moist in a temperature ranging between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and only then those precious seeds will start to germinate. Once the seeds are ready for planting, have them soaked in water for 24 hours first, or in bleach solution for 20 minutes if you have grown impatient after the 36-day-waiting-to-germinate period. With bleach solution, be reminded to mix three parts bleach to two parts water. Make sure the bleach has no fragrance or sodium hydroxide added to it.
Plant your ghost pepper seeds into three or four inch pots and 24 to 36 inches apart as soon as everything is set. Give them enough exposure outdoors to harden them off. Now, If you were to grown them in a cold climate, give them a head start indoors under fluorescent lights and in a seed-starting mat for bottom heat. Once they’ve sprouted, embed them two to three inches below the light bulbs. Move them outdoors when both soil temperatures and air temperatures are consistently warm.
Ghost peppers, from the day of germination, take more than five months to harvest. Anything less than the ideal amount sunlight and level of humidity, which are usually high, will abate the amount of heat in the peppers. Overshooting fertilization and a tinge of environmental stress may cause dropping of their flowers. Thus, excellent care and constant watch must be practiced should you dare growing your own ghost peppers.
