Glenn Andrews - Growing & Using Hot Peppers

by Glenn Andrews

What do Africa, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Szechuan and Hunan sections of China, and certain parts of the United States have in common?

Hot peppers!

What are habaero chiles? If you dont know, youd better not bite into one of these or their cousins, the Scotch bonnets! Theyre as hot as peppers come.

The terms hot pepper and chile are often used interchangeably and thats what Ill do here. They describe members of the Capsicum genus but shouldnt be confused with their cousins, the sweet peppers! Chiles contain capsaicin, a chemical compound that gives them their heat and their worldwide appeal. In general, the smaller a pepper, the hotter it is. There are exceptions to this rule, though, so dont count on it.

Heres a list of some of the most common hot peppers, ranging roughly from mild to scorching:

Anaheim(Capsicum annuum var. annuum Anaheim). Sometimes known as the New Mexico chile or the Californian chile, this is the one of the mildest in the chile family its not terribly hot and has a somewhat sweet flavor, similar to a bell pepper. The Anaheim matures from bright green to red, and usually grows to about 7 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Poblano(Capsicum annuum Poblano). This dark green or red chile is also relatively mild, although a bit hotter than the Anaheim. It has a triangular shape and ranges from 2 to 6 inches long. When the poblano is dried, it becomes known as the ancho.

Jalapeo(Capsicum annuum var. annuum Jalapeo). The jalapeo is probably the best known of all hot peppers, and its available almost everywhere. Some are a lot hotter than others you cant tell by looking. Jalapeos are thick-fleshed and grow to about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Green jalapeos will ripen to shades of yellow or red. When a jalapeo is smoked, it becomes a chipotle, which many people think the tastiest of all chiles. (To substitute for a chipotle in a recipe, use a jalapeo and a few drops of liquid smoke.)

Serrano(Capsicum annuum var. annuum Serrano). Serranos are short (about 2 inches long), fairly thin, smooth-skinned, and quite hot. Theyre usually used green, although theyre sometimes available in red.

Tabasco(Capsicum frutescens). Tabascos are shorter, thinner, and hotter than serranos. They ripen from yellow to red and grow to about 1 inch in length.

Bird or Thai pepper(Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum). These peppers are tiny (about 1 inch in length) and very hot. They ripen from green to red and have an elongated, pointed shape. Theyre often used in Caribbean, West Indian, and Asian cuisine.

Habaero(Capsicum chinense). Ultra-hot! These small peppers (about 2 inches in length) are shaped like Chinese lanterns. Theyre available in light green, orange, red, or deep purple. True, experienced chile fanciers talk about the fruity flavor others just scream.

Habaero pepper

Chile plants enjoy warm temperatures, long growing seasons, and well-drained soil with a pH close to 7, or neutral. Depending on your growing season, they may be grown as either annuals or short-lived perennials. They also grow quite well indoors, provided they have ample light and warmth. Depending on the variety, you should begin to see fruit about 16 to 20 weeks after planting.

Starting from seed. Since hot peppers appreciate a long growing season, its a good idea to start the seeds indoors and then transplant them into the garden when it warms up. Begin the process about 8 to 10 weeks before you anticipate the last spring frost. Young seedlings will grow best in a light, sandy growing medium; an ideal mix for starting seeds is three parts vermiculite, two parts potting soil, and one part sand.

The seeds will germinate faster if they stay warm keep your seed flats or tray in a warm place, somewhere around 75F. Grow the young seedlings in full sun, and keep the soil moist, but not wet standing water in the bottom of the seed containers will encourage stem rot.

Transplanting. Chiles grow best when the days range from 60 to 80F and the nights dont fall below 55F, and, ideally, should not be transplanted outside until the soil reaches 65F four inches below the surface. In colder climates, wait until the plants begin to blossom before transplanting. Youll want to begin the transplanting process by hardening the plants off. Leave them in their containers outside for a few hours each day. Continue this period of hardening off for about two weeks, gradually increasing their outdoor time until theyre hardy enough to survive outside.

When the temperatures are amenable and youre ready to transplant your seedlings to your outdoor garden, choose a spot that will receive full sun and that has good drainage. Place the plants 15 to 20 inches apart. Hot peppers dont require much fertilizer too much of it will give you lush plants, but actually inhibit the growth of any peppers. After transplanting, fertilize the plants monthly with a mixture high in nitrogen; once the plants have bloomed, switch to one higher in potassium and phosphorus.

Transplant seedlings when the soil temperature reaches 65F.

Watering. Most problems encountered in the cultivation of hot peppers are related to watering. Chiles develop best in moist but not wet soil, which can be difficult to maintain. Frequent watering (or a good irrigation system) and excellent drainage is a must for any hot pepper gardener. Blossom end rot the cause of dried brown spots appearing on the peppers near the apex, or blossom end is a sign of underwatering. Various types of root rot characterized by wilting plants that do not recover when watered, or plants that alternate between wilting and recovery until their leaves fall off, or roots that are brown instead of a healthy white are signs of overwatering.

Container gardening. Its also possible to grow hot peppers in containers. Fourteen-inch pots work well, though some have reported success using window boxes. However, chile plants will not thrive without excellent drainage. Whatever type of container you decide to use must have drainage holes at its bottom. You should also line the bottom of your container with a layer of pebbles or small rocks. Use a standard potting soil and aerate the soil from time to time with a skewer.

Indoor gardening. With proper loving care and attention, chiles can also be grown successfully indoors. However, its essential to provide them with enough light. A fluorescent grow-light can be tremendously useful if you dont have a greenhouse or area with exposure to full sun, especially during the winter months when sunshine is scarce. If youre moving in container-grown plants from outdoors, cut them back by about one-third. Dont be discouraged if most of the leaves fall off the plants will revive in the spring when you set them back out in full sun.

Chile plants grown indoors are particularly susceptible to whitefly, aphids, and spider mites. Check beneath the leaves regularly for signs of infestation.