The Habanero Plant

Featuring Mature Habanero Pepper (in Orange);
Unripened Green Habanero Peppers in Background

Earlier this year (April 26, 2007), I saved some seeds from a habanero pepper that I was using to make a spicy vinegar, and planted them in a container. I watered the soil thoroughly, and covered the container with a plastic ziploc bag to help the soil retain its moisture and create a greenhouse effect. These plants grew without any fuss at all. About seven months later, I have five healthy plants that have several little peppers that are finally maturing.

This is a great plant to have in your garden even if you do not like spicy foods. The habanero plant is aesthetically pleasing all year round. In summer the plants will have pretty white blooms with dark green centers. And in the fall, you will get additional color with these pretty 1" to 1.5" orange peppers. You can just give away the ripe peppers to a friend who will appreciate the spicy fruits or blend the fruits with water to make an organic insecticide.

Habaneros are suitable for container-gardening. My plants are only a foot tall, but the average height is 2-feet tall and the average width is 18-inches. You do not have to water the plant very often. In fact, over-watering the plant may ruin the taste of the fruit. This plant likes full sun, but if you are growing your plant from seed place the young plants in indirect sunlight to avoid frying the plant. I fertilized my plants as soon as they began to bear fruit. I used a low fertilizing solution about once a month.

Caution: These peppers are EXTREMELY HOT. I wouldn't recommend growing them if small children will have access to these plants. I also do not recommend eating the fruit alone or handling the fruit with bare hands. The inside flesh of the pepper is scorching hot, and will remain on the skin for a very long time. It's heat score is rated over 300,000 Scoville Units (COMPARE TO: The Jalapeno Pepper, which is rated around 3,000 Scoville Units).

Dixie Cup Seedling Starter

Seedlings (from left to right): Red Bell Peppers, Sweet Basil, Plum Tomato, Black-Eyed Susan

This is an inexpensive and convenient way to start your seedlings indoors.
Materials:

• Dixie Cups
• Seeds
• Potting Soil
• Pencil or Pen
• Water
• Empty Water Bottle
  

Instructions:

1. Fill a Dixie Cup at least halfway full. Leave at least 1/2″ space from soil line to the top of the cup.
2. Press your pinky finger (or use the end of a pencil) to make an impression in the center of the soil. The depth of the impression will depend on the seed sowing instructions, but is usually between 1/8″ and 1/2″ deep.
3. Place 1 or 2 seeds in the impression, and then lightly cover the seeds with soil.
4. Gently pour water onto the soil.
   
   
   
   • Caution: Do not over-water the soil. You want moist soil, not soggy soil.
5. Write down what you are growing on the cup to keep track of what you are planting.
6. Place the cup on a sunny windowsill.
7. Check the plants daily and keep the soil moist. The trick to getting seeds to germinate is to keep the soil moist and warm.
   
   
   
   • Tip #1 (Transporting Seedlings): You can place Dixie Cup seedlings on a tray or in a shallow box (e.g., shoe box) so that you can move several seedlings around at once. If you keep them in a box, make sure there is proper air circulation to prevent the growth of fungus.
   • Tip #2 (Watering Seedlings): When seedlings begin to sprout do not pour water directly on the tender seedling shoots. Spoon water directly on the soil around the seedling shoots.
   • Tip #3 (Retaining Soil Moisture): You can rest a piece of plastic wrap or other transparent material over the cups to help the soil retain moisture. If the plant shoots above the cup line, place clear plastic bags (like Ziplock bags) over a group of seedlings to create a mini-greenhouse tent.
   • UPDATE: It is a lot easier and more economical in the long run to use re-useable seedling starters.  The great thing about these miniature plastic pots is that they help keep the soil from drying out and they can be used over and over again.   
8. Transplant seedlings when they are 3″ to 4″ tall.
   
   
   • Fill 4″ or 6″ pot with potting soil leaving about 2″ or 3″ of space. Place Dixie Cup in the center of the pot and continue to fill pot with soil. You want to leave about a 1/2″ of space between soil line and top of gardening pot. Water plant thoroughly.
   • Tip #4 (Removing Seedlings from Cup): Position the cup so that the seedlings point to the ground at about a 45-degree angle. Then roll the bottom half of the cup in your hand to loosen up the soil and slightly tap or shake until the seedling falls in to your hand. Place in the new pot.