Hot Pepper Seeds,
West Indies Red Habanero

Start West Indies Red Habanero seeds indoors 8-12 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Transplant seedlings outdoors only when temperatures consistently remain above 65 F. If you’re not sure how to find your first and last frost dates, consult our blog post 'Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources.'

To sow seeds, plant them about 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting trays or small pots indoors, using a well-draining seed-starting mix. Habanero seeds germinate best when the soil temperature is between 80-85 F; a heating mat can be useful to maintain this warmth. Provide seedlings with plenty of light, either from a sunny window or grow lights. When transplanting, space plants 14-18 inches apart in the garden or grow individually in containers.

Water the plants consistently, keeping the soil evenly moist but avoiding waterlogging, as peppers are sensitive to overly wet conditions. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer at planting and switch to a low-nitrogen fertilizer during flowering to encourage fruit production. While generally compact, these plants may need light staking as they begin to bear heavy fruit.

• Peppers are mainly self-pollinating, but bees occasionally work pepper flowers as well.
• To be absolutely sure that you will not have any crossing, different varieties should be isolated by at least 500 feet.
• To save seed, allow the fruit to mature fully; then simply remove seeds.
• It is a good idea to wear gloves when working with very hot peppers, and to consider wearing a mask when working with a large quantity of dried seeds.
• Let seeds dry for a week before storing them in a jar.
• Pepper seeds will remain viable for up to 5 years.