What's the hottest pepper that I can grow?

Answer 1

hobenero, or scotch bonnet

Answer 2

[Capsicum annum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. Pubescens, C. frutescens

Common Name(s): Hot Pepper, Chili (Chile, Chilli)
Zone: Usually grown as annuals. Hardy in tropical zones (11 and above)

Size: Varies with variety and climate. Most are about 1' W x 2-3' H. Some can grow as tall as 5'.
Exposure: Full Sun
Days to Harvest: Varies with variety. Most take at least 55 - 80 days from transplant.




Description: Peppers are in the Solanaceae family, with tomatoes, eggplants and potatoes. The term ‘hot pepper’ is not a botanical classification. They are often grouped by their fruit shape and/or heat intensity. The most commonly grown variety is C. annum, which includes cayenne, paprika and jalapenos, as well as sweet peppers. The hottest are in C. chinense, which includes Habanero and Thai Chilies.
Harvesting: You can keep your plants producing by harvesting regularly, once they reach an eatable size. Many gardeners like to allow their peppers to fully ripen and change color, but ripe fruits tend to lose some of their heat. Cut the fruits from the plant, don’t pull. Hot peppers are best used within in days of harvest. They can also be canned or frozen.
Suggested Varieties: ‘Czechoslovakian Black’ - The plant is very ornamental and the tiny fruits pack a punch. Good for drying.
‘Habanero’ - Still the test for a hot pepper lover. There are now several varieties of Habeneros available.
’Cherry Red’ - Small, round cherry bombs are thick skinned and nice for stuffing.
‘Hot Lemon’ - Lemon in color only, these have a nice balance of heat and flavor
’Robustini’ - Extremely prolific producers
Cultural Notes: Peppers need warmth (at least 70 degrees F.), to grow and set flowers. However at extreme temperatures, 90 degrees F. and over and under 60 degrees F., they will drop their blossoms until conditions are more favorable. They can handle most soils and a neutral pH. A sprinkling of Epson salts at planting seems to help fruit set, as does crowding the plants in their bed.

Maintenance: Very few pests attack peppers. Aphids can be a problem. You may notice distorted leaves when aphids are present. There are some hardy caterpillars who will feast on the fruits

Answer 3

In the National Herb Garden chile pepper collection, we grow peppers from five species groups: Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum pubescens. Of these types, the C. chinense cultivars, such as 'Habanero', are generally the hottest with Scotch Bonnet, Thai, and Cayenne cultivars falling in behind.
Heat intensity of peppers is most commonly measured in Scoville Units, with Sweet Bell Peppers measuring in at zero Scoville Units. For comparison, Habanero peppers range from 100,000 - 300,000+ Scoville Units, while pure capsaicin--the chemical that causes the burning sensation--registers at a whopping 15,000,000 - 16,000,000 Scoville Units!
If you are looking to grow really hot peppers, try to pick those cultivars which register higher on the Scoville scale. Just remember that capsaicin does not dissolve in water, so make sure to keep milk or yogurt nearby to help quench the burn!

Answer 4

The Dorset Naga is the hottest pepper you can grow. Recently, the Dorset Naga gave a reading of nearly 900,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) beating the record of ed Savina habañero with a rating of 570,000.

Answer 5

Last summer we had to cut down our Habernero bushes because they were planted too close to the house. The house paint was blistering and got charred in one place.

The next hottest were the Chile tipines. I put my hand on the house and found it to be warm so no danger.

This year we transplanted the Haberneros from out near the back steel fence to coldest side of the house the day after Thanksgiving. This is 6 Jan. and the house furnace has not come on yet this winter.

Answer 6

The hottest pepper that you can grow is scotchbonnet.

Answer 7

Thai chili peppers are very hot and flavorful. the trick when growing hot peppers is to make sure they do not get too much water. this will increase their potency

Answer 8

Habanero should do the trick for you. Although it's not technically the hottest, it is extremely hot and widely available.

Polly

Answer 9

Habanero! Whoooeeee ouch!
they are reallly not "peppers" but chiles. We just call everything pepper here in the US.

Answer 10

A Habernero a mutated one would be awesome, so grow it near a nuclear power plant.

Answer 11

Thai Chilli