Bhut Jolokia - Keys to Success

whistler · December 13, 2010

I'm going to grow some of these bad boys this year from seed purchased from The Chile Pepper Institute. Would appreciate any growing tips and wisdom from TVille folks who have successfully germinated the seeds and grown out the plants.

According to The Chile Pepper Institute, the seeds take up to 36 days to germinate (and require soil temps between 80 - 90 degrees for proper germination), and have a growing period of up to 160 days before harvest!

Thanks for your help!

roper2008 · December 13, 2010

I started 10 seeds last year in December. 6 germinated. I used a
heating pad (Jiffy). You want to start them early!

roper2008 · December 13, 2010

Forgot to add... Mine took 11 days to germinate. I stared them a
few days before Christmas. This is how they looked in April.

recruiterg · December 13, 2010

Can these be grown in Zone 4b?

roper2008 · December 13, 2010

Don't know recruiterg. Maybe if you started them super early.
I have some op bhut seeds. Could be crossed, but you can play
around with them. Let me know if you want some.

bitterwort · December 13, 2010

Sure can, recruiterg. I've grown some for the past couple of years. They're fairly late, but not as late as some. As roper suggests, start them early (maybe late Feb). I'd also recommend growing them in pots (versus in the ground) to get them off to a faster start, and then cut them back and overwinter them in the house for next year. The fruits are not as pretty as some of the other superhots, but they are good for helping to train the squirrels and bunnies that they should think twice before sampling the peppers.

recruiterg · December 14, 2010

Sorry to have taken the thread off topic, but thanks for the answers. Roper, I have seed I received in trade. I'll give them a shot this year and see what happens.

Wi-sunflower · December 14, 2010

For many of the super hots that have small to tiny seeds, I would germinate them by "scarifying" the seeds just a bit.

Get some fine grit sandpaper (150-200). I use 1 full sheet on the bottom. Put the seeds on it. Then take a smaller second piece, maybe a sheet folder into 1/4th. Rub the seeds between the sheets enough to scratch the seeds but not crush them.

I then plant them very shallow in just a bit of potting soil. Keep damp and warm to hot. I keep my air temp around the germinating flats about 90* - 100*. That seems to get peppers up in 5-7 days for "normal" hots and 7-10 days for most of the hard cases.

Carol

KLorentz · December 14, 2010

I got some from a friend and they germinated as well as my bell peppers.I am wintering over one small plant that is doing well but I will need to re pot it soon as it has put on some new growth.Hope to have some pods for next season.

Kevin

franzb69 · December 14, 2010

been trying to grow these myself. already got a couple of plants ready for transplantiing into a raised bed. just gotta figure out where to put the raised bed. lol.

i grow more hot peppers than tomatoes.

roper2008 · January 11, 2011

There's someone in another forum that lives in Nebraska and he has
already started his, because of his short growing season. If you haven't
started yours yet recruiterg, it would be better to start now and
maybe you'll have ripe peppers this summer.

recruiterg · February 15, 2011

Carol (Wi-sunflower) - is there any difference between keeping the air temp hot versus using a heating mat? I am starting seed in my basement, on a heating mat, but the air temp is cool (mid-low 60's).

Pat

RayR · February 15, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by recruiterg

Carol (Wi-sunflower) - is there any difference between keeping the air temp hot versus using a heating mat? I am starting seed in my basement, on a heating mat, but the air temp is cool (mid-low 60's).

Pat

Same here with my basement air temp. The soil temp is much more important than the air temp, especially with peppers and eggplant. The air temp around the seedlings is going to be higher than the ambient room temperature though because of the heat given off by the lights.

surf4grrl · February 15, 2011

I found the super hot peppers germinate faster and with more success if I cold treat them overnight. There's post on this on another forum - but essentially you use a weak chamomile tea solution and dampen paper towels etc - put the seeds between them - put in the refrigerator overnight and presto - you have seeds that will germinate quicker.

I swear by this - I grow the bhuts, 7 pots, devils tongue etc etc.

They take a long time to germinate otherwise and sometimes will rot in the soil.

Wi-sunflower · February 15, 2011

I've never used a heat mat as I didn't have one and they were too small vs what I was trying to do anyway.

This page shows more or less how I've been doing my germination the last several years. http://knapps-fresh-vegies.netfirms....enhouse06.html

The air will actually be a bit warmer than optimum soil temp, but the soil won't be as hot as the air.

It's worked for me but everyone has to figure out what will work for their situation.

Carol

December 13, 2010	#1
whistler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: PA Posts: 100	Bhut Jolokia - Keys to Success I'm going to grow some of these bad boys this year from seed purchased from The Chile Pepper Institute. Would appreciate any growing tips and wisdom from TVille folks who have successfully germinated the seeds and grown out the plants. According to The Chile Pepper Institute, the seeds take up to 36 days to germinate (and require soil temps between 80 - 90 degrees for proper germination), and have a growing period of up to 160 days before harvest! Thanks for your help!

December 13, 2010	#2
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	Bhut's I started 10 seeds last year in December. 6 germinated. I used a heating pad (Jiffy). You want to start them early!

December 13, 2010	#3
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	Bhut's Forgot to add... Mine took 11 days to germinate. I stared them a few days before Christmas. This is how they looked in April.

December 13, 2010	#6
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 289	Sure can, recruiterg. I've grown some for the past couple of years. They're fairly late, but not as late as some. As roper suggests, start them early (maybe late Feb). I'd also recommend growing them in pots (versus in the ground) to get them off to a faster start, and then cut them back and overwinter them in the house for next year. The fruits are not as pretty as some of the other superhots, but they are good for helping to train the squirrels and bunnies that they should think twice before sampling the peppers. __________________ Bitterwort

December 13, 2010	#4
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Can these be grown in Zone 4b?

December 14, 2010	#7
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Sorry to have taken the thread off topic, but thanks for the answers. Roper, I have seed I received in trade. I'll give them a shot this year and see what happens.

December 14, 2010	#8
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	For many of the super hots that have small to tiny seeds, I would germinate them by "scarifying" the seeds just a bit. Get some fine grit sandpaper (150-200). I use 1 full sheet on the bottom. Put the seeds on it. Then take a smaller second piece, maybe a sheet folder into 1/4th. Rub the seeds between the sheets enough to scratch the seeds but not crush them. I then plant them very shallow in just a bit of potting soil. Keep damp and warm to hot. I keep my air temp around the germinating flats about 90* - 100*. That seems to get peppers up in 5-7 days for "normal" hots and 7-10 days for most of the hard cases. Carol

December 14, 2010	#9
KLorentz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Stryker, Ohio Posts: 995	I got some from a friend and they germinated as well as my bell peppers.I am wintering over one small plant that is doing well but I will need to re pot it soon as it has put on some new growth.Hope to have some pods for next season. Kevin

December 14, 2010	#10
franzb69 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Philippines Posts: 210	been trying to grow these myself. already got a couple of plants ready for transplantiing into a raised bed. just gotta figure out where to put the raised bed. lol. i grow more hot peppers than tomatoes.

January 11, 2011	#11
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	There's someone in another forum that lives in Nebraska and he has already started his, because of his short growing season. If you haven't started yours yet recruiterg, it would be better to start now and maybe you'll have ripe peppers this summer.

February 15, 2011	#12
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	Carol (Wi-sunflower) - is there any difference between keeping the air temp hot versus using a heating mat? I am starting seed in my basement, on a heating mat, but the air temp is cool (mid-low 60's). Pat

February 15, 2011	#14
surf4grrl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: field of dreams Posts: 97	I found the super hot peppers germinate faster and with more success if I cold treat them overnight. There's post on this on another forum - but essentially you use a weak chamomile tea solution and dampen paper towels etc - put the seeds between them - put in the refrigerator overnight and presto - you have seeds that will germinate quicker. I swear by this - I grow the bhuts, 7 pots, devils tongue etc etc. They take a long time to germinate otherwise and sometimes will rot in the soil.