Question:
Dear Jamie
First off, I want to say thanks for your website and am sad so see you stop selling. Your website has been a How To Bible on growing Bhut Jolokia’s from seeds.
I added my own touch and started them in petri dishes, with 3 daygermination’s. But I’m trying to plan ahead to make my first season successful. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of the few places on earth where it’s 11 degreees F in the summer and -20 degrees F in the winter, with droughts and monsoons to bhut.
I have my seeds to the point where there about 2 days from showing first leaves. I keep them in a nice dark soil that I just got from store. I was wondering if there was anything that I could fertilize them with that would increase growth and fruit production without decreasing the peppers potential heat levels. You know, the King of Fertilizers.
Oh, one last thing, have you ever pickled your Jolokia’s, and if so, is it good?
Thank you very much,
Nick
Answer:
Hi Nick,
Thanks for writing. Sounds like you are having fun with the Bhuts. They are a challenge to grow but well worth the effort. As far as fertilizer, I would use a well rotted horse manure if you can find it. Do not use steer as it usually contains too much salt. Or you could use fish emulsion or kelp.
Be sure to deep water every two days when the weather is really hot. You may have to put shade cloth over the plants to keep the temperatures in the low ninties.
As far as pickling, no not yet, but I bet they would be good in small doses.
Talk to you later,
Jamie
Let’s see…