Hello Jamie,
After 2 years I have had my best success with the peppers: 25″ plants with over 12 peppers about full size. I live in southest PA we have had 25″ of rain in the last 30 day’s. The plant is in a 15 gallon bucket. Last night it was 50 degrees, 80 during the day . What should I do to get these fruits red? I have a grow light if you think it is necessary.
Thanks,
Mike

Answer:

Hi Mike,
Nice, but if possible, you gotta get your plants in the ground next year. Your yield will go up to more than 300 peppers per plant if grown properly and your plants will be more than 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The Bhut Jolokia hates to be in pots. I have tried this many times and it just doesn’t work right.
As far as getting your fruits to ripen now, I have written a blog on this very thing on our website. Check it out and if you need more info. Get back to me.
Cheers,
Jamie

Hi Jamie-
I ate one of my peppers and the good Lord spared me it must have been a mild one. I chewed about five times and it felt like I got hit in the back of my toungue with a hammer. It didn’t have great hang time though, THANK YOU.
My one plant in the Earth Box had over 40 peppers, 3/4 will turn red.
Do you have any Trinadad Scorpion Butch T seeds? Time to have some Vermont Scorpions I can trade you 3 to 1 for ghost seeds.
Thanks again,
Jim

Answer:

Aloha Jim,
Great news. Let your peppers turn deep red and you will get maximum heat. We sell only Bhut Jolokia seeds so, no we do not sell the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T.
Are you growing in a pot? If so, next year get your peppers in the ground as soon as all danger of frost is gone and you will have plants that yield 300 plus peppers.
Cya Bro,
Jamie

Answer:
Aloha Marc,
Thank you for your feedback. Yes, they are very, very temperamental. In fact, the Chili Pepper Institute does not recommend them for the “novice” grower. It is difficult to grow the Bhuts in Hawaii, but most of the USA gets way too hot as they will start dropping their flowers when the temperatures are 90 or greater. So, you did well! I will post your email so others can learn from you.
Cheers and Aloha Bro,
Jamie

Jamie,
I live in Buellton, CA.  During the winter, overnight temperatures can drop to the upper 20′s for several nights in a row. I would like to grow my peppers in containers so it is easier to move them indoors.  How big of a container would I need so that the plants don’t get root bound?
Also, do they need bees or other types of “pollinaters” to produce?
Tim

Answer:

Hi Tim,
I would use 15 gallon buckets or larger. I have a good article on my site concerning wintering your peppers. The peppers are self-pollinating so you will be OK.
Best of luck to you.
Jamie

Hello!
I just had a question about the Jolokia plant development. I had really good luck germinating about a dozen seeds back in mid-April. Almost 2 months later, my plants are now only about 1-1/2″ tall with 2-4 true leaves.  They’re also the slightest bit yellow in color. I’ve grown a lot of other chiles, but these are my first Jolokias and I don’t know if I’m missing something or if they’re just really slow growers! All of my other peppers are already in the ground and some are even fruiting already.
Like my other peppers, I germinated my Jolokias in disposable containers in an organic sphagnum peat / forest compost potting soil. Watering when the top soil is dry. Up here in New Jersey it was warm enough to start getting the plants out into full sun in mid-May and they’re out in 70-90 degree, mostly sunny weather every day now. I also sprinkled a small amount of a 3-1-2 bone/blood/fish meal fertilizer in with the soil as well. No issues with pests this year either.
Is the slow growth and yellow tinge normal or is something wrong with the above approach?
Really appreciate any information, this has been a really fun experiance so far!
thanks,
Alex Smith

Answer:

Aloha Alex,

Sounds like you’re doing everything correctly, but the yellow color is not normal. Can you email me a picture? Might be overwatering.
The Chili Pepper Institute in New Mexico doesn’t recommend this pepper for the “novice” grower (not saying that this pertains to you) but the Bhut Jolokia is a tough one to establish. Once it takes off, it grows like crazy.

Send me the photo please and good luck!

Jamie

“In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body’s nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions..”

This study was first based on the structures of what happens within the body in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.  In Type 1, which is usually first found in children or young adults, the body does not produce insulin.  The most frequent form of diabetes is Type 2, where the body’s cells ignore insulin, or not enough is produced.

Scientists in Canada found that  “diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a substance to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Dr. Hans Michael Dosch, an immunologist at the hospital and a leader of the studies. “In my career, this is unique.”  The substance in which was injected was ” Capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot chili peppers, to kill the pancreatic sensory nerves in mice that had an equivalent of Type 1 diabetes.”

The researchers are astonished at their findings but admit that there is much studying to be completed before human test subjects are introduced, but this marking event gives hope for the future that there could be a groundbreaking discovery to help millions suffering with diabetes.

To read the entire click here.

The immense list of health benefits that come from peppers are ongoing, visit our “fun facts” section for a little crash course on “hot food health info.”

In keeping with “Restaurant Week”, This FRIDAY September 25th, 2009, join me (Jamie Kocher) for “HOTTER THAN HELL NIGHT” as Chef Justin Baily cooks up a delectable array of spicy dishes featuring the world’s hottest pepper, The Bhut Jolokia.

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