My name is Lloyd Snyder I would love to get more information on the hottest pepper in the world and where I can buy them. I live in PA. Also if I were to buy seeds can I grow them here in Pa.? Thank you.

Answer:

Hey Lloyd,

Thanks for your inquiry. There is a lot of information concerning the Bhut Jolokia on our website. Please check it out. You can certainly grow this pepper in PA but there is a little planning involved. After germinating your seeds, you will need to transplant your “Bhuts” to a 4″ or 6″ pot when about 4″ tall. Keep them inside near a window if the temperatures are not above 65 degrees. Then acclimate them to the outside after all danger of frost has passed. When the temperature gets above 90 during the summer, you will have to buy some shade cloth to keep the temps. between 80 and 90 degrees. This usually required about a 20-30% reducing shade cloth. Keep them deep watered (slowly–drip is the best) every two days when it is that hot. IF they start to drop their flowers, then they are probably too hot. You will need to double up on the shade cloth. Please contact me during this process if you have any questions or problems. Once again, there is a lot of this information on our site.

Aloha,

Jamie

Hi.  My name is Morgan i live in Orange County, California. I really want to start trying to grow my own bhut jolokia’s but i’m afraid of messing up, and it all going to go to waste.   I read everything there is to read on your site but i still have questions like, Should i make a small greenhouse for when the plants are big enough?  Should I use heat lamps or ultraviolet lights?  I have a 20″ aquarium that I don’t use and I was thinking about lining it with aluminum foil and adding a heat lamp to get them started.  Do you think that would work well?  I’ve noticed that alot of people use an Aeroponic system to start the plant growing, do you think thats a bad idea?  I’m sorry I just so many questions and I could keep asking questions all day but i think you got the idea.  By the way, I’m going to be placing an order with you guys soon because of all the testimonials and just seeing your Bhut compared to all the others; they are beautiful!

Thank you so much,
Morgan Cho

Answer:

Aloha Morgan,

Thank you for writing. Please don’t over think this thing, it’s just a pepper. You live in a great place to grow the Bhuts and they will do very, very well. I don’t believe in growing with artificial lights although I might feel differently if I lived in a cold climate or in a place with a short growing season. But, I live in Hawaii and we can grow just about anything all year round. Even lettuce and cool season crops like broccoli. We just grow them beneath other taller plants, or use shade cloth.

But, as I said, you live in a great place to grow the Bhut Jolokia peppers. The most important thing that you can do is to prepare the soil well. Bhuts like a loamy soil, that is a soil with not too much clay, and not too much sand. They like soil with a lot of organic amendments–well composted fruits and vegetables, leaves, etc. I don’t use chemical fertilizers, only well rotted horse manure (no salt like cow manure), fish emulsion, and kelp. Make sure the soil doesn’t have many rocks, and no clumps of clay. If your existing soil is a deep, dark brown, you should be OK. Add plenty of organic amendments and if you need to, use Miracle Grow “organic” soil or similar to amend your soil.

I have written many blogs on the growing of this pepper and they can be found on my site. Be sure to soak the seeds in water overnight before germinating and make sure you protect the young plants until they are at least 8″ tall.

Good luck and thanks for writing,

Jamie

Follow-up Question:

Thank you so much for reply and all of your info. How would you protect them in my area? Like I said earlier I was thinking about using an aquarium as a greenhouse for them until they mature.

morgan

Follow-up Answer:

Aloha Morgan,

No need. When the Bhuts are young, protect them by surrounding the small Bhut with a plastic pot. Cut the bottom out of this small pot (1 gallon or smaller), and insert into the ground an inch. This will protect the Bhut from cutworms, and the like until it is big enough, and tough enough. This will be when your Bhut is 8-10″ tall. Then carefully remove the plastic pot. Like I said last night, don’t over think this. Once your Bhuts are established, they will kick butt. Then you will only have to worry about fruit flies, and white flies, and this can be remedied by organic neem oil. Remember, these peppers when grown correctly will grow to more than 6 feet tall which takes the aquarium scenario out of the picture.

Cheers,
Jamie

Hope you don’t mind another question or two…I have several peppers that are almost completely red with a touch of orange on the top and also several orange and of course new green ones. When do you pick the peppers? Then, do I put them in the fridge or leave them out? How long are they good for? Can you freeze them for future use? Should I take extra precaution with them in the heat?
Thanks,
Tom

Answer:

Hi Tom,
Pick your peppers when they are completely red but still firm and crunchy. Do not allow your peppers to stay on the plant past this point or they will become soft and limp. Rinse them very briefly in cold water then allow them to dry. Do not soak in water. They do not store well at room temperature, so get them into the fridge ASAP. It is best to vacuum pack them if you can. It is not a good idea to freeze them as they would be soggy when you defrost them. The best thing to do would be to cut them in half and then dry them in the sun, or dehydrate them. If you would like to use the seeds, take the seeds out first as the sun can damage their ability to germinate.
Good luck,
Jamie

You ask them, Jamie answers them! Here’s another edition of Ask Jamie, with a wonderful question on freezing peppers.

Question
Hi, I heard about these peppers and have read through your website (and a few others).  When is the time of year to be able to buy whole peppers from you ?   My recipe for chilli is a bit warm (Jalapenos and Habaneros, I really prefer the Habeneros because I like the fruity taste of them (and also of course the heat). I would like to have a very hot version of my chilli using Habeneros and the Ghost pepper. Obviously I dont know how much to use and still be edible, I’ll have to use a little, and add small amounts until I get it where I want it.