Where does the ghost pepper stack up on the Scoville Scale? If you got some of the ghost pepper oils on your hands, milk is still the best help. Our method for harvesting peppers is a simple one. Pruning is optional for ghost pepper plants, though we recommend at least bottom pruning to protect against soil borne pathogens. We have written full grow guides for other varieties for anyone looking to grow peppers. Optimal ripeness equates to maximum heat when it comes to chile peppers. Similarly spicy to the original pepper, the peach ghost pepper is no joke. Oh, and go easy on the ghost peppers (try using some jalapenos to decrease the heat level). We wrote a detailed guide on saving pepper seeds here. However, there are ways to buy live plants as well. Tip: We love using fresh fruits, especially pineapple or blueberries, in our sauces. We find that an upwards motion works well to get a clean ‘pop’ as the pepper is removed. The ghost pepper is still an extremely spicy pepper variety, and will give almost anyone a run for their money! Seeds will stay viable for years if stored properly, meaning you can re-grow your favorites in the future. It is now well known for its intense heat and unique, wrinkly shape. These versatile spicy peppers can be used in a number of ways. 1 ghost pepper is equivalent in spiciness to about 125 jalapeno peppers. We sure do love making homemade hot sauce. Immature ghost peppers begin green and mature through stages of yellow and orange before their undulating surface reaches blazing red. Put simply, the ghost pepper comes in at approximately 1,000,000 SHUs on the Scoville Scale. When compared to a common hot pepper, say a jalapeno, it isn’t even close. While eating capsaicin is not toxic, it can cause adverse reactions in some people. It is thought to be a capsicum chinense variety that was at some point likely crossed with a capsicum frutescens variety. All ghost varieties are slow to mature, so we recommend starting seeds very early indoors. Throw a half of a pepper, finely chopped, into your next batch of chili to kick things up. Ghost pepper plants are also highly productive under ideal growing conditions. Since it has been dethroned, the ghost pepper seems tame compared to the newcomers. Given enough soil, light and fertilizer, ghost peppers will grow to about 2-3 feet tall in a single season. Slice your bhut jolokia peppers in half lengthwise before dehydrating. Always wear gloves to handle ghost pepper; never use unprotected hands. How to Know When a Red Hot Cherry Pepper Is Ready to Pick, What Kinds of Peppers to Plant for Dried Red Chili Flakes, The Hottest Pepper: How to Grow Bhut Jolokia Seeds. If you want to grow ghost peppers at home, you can either start from seed, or you can simply buy live plants online. She is passionate about reshaping the way people experience gardens and gardening. A great, bizarre look in the garden, and perfect for making extra-spicy foods. If you desire to dry the chile, leave it on the plant until partially or completely dry. If you have never tried a highly spicy pepper, we don’t recommend eating ghost peppers. Simply cut the pepper’s stem about halfway up, being careful not to nick the plant’s branches or leaves. Is There a Difference in Banana & Wax Peppers? One of the oldest peppers was found over 6,000 years ago, fully preserved in a cave in Peru. The detergent in the soap helps emulsify and remove the pepper juices. Fun fact: Naga means ‘Serpent’ in Sanskrit. However, darker colored pods are usually hotter, while lighter colors are less spicy. Many ghost pepper varieties are named after Nagaland, India, where the peppers grow naturally. How to Know if My Ghost Pepper Is Fully Grown. These peppers are thin, so they should dehydrate in around 8-10 hours at 125°F (in a proper food dehydrator). In these climates, the plant will produce a crop of fruit each summer. Saving pepper seeds is always worth the extra effort. You can preserve them for later use, use them fresh, dehydrate them for spicy pepper powder, and even save the seeds to grow again next year. Bhut Jolokia peppers are always super spicy. The ghost pepper is thought to have origins in Trinidad, making its way to Assam and Nagaland, India by way of travel or by local plant breeding. Also known as ghost pepper, "Bhut Jolokia" should be fully mature when picked. Add a splash of yellow to your garden with these ghost peppers. There are ghost peppers of all different colors and sizes. One of the great things about modern plant breeding is the resulting variety. Hot pepper enthusiasts applauded when New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute proved "Bhut Jolokia" (Capsicum chinense "Bhut Jolokia") to be the world's hottest known chile pepper. It is a result of ancient plant breeding, and is a cross between capsicum chinense and capsicum fructescens. Behind the peachy exterior of this bhut jolokia variety is a serious punch. Ghost pepper plants are not a huge demand, so you likely won’t find them at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Picking peppers will encourage the plant to produce more. We are happy that the pepper was discovered and seeds are now widely available across the globe for home growers! This is a great option if you want to save your peppers for later, or create a spicy pepper powder.