Topic: Guidelines for Chilli Cultivation
The Carolina Reaper, currently the world's hottest chili, is a fiery delight that requires a dedicated approach to grow. Here's a step-by-step guide to cultivating this spicy sensation.
Starting from Seeds
To grow Carolina Reapers, you'll first need to extract seeds from a mature chili. Pre-soak these seeds to soften the hard outer seed coat and promote faster germination. Sow the seeds indoors in a warm environment, ideally between 70-85°F (21-29°C), where they typically germinate in 7-14 days.
Soil and Environment Requirements
Use a well-draining, fertile soil mix rich in organic matter. Maintain warm temperatures consistently, as Carolina Reaper plants thrive in warm weather and need long growing seasons (6-8 months from seed to harvest). Provide plenty of sunlight—full sun exposure is essential for healthy growth and optimal pepper production.
Plant Care
Once seedlings are strong enough, transplant them to larger containers or garden beds. Water consistently but avoid waterlogging, and fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer. Monitor for pests and diseases, treating as necessary to keep plants healthy.
Growing Timeline and Harvest
Expect 6-8 months from seed sowing to harvest. Harvest peppers when they are fully red and mature on the plant to ensure maximum heat and flavor.
Additional Tips
Growing Carolina Reapers in cooler climates may require starting seeds indoors and transferring plants outside only when temperatures are reliably warm. Using greenhouses or grow tents can help maintain ideal temperature and humidity levels for optimal growth.
Pinch out the growing tips when plants are about 20cm tall to encourage bushy growth. Chillies grow best in containers, making them perfect for a sunny patio or balcony. Blossom-end rot is a result of erratic watering, so water your chilli plants little and often.
Chilli seeds can be sown as early as January and transplanted into individual 7.5cm pots when the first true leaves appear. Feed weekly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser such as tomato feed.
Bird's eye chillies are late to mature and can take up to, or even over, 120 days from planting out to producing ripe fruits. Some chillies offer a hint of lemon flavor, while others have a more fruity taste. Moving potted chilli plants indoors to a sunny spot on a windowsill can speed up the ripening process.
Whitefly can also be a problem indoors—use an organic soapy spray. Spacing between chilli plants is 45 apart and 60 between rows. The length of time that chillies take to ripen also depends on environmental factors such as temperature and light levels.
Chillies are grown from five species: Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum fruitescens, and Capsicum pubescens. To make the fruits hotter, allow plants to dry out completely between watering.
Chillies need a long season to grow and should be sown as early as possible for the best results. The depth of planting is 0.5. Chillies can be dried, prepared with garlic and oil to make a paste or pickled in vinegar.
Chillies require a warm, sunny spot for the best results and the hottest chillies. A score of around 3,000 Scovilles is considered hot, with record-breaking chillies such as 'Carolina Reaper' scoring over two million on the Scoville scale.
Chillies grown inside are unlikely to be visited by pollinating insects or blown by the wind, so they may need to be pollinated by hand to prevent flowers dropping off and to set the fruits. Grey mould or botrytis can be a problem in a greenhouse. Remove any dead plant material promptly and ensure good ventilation.
Chillies are available in a wide range of colors, shapes, sizes, and levels of heat, from mild to extremely hot. Store dried chillies in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place, or chop them roughly to make chilli flakes.
The hottest varieties of chillies, such as 'Bhut Jolokia', need heat and humidity and should be grown indoors. In hot weather, mist chilli plants to increase humidity and deter spider mites.
Chillies will be ready to pick from late summer. For the mildest flavor, pick chillies while they're still green, leave them to mature for more heat. Red spider mite can be a problem in a greenhouse—look out for webbing around the plant. It can be avoided by regular misting of the plant.
The average yield of chillies per 3m row is 2-3kg. Stressing plants by damaging them, denying them food and water, subjecting them to extreme heat, and even shouting at them can cause the plant's natural defenses to kick in and make the chillies spicier.
For the biggest crop, grow under cover, preferably in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
- Incorporate Carolina Reaper peppers into your food-and-drink, lifestyle, and home-and-garden choices by growing them at home. With proper care, follow the provided guide to cultivate this world's hottest chili, adding a touch of rich flavors and spice to your recipes.
- As you nurture your Carolina Reaper plants, consider experimenting with various home-grown chilli recipes. Dried chillies can be stored for later use, enhancing the flavors of numerous food-and-drink items or transformed into chili flakes for everyday cooking, making gardening, cooking, and dining an even more delightful and personal experience.
