Hot pepper 'Ghost (Buth Jolokia)'
It combines extreme heat with remarkable fruity flavor highly prized for artisan hot sauces. Its generous production and worldwide reputation make it an essential variety for serious chili enthusiasts.
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Ghost Pepper / Bhut Jolokia Hot Pepper (Capsicum chinense) is a legendary pepper, also known as the Ghost Pepper, recognized as one of the first peppers to exceed 1,000,000 SHU. Its fruits ripen from green to intense red at full maturity and bring an impressive presence to the vegetable garden, especially on a vigorous plant that can reach up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall. Its explosive heat is known for a progressive burn: it begins more gently, then builds after a few seconds and lingers for a long time. Grown as an annual in Canada, it also offers an intense fruity flavor highly prized by extreme pepper enthusiasts.
Ghost Pepper / Bhut Jolokia Hot Pepper requires a warm, long, and carefully managed growing season in full sun, in rich, fertile, well-drained soil. Start seeds indoors in early February, about 12 to 14 weeks before the last frost, at an ideal temperature of 25 to 30°C (77 to 86°F). Germination usually takes 10 to 20 days but may take up to 6 weeks without soaking. Soaking seeds for 12 to 24 hours may help speed germination. After the last frost, space plants 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in) apart, or grow them in containers of at least 10 L (2.5 gal), watering regularly without waterlogging.
In the garden, Ghost Pepper / Bhut Jolokia Hot Pepper is ideal for collector vegetable gardens, greenhouses, large containers, and very warm locations where harvests can be extended. It grows well alongside tomatoes, basil, onions, and cilantro, while benefiting from being kept away from fennel and beets. Its flowers may attract pollinators, while its red fruits are intended for very hot sauces, powerful marinades, powders, flakes, and spicy dishes. Wear gloves when handling, avoid contact with eyes, sensitive skin, children, and pets, and use only in tiny amounts.
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