Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) Pepper Seeds
***Due to a national shortage, these seeds are in short supply throughout the US! If you are considering buying and growing the Ghost Pepper plant, we recommend buying seed now before they run out!***
In February of 2007, the
Naga Jolokia also known as the
Bhut Jolokia,
Ghost Pepper and
Cobra Pepper, was confirmed by Guiness as the World's Hottest Pepper. The
Bhut Jolokia boasts an amazing 1,001,304 Scoville Units which is almost two times that of the Red Savina, the prior record holder!
The origin of the
Bhut Jolokia Pepper can be traced back hundreds of years to the state of Assam in northeasters India, areas of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
These peppers are used in Ethnic in cooking. The
Bhut Jolokia is also thought to cure stomach ailments.
Beyond the kitchen, many other uses have been found for this intense pepper- In India, it is used on fences and in smoke bombs as a defense against elephants. There has also been discussion from Indian defense scientists about using
Bhut Jolokia in hand grenades.
Use
great caution when growing and handling these peppers. Wear gloves when handling and be very conservative in using them as a spice- it is said that one seed from the
Bhut Jolokia can induce intense physical pain for up to 30 minutes.
Storage of Pepper Seeds:
Store seeds away from children (the seeds themselves can be hot when in contact with skin or consumed!). Keep
pepper seeds sealed in their packaging and in a cool, dry, dark place, or in a fridge. Never store them in a freezer as the sudden temperature drop is likely to kill them. Do not leave
pepper seeds in direct sunlight as the heat generated may also kill them or decrease their germination rate.
These seeds are somewhat difficult to get started. They can take as much as 35 days to germinate. If they are kept to wet or allowed to dry out it will destroy the embryo of the seed killing it. They also need a very long growing season to produce ripe fruit, 180+ days. For northern climates it is required to start indoors mid January to late February. These plants spread and have brittle branches with prolific fruiting, reaching a height of 5 feet. Plant them in rows 6-8 feet apart. Then you will be able to work the rows without damaging the plants. Spacing between plants should be 18-20 inches so they can support each other. Harvest when fully ripe, bright red and shinny. Late season fruiting.
Beginning July 2011, no refunds, replacement or store credits will be offered for these seeds. Please see our article on Pepper Growing Tips for more information on planting and growing Peppers from seed BEFORE starting these seeds to increase your chance of germination! Under IDEAL growing conditions our seeds will get an 80-90% germination rate. Home growers can expect a 40-50% germination rate.
Also available:
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper Seeds
Ghost Pepper Powder
Ghost Pepper Seedling
