About Hot Peppers

 Hot peppers (also called chili peppers) offer varying amount of heat from variety to variety.  We are not interested in hot that hurts.  We are interested in flavor with perhaps a bit of a bite. 

 

Measuring the heat in hot peppers.

The heat in a hot pepper comes from a chemical in the vegetable called capsaicin which is found throughout the vegetable but is concentrated in the seeds and the ribs; SECRET?  Be sure to remove all seeds and ribs to keep heat at a low level for any particular variety.   When Wilbur Scoville first devised a means to test the heat of peppers, his hottest entry then came in at 20,000 units. Habanero and Thai chilies can go as high as 60,000. Compare that to the sweet bell pepper at zero.We at Yardener.com have no interest in such pain. 

 

Below we will discuss those varieties and the easy to find either in seed or seedlings and can be used by yardeners without fear of blowing off the top of your head. 

 

Mild Heat Varieties

Jalapeno - 'Senorita' is a variety of the very common jalapeno which is quite mild. 

Jalapeno Chile Pepper - 100 Seeds - GARDEN FRESH PACK!

by Hirts: Seed; Pepper

  • Capsicum Annuum
  • Tender Annual
  • Thick-walled green fruits become sweeter when ripened to red and are known as Chipotle when smoked
  • Days to Maturity: 65-75
  • Widely used in burritos, tamales and for "poppers".

Jalapeno Chile
Capsicum Annuum
Tender Annual
24-30" Plant
3" Fruit

Named for Jalapa, Mexico. Widely used in burritos, tamales and for "poppers". Thick-walled green fruits become sweeter when ripened to red and are known as Chipotle when smoked.

Planting Depth: 1/4"
Soil temp for Germination: 70-90 deg F
Days to Germination: 8-14
Plant spacing after thinning: 12-18"
Days to Maturity: 65-75
Full sun
Moderate water

 

Red Habanero Pepper 15 Seeds - Extremely Hot

by Hirts: Seed; Pepper

  • Extemely hot pepper
  • Flavor with fruity overtones
  • Bright red, wrinkled fruits are about 1-1/2 inches deep and 1 inch wide
  • Wonderful for salsas, marinades, and making your own hot sauce
  • Dried samples of Habanero Red measured 445,000 Scoville units whereas regular habanero tested at about 260,000 Scovilles

Red Habanero: 110 days - Seed for this habanero variety was found in the Caribbean, and then improved, resulting in a uniform, fiercely hot pepper that is way hotter than the regular orange habanero. Dried samples of Habanero Red measured 445,000 Scoville units whereas regular habanero tested at about 260,000 Scovilles. This pepper must be used carefully, but is wonderful for salsas, marinades, and making your own hot sauce. Bright red, wrinkled fruits are about 1-1/2 inches deep and 1 inch wide and have flavor with fruity overtones.

 

Jalapeno Hot Pepper Seeds 90 Seeds

by Cornucopia

  • This is the classic hot chili pepper.
  • This pepper is terrific if you like hot Southwestern dishes.
  • Grow on in fertile hot dry conditions.
  • Harvest them green when they are 3 inches.
  • They will then ripen to red.
The seeds will germinate much faster in warm soil. They might mold in cold we

 

 

 

Poblano/Ancho measures 3 to 5 inches long.  When mature they are bright red.  Often used for the popular chiles rellenos which are peppers stuffed with cheese and fried in batter.

Chile Pepper Ancho Poblano Heirloom Seeds 25 Seeds

by Botanical Interests

  • When still green this pepper is stuffed for chiles rellenos
  • When it matures to red and dries it is used in such traditional sauces as mole.
  • Peppers are quite frost sensitive so grow them in your hottest months.
  • Peppers need 6 hours of sun and weekly fertilizer
  • Capsicum annuum

 

 

Medium Heat Varieties

Anaheim - these grow 6 to 8 inches long and can be used either green or red; the redder the hotter. These are great for roasting or grilling. 

Ferry-Morse 2044 Pepper Seeds, Anaheim Chili (850 Milligram Packet)

by Ferry-morse

  • This Ferry-Morse seed packet contains Anaheim chili peppers which will plant approximately a 20-foot row
  • These peppers are medium hot; guaranteed to grow
  • 78 days to harvest
  • Plant 1/4-inch deep, 2-foot row spacing, and 18-inch plant spacing
  • Includes one, 850-milligram packet

Large fruits, 6-8 inches long, have a medium hot flavor. Matures from a deep green color to a brilliant red. Very popular for drying. This packet will plant approximately an 80 foot row. Plant hot and sweet peppers in separate areas to avoid cross-pollination. Pick peppers regularly for increased yields. Start seed indoors 8 weeks before planting outdoors. Keep seed moist in full sunlight. Transplant when 3 inches tall. Or, sow directly in garden in sunny location after frost danger is past. Plant 2 seeds every 18 inches. Thin to 1 plant every 18 inches when 3 inches tall. Use a balanced fertilizer when 6 inches tall to increase production.

 

Hungarian Hot Wax - (hot bannana pepper) a tapered pepper 5 to 6 inches in length.  Popular in pickleing and frying. 

Hungarian Yellow Wax Hot, Hot Pepper Seeds - Capsicum Annuum - 1 Grams - Approx 150 Gardening Seeds - Vegetable Garden Seed

by Generic Seeds

  • Capsicum annuum
  • 1 Grams: Approx 150 Seeds
  • Germination Rate: 85% - Purity: 99% - Country of Origin: USA
  • Days Until Harvest: 72

The Hungarian Yellow Wax Hot pepper is a waxy yellow pepper that ripens to red-orange The 6" fruits are 1.5" wide with medium hot flesh that goes great in salsas. The peppers can also be dried or processed. The Hungarian Yellow Wax hot pepper is an early variety and has heavy yields.

 

Large Red Cherry Hot, Hot Pepper Seeds - Capsicum Annuum - 1 Grams - Approx 180 Gardening Seeds - Vegetable Garden Seed

by Generic Seeds

  • Capsicum annuum
  • 1 Grams: Approx 180 Seeds
  • Germination Rate: 96% - Purity: 99% - Country of Origin: USA
  • Days Until Harvest: 80

The Large Red Cherry hot pepper is a very hot round pepper resembling a cherry. The medium thick walls start dark green then change to red. The fruits grow continuously and grow to about 1" across.

 

 

Serrano - often used in making salsa. 

Serrano Tampiqueno Hot Pepper Seeds - Capsicum Annuum - 1 Grams - Approx 150 Gardening Seeds - Vegetable Garden Seed

by Generic Seeds

  • Capsicum annuum
  • 1 Grams: Approx 150 Seeds
  • Germination Rate: 85% - Purity: 99% - Country of Origin: USA
  • Days Until Harvest: 80

The Serrano tampiqueno is a strong pepper. The fruits are short and thin walled. The plants grow to 30-36" tall and bear large quantities of peppers continually.

Cayenne Red Long Pepper - 100 Seeds -GARDEN FRESH PACK!

by Hirts: Seed; Pepper

  • Hot and very prolific
  • Cayenne has thin 5-6 long pointed and wrinkled dark green fruit that matures to a deep red
  • Excellent fresh, in sauces, and easy to dry to be ground to a powder
  • Each plant provides a bountiful harvest.
  • 100 Seeds

Cayenne Red Long Pepper: Hot and very prolific. Cayenne has thin 5-6 long pointed and wrinkled dark green fruit that matures to a deep red. Excellent fresh, in sauces, and easy to dry to be ground to a powder for a spicy-hot condiment. Each plant provides a bountiful harvest.


see all questions...

Do you have a gardening question? Ask Nancy