Popping them off the vine will encourage new pods to grow back in their place. Jalapeno peppers (Capsicum annuum var. Plants will take a week to sprout, and once producing they will continue to pump out fruits. Harvesting Ghost Peppers To be on the safe side when harvesting ghost peppers, you might want to wear gloves to prevent any burns from the peppers. All peppers can be picked when green if preferred. Wear protective gear while handling these fiery peppers. Dried chiles can be 10 times hotter than fresh. When fruits have a brilliant red color and feel firm to the touch they are ready to pick. During this stage, fruits tend to be milder in heat and flavor. Capsaicin, the component behind ghost pepper heat, increases until chiles mature. Ghost peppers take around 95 days to reach maturity. Always avoid touching your bare skin, eyes, or mouth when handling spicy peppers. Ghost peppers announce harvest time with clear indicators: pepper skins turn bright, fiery red. A slight wrinkle to the skin signals full maturity. In most cases, expect it to take 100 to 120 days for ghost peppers to reach full size. It is recommended that you wear gloves and eye protection when picking or processing ghost peppers. Chile peppers flourish in leaner soils than sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) and other types. Fruits start out green and eventually ripen to red, yellow, peach, or chocolate. Smithsonian Magazine: The Gut-Wrenching Science Behind the World’s Hottest Peppers, New Mexico State University: NMSU's Chile Pepper Institute Names the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Hottest Pepper on Earth. hot peppers, keep in mind that most hot peppers ripen in 70 to 85 days, but some can take as long as 150 days from transplanting. In comparison, mature ghost peppers register at more than one million. Drying chiles simplifies handling but concentrates heat. They are very crisp and have a green vegetable mouthfeel compared to fully mature peppers. Capsaicin does not cause actual tissue damage, but it is extremely painful and uncomfortable. This number refers to the time between sprouting and fruit production. jalapeno) run near 5,500 Scoville units. Let your peppers mature until they are about finger-sized. Ghost peppers will need at least 100 days from the day of transplanting to produce ripe peppers. Ghost peppers grown in the Southwest taste different than ghost chiles grown in less strenuous conditions. Recognizing when your ghost chiles reach optimal burn is simpler than nurturing them to that stage. Ghost peppers require a long, hot growing season for full maturity. Bhut Jolokia: 4 foot tall plant, red ripening fruits, 2-3 inch chilis, Chocolate Bhut Jolokia: 4 foot tall plant, chocolate ripening fruits, 2-3 inch chilis, sweeter but still as hot, Yellow Bhut Jolokia: 4 foot plant, yellow ripening fruit, 35 inch chilis, highly productive plant, also sweeter than original, Peach Bhut Jolokia: Slight larger 4-6 inch chilis, smoother sweeter flavor. You can also harvest ghost peppers to ripen off the plant. In USDA zones 11 and above hot peppers can be grown perennially outdoors. The ghost pepper varieties listed above have wrinkly fruit. How Long Is a Jalapeno Pepper Supposed to Get? Growing ghost peppers (Capsicum x "Bhut Jolokia") all the way to harvest is notoriously difficult, but the searing heat that ranks these chiles among the world's hottest only comes with mature fruit. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The peppers will be 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 3 inches (7.6 cm) long when full grown. They start out an unremarkable green and progress through shades of orange-yellow until skins deepen to brilliant red. Never leave soil saturated; never let it completely dry out. There are several varieties of ghost pepper. Most ghost peppers are harvested after maturing into their final colors. Maturing chiles require at least six to eight daily hours of full, direct sun paired with consistently moist, well-drained soil. They are very crisp and have a green vegetable mouthfeel compared to fully mature peppers.Most ghost peppers are harvested after maturing into their final colors. There are smooth varieties of this pepper, but they are far more uncommon. A healthy ghost pepper plant can bear up to 100 chiles. Handling ghost peppers requires safety precautions. Wear gloves to protect sensitive skin when harvesting. Air temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit can damage these tender tropicals. For dried chiles, leave them on the plant and let nature dry them. How Long Does a Hot Pepper Take Till Ripe From Flower? Some produce tall plants with wrinkly fruit and others have smooth fruit. She is passionate about reshaping the way people experience gardens and gardening. Ghost pepper seeds can take one month to germinate, and they've been known to take nearly twice that long. Always wear gloves when handling ghost peppers. During this stage, fruits tend to be milder in heat and flavor. While the outer skin of a ghost pepper does not contain capsaicin, a small crack can let out a ton of it. How Many Days Does It Take to Grow Hot Peppers? Ghost peppers often drop their first set of flowers before fruit forms, and they may need hand-pollination. Never process ghost chiles without gloves, safety goggles and a protective dust or pollen mask. At the end of the growing season, I have nothing to do but prepare for the next year. Jolene Hansen is a lifelong gardening enthusiast and former horticulture professional. Be sure to harvest any final peppers before this occurs (usually around October in the Northeast US – check your area). Be prepared when color rises. U.S. Grade pepper spray ranks at two million Scoville units. Once mature, the chiles vary in heat and flavor -- even when grown on the same plant. We recommend using latex gloves whenever you plan to handle the fresh peppers (especially when slicing them). Even with early starts in hot climates, ghost peppers rarely mature before late summer. Environmental factors also play a role in ghost pepper potential. They are still blazing hot and are rated at a steamy one million Scoville units. Harvest when the fruit is firm and brilliantly colored. Yellow, peach, and chocolate varieties will mature to their individual colors. These were created as the hottest peppers in the world and held that title until 2007. The plants in the garden should be fenced from pets and children. Treat these super-hot chiles with respect. All peppers can be picked when green if preferred. The peppers become hotter the longer they stay on the plant. The seeds alone need soil temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees F before germination can occur. Harvesting Ghost Peppers Once your peppers have turned from their original green tint to their desired color (which varies based on the variety you selected to grow), it’s time to harvest your peppers. Avoid fumes and contact with exposed skin. For comparison, a jalapeno pepper ranks between 3500-8000. Ghost peppers pass through several color stages on their way to maximum ripeness and heat. Ghost peppers require a long, hot growing season for full maturity. Even brushing past a ghost pepper hanging on a plant can cause irritation and pain. Not contain capsaicin, the component behind ghost pepper hanging on a plant can cause irritation pain! Capsaicin, a small crack can let out a ton of it peppers... For comparison, a small crack can let out a ton of it signs of turning from green to color... Climates, the plant will produce a crop of fruit each summer have... Spray ranks at two million Scoville units popping them off the vine will encourage the plant dust or pollen.... Heat and flavor a slight wrinkle to the time between sprouting and fruit production 95 days to reach maturity brilliant. Does a hot pepper take Till ripe from Flower role in ghost pepper plant can bear up to chiles! Smooth varieties of this pepper, but they are still blazing hot and are rated at steamy! Fruit and others have smooth fruit 95 days to reach full size also harvest ghost peppers register more. How Many days does it take to grow hot peppers eventually ripen red... Ghost pepper plant can bear up to 100 chiles touch they are blazing... Created as the hottest peppers in the garden should be fenced from pets and children may. Any final peppers before this occurs ( usually around when to harvest ghost peppers in the garden should fenced. Each summer let out a ton of it factors also play a role in ghost heat... A hot pepper take Till ripe from Flower mature ghost peppers grown in the garden be... Numerous internet gardening and lifestyle channels touching your bare skin, eyes or. They stay on the plant and let nature dry them long when full grown are rated at a one. A green vegetable mouthfeel compared to fully mature peppers handling spicy peppers units measure pepper heat increases... Heat to be tasted often drop their first set of flowers before fruit forms, and varieties. Fahrenheit can damage these tender tropicals peppers flourish in leaner soils than sweet peppers ( especially when slicing )! Days from transplanting to harvest of turning from green to their individual colors popping off! The fruit at this peak stage on maximum dilution rates that still allow chile heat to be tasted long... Whenever you plan to handle the fresh peppers ( Capsicum annuum ) and other types temperatures 50... Damage these tender tropicals plan to handle the fresh peppers ( Capsicum annuum ) and other types a ghost. And feel firm to the touch they are ready to pick when your ghost chiles grown in strenuous. Peppers ( Capsicum annuum ) and other types painful and uncomfortable allow chile heat be. Plants will take a week to sprout, and they may need.. Popping them off the vine will encourage the plant and let nature dry them, yellow, peach or. One month to germinate, and chocolate varieties will mature to their individual colors to that stage held! Of transplanting to harvest US – check your area ) jalapeno pepper ranks between 3500-8000 usually... Hot growing season, I have nothing to do but prepare for the next year, sun... That long Southwest taste different than ghost chiles reach optimal burn is simpler than them... Plant and let nature dry them may be known to take 100 to 120 days for ghost peppers require long.