The Cherry Pepper also known as the Cherry Chili, chili tomato, or Hungarian cherry pepper is a fantastic chili to grow. This mild to hot pepper is commercially grown in the USA, Europe and Mexixo. The Cherry Pepper has been documented as far back as 1543.
The peppers produced by these plants are small and round, they resemble a cherry tomato. Peppers range from mild to hot and register 5000-8000 scoville scale units.
The cherry peppers grow a dark green colour and as they ripen they will change to a very vibrant red. Truly a spectacular plant to have.
The chili tomato is commonly used in Asian, Southwestern, Mediterranean, Portuguese, African and Mexican cuisine because of the size and shape. This chili is a great garnish and really puts some colour into food especially salads.
These chilies are also great for stuffing or picking because of the thick fruit walls and round shape. Due to the thick walls this chili cannot be dried.
As with most chili’s this plant enjoys hot climates, well drained soil and generous amounts of water. Maturity takes approximately 120 days. These plants can mature and fruit at a small size so they are great for a small bench or windowsill.
We have a Chili tomato plant in our inner city apartment and we get one full ripe fruit each week from the plant. We bought it at a mature age at a local hardware store for $6AU and it only stands 40cm tall. We would highly recommend the cherry pepper to anyone wanting a small but very colorful chili tree.
One of the best ways to Grow Chilli is by starting from seeds. Seeds can be obtained from the chillies that you used in your kitchen (this is how our Bird’s eye chili plant got started) or you can buy seeds from local store, plant specialist, department store or right here on the internet. It is recommended you purchase chili seeds from a store as you can then select the type that suits you best.
Each packet might suggest different things for how to germinate the seeds but here is a method we have been using to grow chillies from seeds ourselves with great success.
Prepare a container that will be the seeds home for the next few weeks. Germination times vary between each chili from 2 weeks onwards. The container can be something like a ice cream container or Chinese container.
Something 2-3cm deep and big enough to hold one to two dozen seeds. The container should have light well mulched soil so that the young plants can grow easily in. Soil should be able to drain water well.
Preparing the chili seeds is a vital part. For best results we have been soaking our chili seeds in some water for a few hours before planting them. This helps to soften the seeds and lets the small plant break out of the seed quicker.
After the seeds are soaked the next step to growing chillies is to place the seeds in some paper toweling and sit them on a shallow plate. Water well and sit in a warm place. After a few days the seeds will have small shoots coming out of them. This is the beginning of the plants life.
Carefully remove all seeds from the paper toweling and place them into the soil filled container. We like to place them about 1cm into the soil. Make the hole with your finger and lightly cover the hole back up with soil.
Ensure that the small plants are put into sunlight as they will need it to grow. Watering daily is essential to keep the soil moist. After a week or so you should notice the chillies emerging from the soil and sprouting. Continue watering daily until chillies are 4-5cm tall.
The next step is to re-pot the young plants. Come back and visit the Growing Chillies website for more tips, tricks and information about how to grow chilli.
TheHabanero chili is one of the worlds hottest peppers!!! The chili’s name derived from the name of the Cuban city of La Habana, which is known as Havana in English. Although it is not the place of origin, it was frequently traded there. Mexico is the largest consumer of this spicy ingredient but its flavor and aroma have become increasingly popular all over the world.
The Habanero chili most likely originated in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and even to this day the crop is most widely cultivated there. In fact about 1,500 tons of Habaneros are harvested each year in Mexico. Panama, Costa Rice and several states in the USA also grow and produce the chilly. It is often mistakenly referred to as the hottest pepper in the world and once upon a time it was until the mighty Bhut Jolokia came along! Habanero chili peppers are rated 200,000–350,000 on the Scoville scale.
A ripe habanero is 2–6 centimetres (0.8–2.4 in) long, 3-5cm (1 to 2 inches) in diameter and they are lantern-shaped, round or oblong. Habanero’s are green until maturity when they then turn to colours such as orange, red, white, brown, and pink.
Habaneros are similar to most other chilies and thrive in hot weather. Morning sun is ideal with slightly moist soil. In tropical regions the Habanero is one growing chilli that can produce all year round. Colder climates the plant will die off in the winter.
The Habanero’s heat, its fruity citrus-like flavor, and its floral aroma have made it a popular ingredient in hot sauces and spicy foods. In some cases, particularly in Mexico, Habaneros are placed in tequila bottles for a period ranging from several days, to several weeks, to make a spiced version of the drink.
One of the world’s most recognised chillies is the Tabasco. It’s no doubt that Tabasco is most famous for the sauces that these chillies are made into. This is possible because Tabasco peppers are not dry, the inside of the fruit is wet. Tabasco chilis rate between 30,000 and 50,000 on the scoville scale.
The Tabasco plant is quite distinctive as its very bushy and unlike most chilis the Tabasco fruits grow up rather then hanging down from the stems.
The Tabasco peppers grow to about 4cm and change colour from light yellow and green to orange then eventually ripen at a bright red colour.
Characteristics of the Tabasco bush Plant height – 4-5 feet Stem color – Green Leaf color – Green Leaf size – medium Fruit color – light yellow and green to orange and bright red at maturity Fruit shape – long and conical Fruit length – 4cm Fruit width at shoulder .5 cm Fruit surface smooth
Tabasco Planting tips
Tabasco chillis like most other chillies grow best in warmer weather. People in colder climates should plant the seeds indoors in a warm spot during the winter month. The seeds will germinate and start to grow. When the winter is over the plants can be moved outside ready for the spring and summer months.
When potting Tabasco plants make sure that there is good water drainage. They also like sandy soil conditions so don’t be afraid to add in some sand.
Regular watering is required and if ensure the Tabasco plant has good sunlight and daily watering you should see fruits appear in about 120 days.
Once you have some Tabasco chillies try to make some Tabasco sauce. A simple recipe is provided.
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Homemade Tabasco Sauce
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh red Tabasco peppers, chopped 2 cups distilled white vinegar 2 teaspoons salt 1 clove garlic (optional) Directions: Combine the chiles, garlic and the vinegar in a saucepan and heat. Stir in the salt and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool, and place in a blender. Puree until smooth and place in a glass jar. Allow to steep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Remove, strain the sauce, and adjust the consistency by adding more vinegar if necessary.
So, you’ve bought (or saved) your Chili seeds, carefully planted them and provided the optimum growing chili conditions. However danger lurks in every corner of the garden with a whole host of beastly pests and diseases ready to indiscriminately strike down your plants at a moment’s notice. These pests include insects, bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Slugs or Snails
Slugs and snails love to dine on a chili bush. They will nibble away the leaves and minimise the health of your plant. Fortunately slugs and snails are not too hard to prevent or remove.
Hunting down snails and slugs and disposing of them can be a highly satisfying exercise particularly if the little blighters have already struck your prized plants. There is also some chemical solutions for treating your chilli plant from pests. They are listed below.
Aphids
Aphids are the little green creatures you see on your plants. They are very sneaky and camouflage themselves to the stem or leaves and suck the sap from the trees veins. They too are easy to control.
Spraying them with a very diluted soap solution, about one teaspoon of liquid pure soap (as near to 100% fatty acids as you can get – avoid antibacterial, perfumed, & detergent based soaps) to a couple of liters of water.
Chili Plant Pest Control Products
There are various products available for pest control.
Copper is known to repel slugs and snails because it produces a very slight electric charge that they hate. You can purchase copper rings to place around the base of plant pots or can place copper tubing or piping round you raised beds. The slugs and snails can’t stand it so much they avoid crawling over to get to your chilies and will head off elsewhere in search of food. The downside to this is that copper piping or rings can be expensive, however once purchased it should last you for years.
Home Remedies to use are egg shells sprinkled around the base of your plants. Slugs hate crawling over the shells. Another method is to sprinkle used coffee grounds around the base of the plants. This is not only a snail deterrent but it helps add much needed nitrogen to the soil, aiding your pepper plants growth.
Homemade Spray A tried and tested spray made from 100g of fresh garlic, crushed and fermented for 2 days in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of liquid soap or soap powder. Strain into a garden sprayer and dilute 1 part to 50 parts water. Garlic acts as a repellent to further Aphid attack.
Chemical Control There is a range of chemical treatments that you can get from your local garden center or hardware store. Below is the top control product we have found.
Thinking of growing a birds eye chilli plant? Great choice! These compact plants are easy to grow and they produce lots and lots of yummy birds eye pepper fruits, perfect for use in all kinds of home cooking recipes.
As a beginner, it is a great idea to do some research so that you understand how to grow the bird’s eye chilli because it has some specific care needs.
With the tips and information below, you’ll be ready to grow a strong, healthy birds eye pepper plant that keeps giving you delicious fruits all growing season:
Why Grow A Birds Eye Chilli?
The birds eye chilli comes from Africa and in some areas you can even find it growing wild, although this is becoming less common with agricultural use of land.
They are grown commercially because they are compact, but they produce lots and lots of fruit. The fruits, which are about 5CM long and red, produce a gentle heat of around 100,000 on the Scoville Scale, which makes them easy to use in a huge range of commercially produced foods.
There are lots of reasons to grow the delicious bird’s eye chilli which is also known as the Thai Chilli or the Thai Dragon in some stores.
One of the key benefits is simply gardening, which in itself has some amazing health benefits. According to Healthline, gardening can help boost your mood, boost your immune system, reduce your stress and might even help you recover from addiction – to name just a few benefits.
The chilli plant itself is also a great choice for gardeners because the fruits are so yummy, and healthy. You also get a real sense of satisfaction and pride from growing your own produce.
When it comes to using that homegrown produce, the birds eye chilli is super versatile and can be included in both sweet and savoury cooking as well as drinks, like a chilli hot chocolate. You can also eat them fresh, or dry them yourself, even turning them into a chilli powder or sauce for use at a later date. The possibilities are endless.
As if that wasn’t enough, when you eat a bird’s eye chilli you get a dose of vitamin C, antioxidants and they can even help reduce inflammation in the body and could even promote weight loss.
These beautiful little fruits sure do pack a punch!
How To Grow A Birds Eye Chilli Plant As A Beginner
The birds eye pepper is a great choice of chilli plant for a beginner because it tends to be hardy, produce lots of fruits and it is quite compact at around 60-80CM.
Here is one of mine in a pot
To begin your growing process you need to buy some great seeds to grow. You can purchase them from suppliers on the internet, or in a local garden centre as this type of chilli plant isn’t rare. If you don’t want to grow from seed try buying some starter plants and skip a stage of the growing process.
If you are buying the plants from seed you will want to start germinating them around January-February indoors. Soak them in water for a few hours before potting to give them the best chance of germinating.
To pot them up you will need to use nutrient poor potting soil that you keep moist, but not sodden.
You should put one seed per starter pot with a little soil on top and then keep the pots by a bright and sunny window. They will take about two weeks to germinate but might come faster, especially if you keep them at around 25 degrees Celsius and keep them away from drafts.
During this time, it is better to use a spray bottle with water to keep the plants moist, rather than pouring water on them, which can dislodge the vulnerable seedlings.
Once the plants have around 4-8 leaves on them they can be placed in a bigger pot. If you are potting them up inside, keep one plant per pot of around 7.5 CM and then plant them on into bigger pots as the plant grows. If you are growing them outside they need to be around 30-40CM apart and 2-3 feet between rows which gives them space to grow and plenty of ventilation. This should only be done when the last frost has finished.
If you are moving them from outside to inside it is important to harden them off by gently exposing them to the new temperatures and light of their new spot. This will avoid transplant shock.
When ready, the birds eye chilli plants should be planted in loam based compost with a little vermiculite and perlite so that they have great ventilation.
The soil should be really loose and include at least some fertiliser in the way of worm castings or well-rotted manure.
These kinds of plants tend to do well in sunny spots of the garden, however, areas prone to heat waves can produce wilting chilli plants. If you know you are prone to this kind of weather it is worth planting your bird’s eye chilli in a partially shaded spot right from the beginning.
The plants should be soaked after transplanting to help them ‘settle in’. After that they should be watered around every other day or third day depending on the weather, keeping the soil moist but never sodden.
As a general rule the soil should never dry out completely, something you can keep an eye on by popping your finger into the soil regularly. If the plant is dry after about an inch, it needs watering.
To fertilise your bird’s eye pepper plants you can use tomato fertiliser, but some people like to use fish emulsion or sometimes seaweed.
The trick is not to over fertilize the bird’s eye pepper, as this can burn the roots and kill the plant really quickly.
If in doubt, dilute the fertiliser to around a quarter of the strength of the manufacturer’s instructions and then feed them around once a week. You can also do something called ‘pinching’ to encourage bushy growth of the chilli pepper plants, as shown in this Youtube video.
You’re Ready To Grow Birds Eye Chilli Plants!
With a little research it is always much easier to avoid common chilli plant growing mistakes and enjoy a successful growing season right away.
Hopefully, with our tips and information above you’re ready to grow and harvest birds eye chilli peppers all season long, for endless spicy and delicious recipe combinations to try out and serve to family and friends.
The worlds hottest pepper is officially the Naga Jolokia also known as Bhut Jolokia. When translated in Hindi this means Ghost Chili which is also another common name.
The chili hails from Bangladesh but is also found in Sri Lanka and India. The Guinness Book of Records officially named it the worlds hottest Pepper (or chili) in 2007.
To give you a idea on how hot it is, Jalapenos are about 6000 Scoville Scale units, while Tabasco measures in at about 195000 scoville scale units. The Naga Jolokia is a burning 1 million scoville scale units.
This is about 400 times stronger then Tabasco. When eating this chili it BURNS!! then it gets worse. Effects can last up to 30min. Milk can help sooth the burning but will not eliminate it.
Characteristics of the Naga Jolokia or Bhut Jolokia Chili plant
Plant height 45–120 cm Stem color Green Leaf color Green Leaf size 10-14.5cm by 5.5-7.5cm Leaf width 5.4–7.5 cm Fruit color at maturity Red Fruit shape Sub-conical to conical Fruit length 5–9 cm Fruit width at shoulder 2.5–3 cm Fruit weight 6–9 grams Fruit surface Rough, uneven Seed color Light tan Seeds per chili 19–35
This chili is so hot, that in 2009, scientists at India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced plans to use the chillies in hand grenades, as a non lethal way to flush out terrorists from their hideouts and to control rioters. It will also be developed into pepper spray as a self defense product.
We would love to hear from you if you have tried this chili or grown it. We hope to obtain some Naga Jolokia/Bhut Jolokia Seeds shortly.
You have to see this to believe it. Peter Peppers are a conversational piece to say the least!!!! The peter pepper chilli pods look like “a man’s private parts”. Hence why they are known as the Penis Pepper and Chili Willy.
This chilli is quite rare and comes from the southern states of Louisiana and Texas.
Peter Peppers are listed as a medium heat on the scoville scale ranking. Peter peppers are 5,000 to 30,000 Scoville Units which is hotter than Tabasco and even more hotter than the Jalapeno.
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Characteristics of the Peter Pepper Plant Plant height up to 3 feet Stem color Green Leaf color Green Fruit color at maturity green and red Fruit shape conical Fruit length 2-4inches Fruit width at shoulder 1inch Fruit surface shaped
Peter peppers seeds can be purchased and grown within 6-7 months. Germination tips, soil tips and all other growing chillies from seed guides are available from growing chillies. As with all chillies they need regular watering and plenty of sun for optimal results.
Peter Peppers are a defiant must for the chilli growing enthusiast. They would make great presents for a fellow gardening enthusiast also. Purchase some peter pepper seeds today and let us know how your plant went.
Although chillies can be grown in many varieties of soil and we have compiled some of the best soil for chilli plants to get your chilli plants grounded and fruiting consistently.
Growing Chillies in a pot lets you build and maintain the optimal soil conditions. When is the last time you have seen chillies grown in swamps…NEVER!!
Chillies plants are quite fragile and need good draining soil. The top layer of the soil should be a light but moisture holding mulch. Topping up the mulch every 4 weeks or so will keep the nutrition running through the chillies roots.
To Grow Chilli choose a soil or mulch that is higher in potassium. Chilli plants fruit better when potassium is slowly feeding through the roots and plant. Try to avoid nitrogen as the plants will grow soft leaves and minimal fruit will be produced.
If you really want to make your chillies thrive and fruit well as soon as the plants start growing little flowers place some premium organic soil or fertiliser on top of the pot. If you’re on a budget any multipurpose compost is will help out.
Remember that Growing Chillies requires regular watering, once a day they must be watered to keep the soil moist and the roots nourished. And don’t forget Growing Chillies in sunlight will keep them at optimal health.
Are you obsessed with hot chillies like the naga viper pepper? It is a flavour sensation, if you can push past the heat, which sits at about 1 million to 1.5 million Scoville Heat Units. Phew!
To help you understand more about this delicious but totally sweat-inducing chilli pepper, here’s everything you ever wanted to know about the famous naga viper pepper:
What Is The Naga Viper Pepper?
The naga viper chilli has been purposely created by a farmer in England called Gerald Fowler from Cumbria, who crossed the Bhut Jolokia, the Naga Morich and the Trinidad Scorpion and created the naga viper.
The naga viper was known as the hottest chilli pepper in the world in 2011, and although it sits further down the hottest chilli pepper list now, it still packs a real punch.
To determine its heat the pepper had to go through various tests at a special laboratory in Warwick. Those tests rated the heat of the pepper at 1.3 million at the time, a cause for great celebration by its creator Mr Fowler.
Only a year after it was hailed as the world’s hottest pepper the viper was overtaken by one of its parent peppers, no less, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. The Scorpion only reigned for a year itself though as the Carolina Reaper took over and remained in top position as the world’s hottest chilli since 2013.
How Does The Naga Viper Pepper Differ From The Naga Morich?
The naga morich is one of the three chilli peppers used to make the naga viper and it sits at about 1-1.5 million on the Scoville Scale.
The peppers are different though as the morich is essentially one of the three parents of the naga viper.
The Naga Viper – A Taste Experience
The naga viper pepper is considered as one of the hottest chili peppers out there. In fact, it takes the fifth place on the Scoville Scale.
Eating this chili pepper is quite demanding and can be a real challenge for the majority of consumers. Those who have tried this hot pepper described the experience as extremely unpleasant. Many say that tears leaked down their face, while their hands and body trembled.
Don’t take our word for it though, you can check out the effects of this super-hot chilli in this Youtube video.
Clearly, this hot chilli is not for kids, and all potential consumers have to be very careful before they try the naga viper. It is a hundred times hotter than some regular hot chili peppers like the jalapeño so it isn’t just a casual spicy treat, it’s a real taste experience to try one.
Side effects of eating the naga viper aside, its flavour profile is actually one of great depth. It smells very sweet and fruity and when you first try it, those are the taste notes that hit you. Of course, it doesn’t take long for the burn to hit and those fruity notes only seem like a far off memory.
Culinary Uses For The Naga Viper Pepper
The naga viper chilli is mostly used for novelty experiences like chilli eating contests and extremely hot sauces. You can use it in cooking but, to make it palatable enough for regular use you would only be able to use the tiniest amounts at a time, so one would last you a very long time.
Instead, we recommend (carefully and in good health) experiencing the naga viper to its full potential and enjoy trying some of it raw, or some food that contains it such as a curry. The inventor who also runs a pub offers naga viper curry eating experiences, but you have to sign a waiver first!
Can You Grow A Naga Viper?
You can’t currently grow the naga viper because the way it was cultivated has no strong and stable method yet. What that means is the chillies that are made using the cross-breeding still don’t produce peppers that are exactly the same as the parent plants.
In essence – the plants can be made from certain processes, but no naga viper stable strains currently exist.
You would not be able to reproduce one yourself at this time. If you can buy the seeds, the chances are you won’t get a pepper plant exactly like the parent plant it came from, so it’s better to spend your money elsewhere.
You could, however, grow a Carolina Reaper chilli plant which is currently the world record holder for the title of world’s hottest chilli plant.
It sits at over 1.5 million on the Scoville Scale and you can grow it yourself at home.
Will Dragon’s Breath Become The World’s Hottest Chilli?
The naga viper and similar peppers have all had their moment in the spotlight as, for a short time, the worlds hottest chilli. Moving forward, the chances are even the famous Carolina Reaper will be pushed off the throne by another chilli. At the moment there is a rumoured plant that could potentially do just that and it is called dragon’s breath.
Dragons breath chillies have been made by Mike Smith, based in St. Asaph and could top 2.48 on the Scoville Scale. The pepper is thought to be so powerful, in fact, it could actually kill you.
Of course, words mean nothing when it comes to breaking records and lots of testing will need to occur before dragons breath can officially take the crown from the Carolina Reaper.
Will You Be Trying The Naga Viper Pepper?
Trying hot chillies is an interest for some, and even a passion for others. It’s a real adrenaline rush and some people truly enjoy the experience.
If that’s you, perhaps the naga viper pepper should be next on your list as it would be a real achievement to try it, especially considering its rarity because of how it’s made.
The peppers produced by these plants are small and round, they resemble a cherry tomato. Peppers range from mild to hot and register 5000-8000 scoville scale units.
We have a Chili tomato plant in our inner city apartment and we get one full ripe fruit each week from the plant. We bought it at a mature age at a local hardware store for $6AU and it only stands 40cm tall. We would highly recommend the cherry pepper to anyone wanting a small but very colorful chili tree.
Morning sun is ideal with slightly moist soil. In tropical regions the Habanero is one growing chilli that can produce all year round. Colder climates the plant will die off in the winter.
pepper fruits, perfect for use in all kinds of home cooking recipes.
Germination tips, soil tips and all other growing chillies from seed guides are available from 
1.5 million Scoville Heat Units. Phew!