CALL US NOW
022 485 7058
🌶️ Ghost Chilli ‘Bhut Jolokia’ – A fiery legend with a smoky punch!
Once crowned the world’s hottest chilli, the Bhut Jolokia (a.k.a. Ghost Pepper) still ranks as one of the most fearsome firebombs out there — with over 1 million Scoville Heat Units! Native to Northeast India, this slow-ripening chilli brings intense heat with a smoky, slightly fruity flavour that adds serious kick to curries, sauces, and chilli oils.
Sowing Time:
Late spring to midsummer (September–December) — Ghost Peppers love long, hot summers. Start early indoors if your growing season is short.
Germination:
14–35 days at 26–32°C
Ghost chillies germinate slowly and love warmth! Use a heat mat or warm, sunny windowsill to maintain even temperatures.
Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep and keep moist but not soggy.
Transplanting:
Transplant when seedlings have at least 4 true leaves and all danger of frost is past. Harden off gradually to full sun.
Full sun — 6–8+ hours of direct sunlight per day.
Ghost peppers demand heat and light to thrive and fruit well.
Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost or aged manure.
pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0–6.8)
Ghosts don’t like “wet feet,” so raised beds or containers with good drainage work well.
Moderate — keep soil moist but never soggy.
Water deeply when the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Reduce watering slightly once fruit starts to ripen.
120–150 days from sowing
Fruits mature from green to bright red-orange with a wrinkled, ghostly appearance.
Harvest with gloves and caution — even brushing against ripe pods can transfer oils.
90–120 cm tall
60–90 cm wide
Upright, bushy plants perfect for sunny beds or large pots. Stake if needed.
✔️ Be patient — Bhut Jolokia takes time to ripen, especially in cooler regions
✔️ Handle seeds, seedlings, and fruit with gloves
✔️ Feed monthly with potassium-rich fertiliser (like tomato food)
✔️ Pick ripe fruits regularly to keep plants producing
✔️ Ideal for drying or fermenting into hot sauce
Attracts bees and helpful pollinators with its delicate white flowers — great for the garden ecosystem!
✔️ One of the hottest chillies on earth
✔️ Smoky, complex heat ideal for hot sauces, pickles, powders
✔️ A true talking point for spice lovers and brave gardeners
✔️ Grows well in containers or garden beds with enough sun
✔️ Stores beautifully dried or frozen for year-round fire
⚠️ CAUTION:
Use gloves, avoid eye contact, and wash hands after handling — this chilli is no joke. Start small when tasting!
Grow the Ghost if you dare — and bring heat, drama, and flavour to your garden with the legendary Bhut Jolokia! 🌶️👻🔥
