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BESTSOILFORGROWING GHOSTPEPPERS<br />
<strong>Bhut</strong>JolokiaChiliPeppers<br />
akaGhostPepper<br />
Ghostpeppersneedlight,wel-drainingsoil.Apeat-basedsoiltendstowork<br />
wel.Avoidheavyclayandpotingmix.SoilpH shouldbe6.0–6.8.Itsalways<br />
agoodideatoamendyoursoilwithmaturecompostpriortoplanting.Thiswil<br />
ensuretheplantshavethenutrientstheyneedstraightaway.<br />
PLANTING<br />
Germinatingseedsisthefirsttoughobstaclewhentryingtogrow<br />
ghostpeppers.Forbestresults,youneedtosow yourseedsindoors.Soakthe<br />
seedsinwaterovernightbeforeplanting.Sow oneseedineachseedlingtray<br />
compartment.Provideconstantbotom heat,suchasfrom aheatingpad.The<br />
soiltemperaturemustremainbetween80°F–90°Fforsuccessfulgermination.<br />
Keepthesoilconsistentlymoist,butnevertoowetwhiletheseedspropagate.<br />
Keepoutofdirectsunlightuntilthefirstsproutsappear.Youcanevencover<br />
withplastictohelpmaintainmoistureinthesoil.Germinationshouldoccur<br />
within7-21daysbutsproutingcantakeupto40days,sobepatient.<br />
Transplantseedlingsinto4-inchpotsassoonasthesecondsetoftrue<br />
leavesappear.Donottransplantoutdoorsuntiltemperaturesreachaconstant<br />
70°Forhigher,evenatnight.Slightlycoolnightimetemperaturescanstuntor<br />
evenkilyourghostpepperplantveryeasily.<br />
Onceyouarereadytotransplantoutdoors,dosoverycarefulyby<br />
hardeningofyourseedlings.Thismeansintroducingthem totheoutdoorenvironmentgradualy.Placetheseedlingpotsoutdoorsduringtheday,foracouple<br />
hoursthefirstdayaddinganhourortwoeachsubsequentday.Dothisfor10<br />
days.Onthe10thday,leavethem outsideintheirpotsovernight.Carefuly<br />
transplantintomoistsoilthenextmorningbeforeitgetstoohot.Donotletthe<br />
rootsdryoutduringtransplant,whichcanhappenveryquicklyifyou’renot<br />
careful.Transplantseedlings24-36inchesapart.<br />
WATERING & CARE<br />
Waterregularly.Givethem agoodlongsoaktwiceperweekduringdryspels.<br />
Trytokeepthesoilslightlymoistbutnevermuddy.Overheadwateringcan<br />
fostermoldandotherplantdiseases,sobesttowateratthebaseoftheplantand<br />
intheearlymorning.<br />
Handweedcarefuly.Addafew inchesoforganicmulch,likewoodchips,straw<br />
orleafdebris.Thiswilkeepweedsdownwhilealsokeepingthesoilwarm and<br />
moist.Thisisessentialforgrowingghostpeppers.<br />
FERTILIZING<br />
Ghostpepperswilbenefitfrom aregularfeedingofawel-balanced,organic<br />
fertilizerorcomposttea.Avoidhighnitrogenfertilizers.Theycreatelush<br />
foliage,butpoorpeppers.<br />
POLLINATION<br />
Properpolinationiskeytogrowingsuccessfulghost<br />
peppers.Trytointroducebeesandotherbeneficialinsectsbygrowinglotsofflowersinyourgarden.Make<br />
surethepeppersaregrowninaspotwithgoodaircirculationandspacedproperly.Ifyouarenotnoticing<br />
lotsofbeneficialinsectsinandaroundyourpepper<br />
plantsandiftheyareproducingflowersbutnotfruit,<br />
youmayneedtohandpolinate.Useasmal,clean<br />
paintbrushandgentlybrushthecenterbudofeach<br />
flower.Theideaistospreadpolenfrom flowerto<br />
flower.<br />
HARVESTING<br />
Ghostpepperswiltransform from greentoorangeand<br />
thentoavibrantredoncetheyarereadyforharvest.<br />
Alwaysweargloveswhenhandlingghostpeppersand<br />
avoidcontactwiththefaceoreyes.Pickorclipthem<br />
ofofthevine.Youcaneatorpreparethem freshordry<br />
them out.Theytendtobeevenmorepotentifdried<br />
beforeconsuming.
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