Pepper Seeds - Hot - Scotch Bonnet Yellow
90-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Scotch Bonnet Yellow Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, hot pepper with extra hot heat levels. 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden plots containers, raised beds, and greenhouses. The Yellow Scotch Bonnet is flavorful with hot, fruity-smoking undertones. Many say it is hotter than the habanero pepper. Enough to make your lips go numb. ~5,000 seeds/oz.
Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF
Growing Yellow Scotch Bonnet Hot Peppers in the Vegetable Garden
Yellow Scotch Bonnet Hot peppers need to be started indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in your region. Sow the seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch in a quality seed-starting mix. Use seed trays or small pots, and lightly cover the seeds with soil. Maintain a warm temperature of 75-85 F to encourage germination. Using a heat mat can help maintain consistent warmth and improve germination rates. Cultivate the seedlings indoors with high light and moderate warmth. Fertilize lightly.
Before transplanting your seedlings outdoors, they need to be hardened off to acclimate them to the outdoor environment. About 10-14 days before transplanting, begin by placing the seedlings outside for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their exposure to sunlight and outdoor conditions. This gradual transition helps prevent transplant shock and prepares the plants for outdoor growth.
Once the danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures are consistently above 60 F, it’s time to transplant your Yellow Scotch Bonnet seedlings into the garden. Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Space the plants about 18-24 inches apart in well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Ensure the soil is warm, ideally above 70 F, before transplanting. Use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at the rate recommended on the package.
Consistent watering is crucial for Yellow Scotch Bonnet peppers, especially during flowering and fruit development. Water deeply and regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Apply a side-dressing of a high-potassium and high-phosphorus fertilizer (5-10-10) every 4-6 weeks. Mulching around the plants can help retain moisture and reduce the frequency of watering.
Harvesting Yellow Scotch Bonnet Hot Peppers
Yellow Scotch Bonnet peppers are typically ready to harvest about 90-100 days after transplanting. The peppers are ripe when they turn a bright yellow color. To harvest, use a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears to cut the peppers from the plant, leaving a small portion of the stem attached. This method helps reduce the risk of damaging the plant.
About Yellow Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper Garden Seeds
For Scotch Bonnet peppers, it's highly recommended that you wear gloves when harvesting them (and also avoid touching your face or eyes until you've thoroughly washed your hands after handling them).
Also known widely as Bonney peppers or Caribbean red peppers, the Scotch Bonnet hot pepper is one of the most internationally cherished cultivars of hot pepper ever.
Native to Africa and having since naturalized through the Caribbean, Yellow Scotch Bonnet peppers are known for their intense heat, which can range from 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
If you’re learning to make authentic Jerk chicken or Jamaican Rice and Peas from home, you will need to scotch bonnet pepper plants!
Tips From Our Gardeners
"Peppers do very well with containers as long as there is at least 5 gallons of soil. When the plants are small, it is easy to want to put them in small containers to take up less space, but you will need to keep repotting them if you don’t want stunted plants!"
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- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
Other Resources
Yellow Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper Seeds Per Package:
- 500mg - Wholesale - Approximately 60 Seeds
- .25 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 850 Seeds
- 1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 3,400 Seeds
- 4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 12,600 Seeds
- 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 54,400 Seeds
Non-GMO Yellow Scotch Bonnet Hot Pepper seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
=======Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Capsicum chinense |
| Pepper Type: | Hot - These peppers all have some heat and usually rank at least 100, but usually 500 or more on the Scoville scale and have heat ranging from mild to extremely hot.. |
| Scotch Bonnet Red Pepper Color: | Yellow |
| Scotch Bonnet Red Pepper Flavor: | Hot with fruity-smoky undertones |
Growing Info
| Hardiness Zone: | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Technically a tender perennial, but commonly grown as an annual. Perennial in zones 10 and 11. |
| Days to Maturity: | 90-100 (from transplant) |
| Days to Germination: | 7-10 |
| Seeding Depth: | 0.25 inch |
| Plant Spacing: | 18-24 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 24-36 inches |
| Plant Height: | 24-36 inches |
| Growth Habit: | Upright |
| Soil Preference: | Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.5 pH), and moisture retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting, similar to tomatoes. Peppers also need sufficient amounts of phosphorus and calcium. We recommend using a balanced fertilizer for the best results. |
| Temperature Preference: | Warmer (70-85 F). During high heat, foliar and flower development slow or pause until temperatures return to the preferred range. |
| Light Preference: | Full Sun |
Other
| Direct Sow: | No |
| Start Indoors: | Yes. Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Harden off and transplant when seedlings are 6-8 inches tall. Bury the stem slightly deeper than the root ball. Avoid planting hot and sweet peppers right next to each other, as they can cross-pollinate, potentially affecting the flavors of your harvested peppers. |
| Pepper Pollination: | Peppers have perfect flowers (male and female parts) and will self-pollinate. However, wind and pollinator activity may increase success rates of fertilization and fruit production. |
| Plant Width: | 18-24 inches |
| Deer Resistant: | Yes |
| Scoville Heat Units: | 100,000 to 350,000 |
| Heat Level: | Extra Hot - 100,000 to 300,000 on the Scoville Scale. Example: Most Habaneros |
| Growth Speed: | Late - Ready for harvest around 91 days or more from transplant. |
| Germination Temperature: | 80-90 F |
| Pests and Diseases: | Peppers are commonly susceptible to cutworms, aphids, flea beetles, bacterial spot, Phytophthora, sunscald, and blossom end rot. To avoid or reduce problems with pests and diseases, stick to a regular watering schedule (drip irrigation is preferred), plant into well-draining soils, and utilize practices such as crop rotation. When taking pest control measures, consider utilizing integrated pest management principles by using mechanical removal, biological control, and other cultural practices before turning to chemical agents. |
| Garden Size: | Container, Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed |