Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Habanero Sweet Red
80 to 85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Habanero Sweet Red Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, sweet-type, with mild heat levels. 0 to 100 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Habanero Sweet Red contains the same fruity flavor as their hot cousins but without the scorching heat. These red lantern-shaped peppers mature slightly earlier than the standard red habanero. ~5,000 seeds/oz.
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Growing Habanero Sweet Red Peppers in the Vegetable Garden
Start growing your peppers by prepping your seed starting trays. You should plant the seeds about 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date. Plant the seeds in either a well-draining soil or in a seed starting mix like Minute Soil Coco Clair. The pH of the soil should be about 6.5. The seeds should be planted about 0.25 inches deep. Make sure the soil stays moist, but don’t overwater your seeds. You can stick your pinky into the soil to see if it is dry below the surface. If it is, then give your plants a little water, but make sure you don’t overwater them. Keep your peppers in a warm spot, ideally between 80-90 F, and if it's a bit chilly, a grow light can be a great help for helping your seeds germinate. Once those seedlings pop up, usually in about 7-10 days, expose them to some cooler air before moving them outside! After they are a few inches tall, you can plant them in the garden or in planters. Make sure to cover the roots completely as you are planting the seedlings. Space them about 12-18 inches apart and space rows 2-3 feet apart. Try to choose an area of your garden that has not been used for other nightshades recently. Make sure you aren’t planting hot and sweet pepper varieties close to each other to avoid cross-pollination.
Taking good care of your plants will ensure that you end up with a great harvest of peppers! Make sure to water them consistently. The soil should be moist beneath the surface, but make sure not to overwater them. You can stick your finger in the soil to see how the moisture levels are beneath the surface. To help your plants grow, you can try giving them fertilizer full of phosphorus and calcium. Be sure to follow the instructions on your fertilizer and not over-fertilize them. Sprinkling mulch around the base of the plant can help retain moisture and can also help with suppressing weeds. Don't forget to give your plants a little support with stakes or trellises to keep them standing tall as they start to grow fruit. Try companion planting with plants like marigolds and herbs like basil, which can help attract beneficial insects to the garden, as well as deterring pests. And keep an eye on your peppers - if you spot any pests or diseases, make sure to treat them immediately!
Harvesting Habanero Sweet Red Peppers
As your peppers start to grow bright fruit, keep watch for the perfect harvest moment. Usually, they'll be ready to pick around 80-85 days after transplanting, with a vibrant yellow hue and will feel firm. Since these are sweet peppers with a mild heat level, they're at their tastiest when fully ripe - they’ll be glossy and a bright yellow. When it's time to harvest, take your garden shears or a knife and give your peppers a clean snip off the plant, leaving a little stem on the plant. Since they’re sweet peppers, they will taste better when they’re fully ripe. If you pick them early, the fruit may be bitter.
About Habanero Sweet Red Pepper Garden Seeds
Habanero peppers originate from the Amazon region, in South America. There have even been intact pepper pods discovered in a cave in Peru that could date back to 6500 B.C.!
These peppers are lantern shaped and they mature slightly earlier than a normal yellow habanero variety. These peppers are sweeter than standard habaneros - about 0-100 Scoville Heat Units. They have a slightly fruity flavor.
These peppers probably aren’t a great fit for hanging baskets, but they can grow well in raised beds, garden plots, or greenhouses.
Tips From Our Gardeners
"Make sure you aren’t planting sweet peppers close to hot varieties. They could cross-pollinate!"
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- Chelsea Hafer, True Leaf Market Writer |
Other Resources
Habanero Sweet Red Pepper Seeds Per Package:
- 300 mg packet - Approximately 53 Seeds
- 0.25 oz - Approximately 1,250 Seeds
- 1 oz - Approximately 5,000 Seeds
- 4 oz - Approximately 20,000 Seeds
- 1 lb - Approximately 80,000 Seeds
Non-GMO Golden Greek Pepperoncini Pepper seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
=======Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Capsicum chinense |
| Pepper Type: | Sweet - These peppers (think Bell Peppers) are almost all at 0 on the Scoville Scale, meaning that they have no heat at all. A handful of sweet peppers do register very low on the Scoville scale but are still classed as sweet peppers. For example, Pepperoncinis are sweet peppers but usually rank around 100 to 500 on the Scoville Scale. |
| Habanero Sweet Red Pepper Color: | Red |
| Habanero Sweet Red Pepper Flavor: | Fruity |
Growing Info
| Hardiness Zone: | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Technically a tender perennial, but commonly grown as an annual. Perennial in zones 10 and 11. |
| Days to Maturity: | 80 to 85 (from transplant) |
| Days to Germination: | 7-10 |
| Seeding Depth: | 0.25 inch |
| Plant Spacing: | 18 to 24 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 24 to 36 inches |
| Plant Height: | 18 to 24 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 7-9 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 to 24 inches |
| Deer Resistant: | No |
| Scoville Heat Units: | 0 to 100 |
| Heat Level: | Mild - 100 to 2,500 on the Scoville Scale. Example: Poblano Ancho or Pepperoncini |
| Growth Speed: | Mid - Ready for harvest around 76 to 90 days 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: | Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed |