Growing Habaneros in Pots

Starting Seeds

• If you aren't certain a nearby garden center will have habanero starts available in spring, start your own seeds in late winter. Start the seeds indoors approximately six to eight weeks before your area's last average frost date. Fill 2-inch-wide nursery pots with clean potting soil and then plant three or four habanero seeds in each pot. Keep the pots warm and the soil moist and the seeds should sprout within two weeks. Once the seedlings reach 3 inches tall, thin them to one plant per pot. Once nighttime temperatures average 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above, you can transplant the seedlings into their permanent outdoor containers.

Container and Soil

• The most important feature of the container for your habanero plants is its size. A container that's too small won't allow the plant to grow to its full size and a container too large will lead to over-watering. Use a container that has drainage holes in it. For habanero and other peppers, choose a pot that holds 1 to 2 gallons of soil. Pots with diameters of 8 to 10 inches should be a good size for your habanero. Fill the pots with a potting soil mix that contains vermiculite or perlite. This makes for a well-draining potting medium that doesn't dry out too quickly. Because garden soil compacts and doesn't drain well, don't use it in containers.

Where to Place

• Habaneros need full sun and heat, but not too much heat. Place your habanero container in a spot where it will receive at least six hours of sun each day. Peppers prefer temperatures between 70 and 80 F during the day and nothing lower than 60 F at night. If the temperatures climb above 90 F, the plants may drop their flowers and any developing fruit will struggle. When the temperatures soar, shade the plant or move it out of strong sun to keep it cool. If cold weather hits after you've moved your pepper outside, bring it indoors to a bright spot until the weather warms again.

Habanero Care

• After planting your habanero, place a layer of mulch around the plant to retain moisture. The soil for your peppers should never be allowed to dry out, but should also not be kept soggy. Water the pot deeply whenever the top 2 inches of soil feel dry. For trouble-free feeding, insert a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer stick into your habanero pot. The nutrient balance should be in a 1-2-2 ratio such as 5-10-10. Insert a new stick once the first one has completely dissolved.

Harvesting Habaneros

• Fully ripe habaneros are orange to red in color, but you can also harvest them when they're yellow if you're impatient for a dose of spicy heat. Pulling the peppers off the stem can break the plant, so use clippers or kitchen scissors to harvest the peppers. When the first fall frost is predicted, harvest any remaining peppers from the plant. Whenever handling hot peppers, wear gloves and do not rub your eyes before thoroughly washing your hands.