The habanero is one hot pepper! Its name means “from Havana,” but the island couldn’t hold this pepper beauty. The habanero, and its close-kin cultivars, migrated to the Caribbean and Central America a long time ago and established itself as hot pepper royalty. It has a pungent, smoky flavor that sets it apart from other peppers. Enjoy it in sauces and salsas—in moderation, of course.

Scoville scale rating:

• 150,000 to 350,000 SHU

Sun exposure:

• full sun

Soil pH:

• 6.5 to 7.0

Days to maturity:

• 95 to 100 days after planting out

Spacing:

• 18 inches apart; rows 2 to 3 feet apart

Height and spread:

• 18 to 24 inches tall; 16-inch spread

Moisture:

• 1 inch per week

Notes:

• prefers well-drained soil
• peppers grow to 1 to 2 inches
• good for drying, cooking, salsa, and sauces
• unless you live in the Deep South, start your seeds indoors eight to 10 weeks before transplanting, which you should plan for two to three weeks after your expected last frost

Have you ever tried growing habanero peppers? Are there any challenges you face growing them? Please tell us your best tips for growing habanero peppers.