Habanero Pepper is from Mexico. This vegetable is one of the most burning and incredibly hot peppers. For the first time, Habanero began to be imported to China and Europe, but today the variety is the basis of the famous Tabasco sauce and is in great demand in cooking. This is an exotic plant, so for its cultivation you need to create certain conditions and pay maximum attention.
Habanero pepper has a burning taste
Habanero can be orange or even chocolate
Habañero pepper
Origin of Habanero Pepper
Pepper got its name thanks to the Cuban capital Havana. But there may be a scientific name - "Chinese capsicum", which was given to him in the 18th century. Austrian botanist N. Jacen. During his trip to the West Indies, the scientist found an incredibly bright and beautiful vegetable, but was sure that it was brought from China to America.
The homeland of the Habanero pepper was the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and the Caribbean Islands. In ancient Maya and Incas, burning fruits were used both for cooking and various rituals. After Columbus discovered America, this variety began to gradually conquer Eurasia and today it is widely grown around the world.
Mexican pepper is a tropical plant, however, if the right conditions are created, it can be successfully grown in our regions. Quite often, Habanero is used as a decorative culture, as it has a very attractive appearance and looks good both in a pot and in a flowerbed.
Grade description
Habanero is considered to be the sharpest. Outwardly, the fruits look completely harmless and very attractive, reminiscent of paprika. Due to the fact that pepper has a very burning taste, it is never consumed fresh. It is often ground to obtain spices or used during preservation.
A distinctive feature of the species is its high productivity. Most gardeners grow Habanero bushes exclusively for decorative purposes. It all depends on the particular variety - the fruits can be orange or yellow, there are dark brown as well as white. The culture does not tolerate too frequent watering, so it is better to water rarely, but very plentifully. In this case, the variety will produce a stable and large crop.
Habanero is a valuable source of various trace elements with vitamins. Hot pepper contains calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, including vitamins A, B, C and D.
Fetal characteristic
Only one Habanero bush per year can bear about 90-100 small fruits (weight about 2-3 kg). If you create as close as possible conditions to natural conditions, several times a year bear fruit.
Fruits are not too large - about 2-2.5 cm wide and no more than 6 cm long. The weight of one fully ripened pepper is within 35-55 g. The fruits are irregular heart-shaped, the pod walls are thin, smooth skin, waxy.
If the fruit is not fully ripe, it has a green tint. When the pod has reached full ripeness, it can be yellow, red, chocolate, orange and white (the shade depends on the particular type of pepper).
Habanero is considered one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs in the world, therefore it is useful for the stronger sex.
Taste qualities
Outwardly, Habanero resembles the usual bell pepper, but only smaller. Therefore, vegetables may seem the most harmless, but in reality it is one of the sharpest foods in the world. A tiny piece is enough for a real fire to start in the mouth, which will be very difficult to extinguish.
Pepper contains capsaicin, which is completely insoluble in water. Therefore, it simply does not work to alleviate the condition after eating Habanero with water. The best remedy against pepper hotness is milk. It is milk protein that perfectly cleanses the body of capsaicin.
More than a hundred years ago, a special Wilbur Scoville scale was developed, which is a system for measuring the severity of pepper. Various varieties of Habanero can reach not only 100, but also 500 thousand units of measure (scovilly). It is from this indicator that the use of fruits will be determined.
The use of Habanero pepper
Habanero cannot be used to make fresh salads or stews. Apply this variety only in the form of seasoning, adding during cooking in minimal quantities.
It is not recommended to eat raw peppers, as this can be dangerous for the stomach.
Variety varieties
Several varieties of hot pepper of this variety are known. The main difference is not only the color of the fruit, but also the degree of burning:
Growing Features
It is taking into account how suitable the conditions for growing pepper will be, and the volume and quality of the crop depend. It can be grown both in the greenhouse and on the windowsill in your own apartment. Most importantly, you need to choose the right temperature, light level and humidity in the room. Creating ideal conditions will allow you to get a crop all year round.
Lighting and temperature
This variety of hot pepper is a thermophilic plant. When planning to grow in open ground, you should opt for well-lit areas where the sun is all day long. Make sure that there are no drafts and strong winds, otherwise the plant may die. Ideal conditions for growing pepper of this variety is + 20 ... + 25 degrees Celsius.
You can grow a crop at home. In this case, place a pot of plants on the southern windows. Make sure that there are no gaps or drafts in the windows.
Soil preparation and tanks
For planting pepper seeds, use small and opaque containers, as light adversely affects the roots. Simple plastic cups are a good choice, but wrap them in foil first.
When growing in a greenhouse, stop the selection on small containers or plant them in wooden boxes. In the latter case, put a drainage layer on the bottom of the box - fine expanded clay, crushed brick or polystyrene are perfect.
For planting seeds, use a pre-prepared substrate. This may be an acquired ready-made mixture. Also, the composition can be prepared independently - in equal proportions mix humus with a small amount of peat, vermiculite, perlite. Keep the following proportions - 2: 1: 1. Be sure to sanitize the soil.
So that the seedlings better tolerate a future transplant, you can use the soil from the garden.
Seed preparation and planting dates
Before proceeding directly to the planting of seeds, conduct their proper preparation:
- about 25-30 days before sowing, warm the grains;
- treat purchased seeds with a fungicide, can be placed in a potassium permanganate solution, add a little salt, then rinse with clean water;
- do not use those grains that have surfaced after processing with potassium permanganate, as they will not bear fruit;
- for 2-3 days, place the grains on a cotton pad and moisten with a small amount of water;
- make sure that the grains are not only constantly moist, but also warm - as soon as they swell, they begin to germinate.
Sow seeds about 9 weeks before the intended transplantation of seedlings at a constant place of growth. Most often this time falls on February.
Sowing technology
So that the seeds give good shoots, adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
- for planting, use a substrate that is preheated to +25 degrees Celsius;
- seeds are placed to a depth of about 1 cm, but no more;
- when disembarking in a box, leave a distance of at least 5 cm between rows;
- after sowing, sprinkle the grains with soil and slightly compact;
- pour warm water;
- cover with transparent film or glass on top to create a greenhouse effect.
After about 2-4 weeks, the first shoots will begin to appear. The growth rate directly depends not only on the quality of the seed used, but also on the composition of the soil. At night, the indicator on the thermometer should not be below +16 degrees. Moisten the soil only with warm water using a spray gun.
Read more about how and when to plant pepper for seedlings in the next article.
Seedling Care
Remove film or glass when the first shoots appear. Provide seedlings with lighting for at least 16 hours. You can additionally use lamps if there is not enough natural light. But place the lamps at a distance of at least 10 cm.
Regularly ventilate the room in which the seedlings are located. As soon as 3-4 full leaves appear on the sprouts, plant them in separate containers if pepper is grown in a box.
Dive as follows:
- prepare individual containers, the diameter of which should be at least 8 cm;
- fill the containers with a substrate;
- water the seedlings well and carefully remove;
- pinch the root and place in a pre-watered substrate;
- deepen the sprout to cotyledon leaves, sprinkle with soil, slightly compact;
- pour and mulch with humus, you can add ash, but in small quantities.
Landing and timing
When 7-9 full-fledged leaves appear on the sprouts, you can start transplanting to a permanent place. It is desirable that the height of the plant was about 18 cm, and the air temperature at night did not fall below +15 degrees Celsius. Most often, the ideal time for a Habanero transplant occurs at the end of May.
Before transplanting, to lighten the soil, add humus and peat. Transplant the plant along with the old soil, so it will be easier for him to transfer the not-so-pleasant procedure and adapt faster to a new place.
Features of plant care in the open ground
Most importantly, ensure the correct watering regime, timely pollination and pruning, and do not forget about the benefits of fertilizing.
Watering mode
Young plants need constant watering. However, care must be taken to prevent stagnation of water, otherwise Habanero may fall ill and die. Water the plants every 2-3 days, taking into account 1-1.5 liters per bush.
When growing at home, with the onset of winter, reduce watering - no more than once a week. In April, pepper needs a lot of moisture, because during this period an active growth of green mass begins.
Top dressing
During the period of active growth, apply nitrogen fertilizers. With the onset of flowering and fruiting, do not use nitrogen fertilizers, as they do not allow the formation of ovaries and adversely affect the taste of the fruits. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer packaging.
Throughout the season, actively use phosphorus species of top dressing, as they positively affect the growth of the plant and bring the greatest benefit to the roots. Feed according to the proportions indicated in the attached instructions.
Organic fertilizers bring great benefits to Habanero, with the exception of only fresh manure.
Pruning and pollinating
Remove the first flowers that appear. This must be done in order for the bush to gain strength.
When grown in open ground, pollination is performed by insects. If Habanero is grown at home on a windowsill, take a brush and transfer the pollen yourself by hand.
Rationing and harvesting
To normalize the crop, with the beginning of flowering, remove the first flowers. This will allow the plant to grow stronger and give better fruits.
Harvest as pepper ripens. You should not collect more green pods, as they will not have the characteristic taste of Habanero.
Disease and Pest Prevention
Habanero is highly resistant to most diseases associated with nightshade. Most often it suffers from nematodes. You can get rid of this problem with a hot bath, for this, follow these tips:
- carefully dig up the bush so as not to injure the roots;
- clean the roots of the soil;
- Place the root for several minutes in a container filled with hot water (about +50 degrees) - this procedure is detrimental to nematodes.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantages of Habanero are:
- an incredibly high degree of sharpness, so the variety is widely used in cooking;
- simple cultivation;
- decorative appearance;
- high productivity.
Cons of this grade are:
- strong heat lovingness and even small frosts can destroy the bush;
- low resistance to nematodes;
- strong bitterness - it is better to carry fruit picking with gloves.
Reviews
Alina, 30 years old, manager, Moscow. I grow Habanero at home in a flower pot. Peppers are incredibly hot, even if added in minimal amounts to the sauce. But outwardly it looks very beautiful and interesting. Therefore, I grow as a decorative plant.
Stanislav, 40 years old, farmer, Voronezh. For me, this variety has become a real find, because I love spicy food. Of course, you have to work hard to create suitable conditions for this exotic plant. But the result is worth the effort and time.
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Habanero pepper is a thermophilic and perennial plant, so it can be grown both in open ground and in a pot on the windowsill. The bush is very beautiful in appearance, and the fruits will be a great addition to a hot sauce.