You don’t want to reduce water before the fruits form and you don’t want to let the soil become so dry that the plant is wilting.
When you water, make sure it’s at the soil level and not on the leaves. Water on the foliage can invite fungal and bacterial problems.
If you can’t maintain the soil moisture, consider installing drip irrigation. Trust me, it’s worth the investment.
Weeding
Keep weeds far away from the pepper patch. Weeds compete for water and nutrients, plus they can harbor pests and disease.
Apply a layer of mulch to help keep them at bay. Use a thick layer of grass clippings, shredded bark, or straw. Just be sure the mulch doesn’t touch the stems.
Mulch suppresses weeds, and it also increases moisture in the soil.
Fertilizing
Assuming your soil has no major deficiencies, you can apply an all-purpose fertilizer every three weeks until the fruits set, when the plants are at least a foot tall.
I like Down to Earth’s All Purpose food which has an NPK ratio of 4-6-2.
Down to Earth All Purpose Fertilizer
It’s made from natural ingredients like bone, blood, and alfalfa meal, and comes in a compostable box in one, five, or 15-pound quantities at Arbico Organics.
Cultivars to Select
Habanero isn’t a cultivar; it’s a group of chiles of similar heritage, shape, and heat. There are several fantastic options to choose from.
In many cases, seedlings – and even seeds – will just be listed as “habanero” with no specific cultivar.
Caribbean Red
This chili comes in at 450,000 SHU, with a flavor that is primarily citrus with just a hint of smoke.
There are only a few that are hotter in the habanero group. But it’s not so hot that it overpowers the flavor.
‘Caribbean Red’
It has the classic lantern-like shape but in a bright, stop-sign-red color. If you’re looking for the perfect option for making hot sauces, put this on the list.
You can find ‘Caribbean Red’ seeds available at True Leaf Market in a variety of packet sizes.
Chocolate
Don’t be fooled by the name, this cultivar isn’t a bunch of sweetness.
It’s one of the spicier habaneros that can reach almost 600,000 SHU. The brown hue of the fruits brings along a seriously smoky, earthy punch.
This cultivar was bred in the Caribbean and is slightly larger than the classic with the perfect lantern shape.
‘Chocolate’
If chocolate and chilis instantly bring to mind chipotle or a smoky, chocolate-based mole, you’ve found the perfect option.
The smoky, earthy flavor is perfect for some sweet heat in those types of recipes.
You can find seeds available in a variety of packet sizes at True Leaf Market.
Jamaican Yellow
Whether you call it the mushroom chile or ‘Jamaican Yellow,’ these bright yellow-orange fruits are fairly sweet and low on the habanero scale at about 250,000 SHU.
They look like baby yellow bell peppers, but don’t be fooled. They’ve got that characteristic sweet, smoky heat.
‘Jamaican Yellow’
The plant grows a little taller than the standard, and it often needs staking. This one is an excellent salsa option.
You can find ‘Jamaican Yellow’ seeds available at True Leaf Market.
Magnum
‘Magnum’ has the classic orange habanero look, just blown up a few sizes. The spice level, however, isn’t blown up. It’s one of the mildest on this list at about 210,000 SHU.
‘Magnum’
The plant is extremely productive and can tolerate slightly cooler weather than many hot peppers while still producing bold, hot fruits.
You can find ‘Magnum’ seeds available at High Mowing Organic Seeds.
Sweet
I’m a hothead, so I consider this pepper an abomination. But I mention it for those who want to be able to enjoy the flavor of a habanero without the heat.
Also known as the ‘Habanada’ or ‘Honey Zepper,’ it looks just like a classic habanero, but lacks heat. You can enjoy all that beautiful sweet, citrus, smokiness without the tears.
Sweet Habanero
Plant breeder Michael Mazourek at Cornell bred this cultivar from heatless mutations found in New Mexico.
If you’d like to give it a try, you can find seeds and transplants available at Burpee.
White
You guessed it, this one is white. It has a creamy white hue with the same shape, flavor, heat level, and size of the original.
White Habanero
It’s as if someone just took the classic and bleached it. That color makes it a fun addition to your favorite dish, but I particularly love them dried. They make an unexpected display.
You can find white habanero seeds available at True Leaf Market.
Managing Pests and Disease
Although the heat in chilis keeps them safe from most herbivores, birds are unaffected by capsaicin. Netting or harvesting before the birds get to them usually works for me.
There are a few pests and diseases to keep an eye out for.
Insects
While herbivores are put off by capsaicin, other pests aren’t. There is quite the list of creepy crawlies that will make a meal out of habaneros.
Aphids, armyworms, borers, beetles, maggots, leafhoppers, spider mites, and thrips, to name a few, are common visitors.
Read our guide to pepper pests to learn more.
Disease
There are just two diseases that are common in these plants: Blossom-end rot and bacterial wilt.
Blossom-end rot isn’t a disease. It’s a physiological condition brought on by calcium deficiency. You can’t usually fix it by adding calcium to the soil, though.
