CAUTION, this variety is for experienced enthusiasts only. This small pepper ranks at over 1 million Scoville Heat Units. In 2007, Guinness World Records certified the Ghost Pepper as the world's hottest chili. The elongated, bumpy fruits with rough skin are 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) long and about 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter, so they should be handled and tasted with caution: Gloves and protective eyewear are necessary!
Eight weeks before the last expected frost, sow your seeds indoors at a depth of 1/4" and maintain the room temperature at 25-30°C (60-65°F). Provide them with supplemental light to prevent the plants from becoming leggy. When all danger of frost is eliminated, acclimate your plants for a few days and plant them in the garden 12 to 16 inches apart. Pepper plants appreciate a rich, moist, and weed-free soil, so provide them with mulch to help with better control.
Normally, peppers have a stronger flavor if they ripen for a longer time on the plant. However, ripe peppers signal the plant to stop production. Harvest the green ones to ensure a longer vegetable production.
During harvest, cut the stem with scissors to avoid breaking the plant's fragile stem. Protect your hands and eyes when handling peppers, as they can cause irritation.
