Makin’ Habaneros – Part II
The first and most obvious items you are going to need are the seeds. You can get seeds from just about any grocery store, hardware store, big box building store or even by drying out your own seeds. If you want to grow common varieties such as Cayenne, Jalapeno, or Hungarian wax, you can pick them up at the places mentioned above. If you are looking for the hard to find at your grocery store types such as Habanero, Bhut Jolokia, Thai varieties, or other exotic species, look no further than mail order companies on the Internet.
There are several sites that you can purchase seeds from online all over the world. Here are just a few;
http://www.pepperjoe.com (highly recommended)
http://www.chilepepperinstitute.org/ (BJ, baby! Bhut Jolokia that is)
Pepper Joe has been my main source for pepper seeds, they have about 5 different varieties of the Habanero (white, pumpkin, golden, spicy mustard etc) along with some really gems such as heirloom peppers (golden nugget new this year). Every seed I have purchased so far from Pepper Joe has germinated (that is an amazing product).
The Chili Pepper Institute is the Institute. This is where most of the scientific research goes into the chili pepper. It is a part of the University of New Mexico but also about one of the most reliable sources for Bhut Jolokia seeds (mine are already on order, $5 for 10 seeds). The also offer many hybrid and genetically engineered varieties that are changing the boundaries of the chili pepper industry.
Reimer Seeds is another, well known source for a wide selection of hot pepper seeds including the Chocolate Habanero, Red Savina Habanero and many more.
If you haven’t ordered your seeds, get those orders going! You are going to need them to be ready to get a good head start on our First Weekend in March Seed Planting Day!!!
— Jay
I can’t believe people still order from Reimer’s. They are THE WORST company to get seeds from. I MUST STRESS TO EVERYONE THAT THEY SHOULD AVOID THAT COMPANY AT ALL COSTS!
I can’t say anything about Reimer’s; BUT I’ve been ordering from Pepperjoe for fours years now..and have always been happy.
I’d say Pepperjoe is the way to go! (of course you can always save some seeds from a good plant for next year…, and my Pepperjoe Hab plant is still doing great during this winter; ready for the spring…5 years old.)
I have never ordered from Riemers either, I know that they are well known which is why I added them to the list. I only order from Pepper Joe too.
I did get my order in for my Bhut Jolokias though from The Chili Pepper Institute. As Pepper Joe doesn’t have them available yet.
Pepper Joe does have the following write up on the Bhut Jolokia and it will be available next year from him….
http://www.pepperjoe.com/hottest.html
–Jay
There is also a great place in NJ called Cross Country Nurseries. They have over 500 varieties of chilies to choose from.
http://www.chileplants.com/
I have been ordering chile plants to grow for personal use from these people since the spring of ’00. No complaints really thus far.
I don’t know that she sells seeds although it wouldn’t shock me if she did, but check out http://www.thechilewoman.com
She’s one heck of a nice lady, give her an email or just order some starter plants.
I just picked up this months copy of Chili Pepper Magazine (March 2008) and it has an awesome article on page 88 on growing Bhut Jolokias. You should check it out!! It is writted by the Chile Pepper Institutes’ Director Dr. Paul Bosland.
–Jay