CHILLI PEPPERS

August 31, 2011 at 5:32 pm deptfordallotments Leave a comment

I thought I had the hottest chilli pepper in the world, the Bhut Jolokia, growing in my polytunnel. It seems that as of March 1st, 2011 the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T has topped the records reaching 1463700 Scolville units. Dammit!

Scolville units aside, I have also planted Hungarian Wax, Cayenne and Scotch Bonnets. For more contained plants, I have used 15 to 20 cm pots to constrain the roots, and encourage fruit production by using a general feed followed by a tomato feed when peppers appear.

Last years’ crop, which was planted in the ground, produced massive plants with too many chillies: I threaded them through the stem and hung them in a well ventilated place to dry. They can be used as you would fresh chillies or crush them in a pepper mill or coffee grinder to make chilli flakes or powder.