Habanero Mexican Orange Chili Seeds

Information: The habanero species is thought to originate in the Yucatan region in Mexico. Although the name “habanero” can be translated to mean “someone or something from Havana”, the plant is only found growing in isolation on the island of Cuba. Even today, it is primarily grown on the Yucatan peninsula, however it is predominantly orange and yellow habanero varieties grown here. The red variant usually comes from the Caribbean or the southern states of the USA.

The Habanero Mexican Orange Chili is a traditional, very hot chili variety from Mexico; it is around 50 times hotter than a jalapeño chili. The thin-walled fruits are round, wrinkled and grow to be approximately 5cm long and 3cm wide. Their shape is similar to that of a mini pepper. They have such an intensely fruity flavour, that many other types of chili find it very difficult to compete with the habanero pepper. Their tropical, fruity flavour makes them an essential ingredient in every salsa and means they can be paired particularly well with tropical fruits. The colour changes from pale green to orange. The plants produce a large number of medium-sized orange fruits.

Care: Germination temperature is between 22°C  and 28°C (germination period: 12-21 days); it is therefore recommended to use a greenhouse and a heating mat. The plants need fresh, well-fertilised, permeable soil, and do not tolerate waterlogging. They should be planted in a sunny, protected place with at least 6 hours of sunlight - preferably more. As the plants have a particularly long maturation period, it is recommended to grow them in a pot, so that you can easily bring the plant inside when the temperature falls below 12°C during the day, allowing all the fruits to ripen. To keep the plant over the winter, cut it back by 20cm after harvesting and place in a light place where it is at least 15°C.

You can find plenty of useful tips for successfully growing chili plants in our Chili Cultivation Instructions and in the Chili Diary.