Pepper - Charleston Hot

SKU: PH31334A
CA$3.90
CA$3.90
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9Approximately 220-250 seeds per gram.
Capsicum annuum
Lot# PH31334
The Charleston Hot Pepper was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists in Charleston, South Carolina. Plants can grow to 38-91 cm (15-36”) tall in ideal growing conditions and produce heavy yields of 9 cm (3 ½") long by 2 cm (¾") wide peppers,  that are yellowish-green to yellow to orange and finally red when mature.  They are almost as hot as Habaneros and a favorite for making hot sauce. The Charleston Hot pepper has a Scoville heat unit rating between 70,000-100,000 SHU which is 9-40 times hotter than a Jalapeno pepper.
Planting Instructions:   
  • Start indoors 6-10 weeks (March-April) before your last spring frost.  Sow 4-5 seeds 6mm (¼”) deep in 10cm (4”) pots and cover lightly with soil medium keeping soil moist but not too wet.  We keep under lights at a temperature of 26.7-29˚C (80-85˚F).  Germination rates can vary drastically from 10 days to 21 days. Thin seedlings to 2-3 per pot.  Once seedlings develop their second set of true leaves, prune the first set of true leaves. Pruning the leaves forces secondary growth and creates a bushier plant. We do this on several leaf sets.  If seedlings become too leggy, place them in a cooler location.  This will slow them down and make their stems thicker.  Transplant seedlings when soil has warmed up to 15.6-18˚C (60-65˚F).  Plant transplants 45-61cm (18-24”) apart in rows 61-76cm (24-30”) apart.
  • Note:  Peat pots are not recommended for germinating peppers.  The pH may be too high and peat pots retain a lot of water that may drown the seeds.
  • Soil Conditions:  Well worked, rich, loose, and well-drained soil. Ideal pH: 5.5-6.8
  • Planting Depth:   Sow seeds 6mm (¼) deep.
  • Germination:  8-25 days.
  • Height at Maturity:  Plants reach 38-91cm (15-36") tall.  Bush habit. Spread can be 40-61cm (16-24”) wide.
  •  Days to Maturity:    85-95 days.
  • Watering:   Peppers require about 2.5cm (1”) of water per week. Allow water to completely soak the soil 15-20cm (6-8”) deep. This will ensure good growth, whether vegetables are grown in single hills or wide rows. The amount of rain that falls during the week will help supplement how much you should water your garden.  Soil should remain moist.
  • Sun/Shade:  Full Sun      
  • Spacing after Thinning     Plant transplants 45-61cm (18-24”) apart in rows 61-76cm (24-30”) apart.
Additional Information
When peppers are finished growing they will pull off the plant very easily. If they don't come off easily they are still growing. To prolong a pepper harvest, harvest peppers from the plant regularly.   Peppers are susceptible to rot, blossom end rot, anthracnose, tobacco mosaic virus, bacterial spot, and mildew.  Keep these in check and rotate pepper crops to different areas.  Keep the garden clean and free of weeds where pests and diseases can shelter. Destroy and dispose of infected plants before diseases can spread.  Aphids, cutworms, and flea beetles are common pests for most garden plants and there are a variety of solutions for these.
Pepper seeds can be dipped in a dilute hydrogen peroxide mix (1 tsp hydrogen peroxide per cup water) for one minute to disinfect seeds prior to planting. This process helps get rid of any unwanted or potential bacterial or fungi that may be hitch hiking on your seeds. If your soil or seed sprouting setup is susceptible to mold growth this can be useful to kill the mold spores.