About this seed

Habanero Orange is a very hot habanero (Capsicum chinense, family Solanaceae) whose lantern-shaped fruits ripen from green to bright orange. Heat is 100,000–350,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) with a tropical, citrusy sweetness. The packet holds 5 seeds.

Also known as: Habanero, Chile habanero (Spanish, Mexico), Piment habanero (French), Mirchi (Hindi), Milagai (Tamil), Mulaku (Malayalam), Chile (Spanish), Piment (French), Peperoncino (Italian), Pimenta (Portuguese), Chili (German), Prik (Thai).

Fruit and plant

Fruit: lantern-shaped, 2.5–5 cm long, 10–15 g.
Colour: green, ripening to bright orange.
Heat: 100,000–350,000 SHU.
Plant: compact, 60–90 cm, with dense foliage; grows in beds or containers.

The habanero type traces back to the Amazon region and is a staple of Caribbean and Mexican cooking.

Start indoors in warm soil

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost date and keep the soil at 24–30 °C until seedlings appear. Sow about 0.5 cm deep in well-draining seed-starting mix.

Planting out and harvest

Move seedlings outdoors once the weather is consistently warm, with temperatures above 20 °C. Space plants 30–45 cm apart in full sun, keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, and feed with a balanced fertilizer during the season. Fruit matures in about 90–100 days.

Pick when the fruit is fully orange for full flavour and heat.

Kitchen use

Use it for hot sauces, salsas and marinades and, sparingly, in soups and stews. The orange fruit also makes the plant ornamental.

What you get

5 seeds of Hot Pepper Habanero Orange.

FAQ

How hot is Habanero Orange?

100,000–350,000 SHU.

How deep should I sow?

About 0.5 cm.

When is it ripe?

When fully orange, about 90–100 days.