How to Cultivate Habanero Pepper Plants in an Earthbox From Seedlings

Earthboxes are a simple though very effective means by which to grow finicky or difficult plants and vegetables. An earthbox is a rectangular container identical to a window box, that also contains an irrigation system and reservoir for water. What this does is ensure that as long as the reservoir is full, the plants in the earthbox will always have enough water available to them, but because the plants themselves are the ones taking water from the reservoir, they can never be over watered. This is ideal when trying to grow habanero peppers, which require a good deal of water, but are notoriously prone to mildew and other diseases that are caused by standing or stagnant water.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sharp knife
• Scissors
• Soil temperature gauge
• Cedar chip mulch
• Organic potting soil
• 15-15-15 NPK fertilizer
• Perlite, 2 to 3 lbs.
• Black plastic gardening sheeting
• Water
• Earthbox, 2 1/2 feet long by 8 inches wide

1. Obtain habanero seeds by purchasing a pepper from the supermarket. Slit it open with a sharp knife and remove the seeds. Leave the seeds out in the open sun to air for a week before planting.

2. Begin planting in very late winter or very early spring before the last frost is due. Fill your earthbox with organic potting soil and thin it out by adding perlite.

3. Place two or three habanero seeds equidistant from one another in the box. Push them about an inch down from the top of the soil, and then fill the box’s water reservoir. Cover the top of the soil with a thick layer of cedar mulch. This will help to insulate the sun’s rays, since habanero plants typically prefer a soil temperature of above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Place the box in a window sill if you live in a climate which regularly drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise place them anywhere outside that gets maximum sunlight. Use your soil temperature gauge to check them each day. If for any reason the temperature drops below 45 degrees, get them indoors immediately as the seeds can die if they are chilled for too long. Your plants should sprout in mid to late spring; habaneros grow slowly.

5. Cut out a sheet of black plastic to cover the top of the earthbox. Use a knife to cut openings for the plant sprouts. The sheeting will aid to concentrate the sun’s rays and heat the soil to the optimum temperature, between 85 and 90 degrees.

6. Make sure to top off the reservoir every week and give the plants a full dose of 15-15-15- NPK fertilizer each time. This stands for 15% nitrogen, 15% phosphorus and 15% potassium. It will provide all the nutrients your peppers will need. The first of them should be ripe for picking with three and a half months from the date of planting.

Resources

• Video Guide to Habanero Pepper Care