How To Grow Scotch Bonnet Peppers – Seed to Harvest

The notorious scotch bonnet pepper is an essential ingredient in authentic Caribbean dishes. It is a versatile pepper variety, often used to make Jamaican Jerk seasoning and to spice up soups and stews.

The name ‘scotch bonnet’ comes from the pepper’s resemblance to the “Tam o’ shanter” hat, a Scottish bonnet worn by men. The pepper has a rich history, making it a special plant to grow in your home garden (if you like things spicy, that is).

In this article, we’ll share our detailed process of how to grow scotch bonnet peppers. This will include everything you need to know, from where to buy seeds, how to germinate them, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting your fresh peppers.

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Planting Scotch Bonnets from Seed

Scotch bonnets come in several varieties, each with a different flavor:

• Yellow scotch bonnet (our personal favorite)
• Red scotch bonnet (amazing flavor and perfect heat)
• Brown chocolate bonnet (unique color option)

However, the process of growing scotch bonnets will be the same, whether they are a more rare cultivar or the classic land variety. Pick the type that interests you most, and know that each plant can produce dozens of peppers.

When to plant scotch bonnet seeds 🕑

Before you get planting, be sure you are timing things right. Scotch bonnets should be planted from seed indoors, before the end of the winter months.

As a rule, plant scotch bonnet seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last date of frost. This indoor growth period is critical in preparing the plants for moving outdoors when the weather warms up. Or, grow your scotch bonnets indoors year round.

Note: If you are growing in a warmer climate where the temperatures remain above 55°F (13°C) year round, you can plant scotch bonnets any time, and even sow directly outdoors.

Supplies

When planting from seed, you’ll need a few extra supplies to get the seeds started. Scotch bonnets come from a warm climate, and like any pepper seed, germinates best between 80-90°F.

• Seeds (see our recommended suppliers here)
• Seed cell trays (w/humidity dome)
• Seed heating mat (optional)
• Seed starting mix (or potting mix)
• Grow light (optional, but recommended)
• Spray bottle and water

These are the essential items that we use to get excellent germination rates, even from stubborn seeds. Scotch bonnets can take 2 weeks or longer to sprout after planting, so be prepared to be patient!

Once your scotch bonnet seeds sprout, they must immediately be placed in a bright location. Ideally, you should use a grow light, but a sunny window will work if you don’t want to purchase a light.

Using a grow light

Grow lights make a big difference in the growth rate of young pepper plants. In early spring, the amount of daily sunlight is less than in mid summer, and seedlings need around 16 hours of light for ideal growth.

So, with an affordable LED panel, you can help your plants get off to a strong start. These lights are efficient, quiet, and easy to set up. They also last a long time and will work great for other crops like tomatoes and herbs.

For scotch bonnets, place the seedlings under LED grow lights at about 15-24″ above the leaves (depending on the light’s power). We kept our 150W light at half power about 15″ above our young peppers, increasing intensity by about 5% every week or so.

Read more about our recommended grow lights here.

If you see signs of leaf curl (taco shell shaped leaves), then your lights may be too close to the plants. If the plants grow tall and skinny, then the lights may be too far away. Adjust the height accordingly.

Using a sunny window

If you don’t plan on getting a grow light, then your next best option is going to be a sunny window. Here in the US, a South-facing window is your best option, as it will receive the most sunlight. For those down under, use a North-facing window.

Try to choose a window that has no obstructions, indoor or out, like trees or other shade-casting objects. Any reduction in daily light will impact the young plant’s ability to grow quickly.

Once your plants are about 2-3 weeks old, they will be ready to move out of seed cells and into a mid-sized container. This process is known as transplanting.

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Fertilizing Scotch Bonnets

Plant nutrients are necessary for strong, healthy plants. Fertilizing from a young age helps your peppers grow fast and strong, and can help avoid disease and pests by keeping your plants healthy.

Fertilizing seedlings

When your peppers are about 1 week old, you should provide a light fertilizing. Seed starter mix does not contain nutrients, so the plants need to be fed. This will give the plants what they need to grow strong early roots and foliage. We recommend using organic nutrients

• 1/4-1/2 strength nitrogen-rich nutrients

Fertilizing young scotch bonnets

After transplanting your scotch bonnets, they will be moved into regular potting mix. This usually contains some nutrients, so fertilizing can usually be put on hold for a few weeks. After the soil’s nutrients run out, provide normal-strength fertilizer on a regular basis.

• Normal strength nitrogen-rich nutrients
• Hold off for a few weeks if using nutrient-rich potting soil

Fertilizing fruiting scotch bonnets

After your plants have grown to a mature size, you want them to switch from vegetative growth to the blooming and fruiting stage. This requires a shift in nutrients from nitrogen-rich to higher potassium and phosphorus. Too much nitrogen at this stage can doom your plants to produce very little fruit!

• Reduce nitrogen
• Normal strength bloom-stage fertilizer

Organic fertilizers are generally safer to use than chemicals as they are less likely to burn your plants. Too much available nitrogen will lead to chemical burns on your plants leaves, causing brown spots at the edges of the leaves.

We have never had this issue when using Miracle-Gro Organics or Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed fertilizers at the recommended strength.

Learn more about fertilizing peppers here.

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Transplanting and Growing Containers

Since we grow a lot of peppers each year, we like to transplant twice. It saves indoor space and allows the plants to use all of the water that is in the soil, and continue growing efficiently before going outside.

Regardless of where you move your plants, scotch bonnet seedlings should be moved into a larger container about 2-3 weeks after sprouting. We use 3.5″ plastic pots for the first transplanting.

When should I transplant scotch bonnet seedlings? Timing is key. Around 2-3 weeks after sprouting, your peppers should be ready to move up in pot size. The plants should have 2-3 sets of true leaves, and should be around 2-3 inches tall.

Transplanting scotch bonnet plants

Once scotch bonnets outgrow their seedling cells, we recommend switching to normal potting mix. The transplanting process is similar to planting seeds, only you’re putting a plant (and it’s roots) into the soil instead of a seed.

Supplies:

• Soil (our scotch bonnets love this potting mix)
• Mid-sized pots (we like these)
• Water

Steps:

1. Prepare potting mix. Slowly moisten the potting mix with water, mixing thoroughly as you go. The mix should stick together when squeezed, but should not drip water.
2. Fill new pots with soil. Add the moistened potting soil to the new planting containers, compressing lightly. Leave about 1/2″ of room at the top of each pot. Dig a hole large enough to fit the seedling’s root system.
3. Loosen soil around seedlings and remove plant. The seedlings are still delicate, so carefully loosen the root ball by squeezing the seed cells from the outside. This helps the roots slide out of the containers with ease. Once they are loose, turn the tray sideways or upside down and gently pull out the plant.
4. Place plant roots into prepared pot. Move the plant into the prepared hole in the potting mix in the larger container.
5. Add soil to the same height (don’t bury stems). Surround the plant with more soil, filling the pot up to the base of the plant’s stem. Do not bury the stem, as this can lead to stem rot.
6. Compress lightly and water. Compress until you feel light resistance, and water right away to ensure the roots are well-moistened.

Once the scotch bonnets have been transplanted, they should be returned to their growing location. The plants will continue to grow larger and can begin to use some supplemental nutrients.

Note: Many potting mixes have soil amendments with plant nutrients. If this is the case (as with FoxFarm and Miracle-Gro soils), you can skip fertilizing for a few weeks until the nutrients run out.

Container size for scotch bonnets

Once your scotch bonnets are ready to move into a final planting location, you should pick a large enough pot for them. If you are planting in the ground or in a raised-bed, then you only have to worry about plant spacing.

Since they are from the Capsicum chinense species, plant scotch bonnets in a fairly large pot for ideal harvests, between 4-5 gallons (about 10-12″ diameter at the top). You can go larger if you’d like, but SB peppers do very well in this size container.

Try these 7 gallon fabric grow bags for an easy storage solution!

Staking, mulching, and bottom pruning

Once your plants are in their final location, we recommend preparing the pots or garden beds with a few simple methods. These include staking, bottom pruning, and mulching.

Staking helps keep your scotch bonnets upright in heavy winds or inclement weather. This can be as simple as a 1/2″ piece of bamboo, driven 6-10″ deep near the main stem of your plants. Then, use garden ties to attach the plant to the stake at various points on the stem and branches.

Bottom pruning is the process of removing leaves from the bottom 4-6″ of the main stem. This helps avoid soil pathogens from entering the plant, and makes it easier to water at the bottom of the plants.

Mulching around the bottom of each plant helps avoid soil from splashing onto your plant’s leaves when it rains. Again, soil-borne diseases are common, and this is a great way to avoid them infecting your scotch bonnets. Also, it keep the plants cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing.

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Hardening Off

Once the outdoor temperatures are creeping into the 70s (°F), you can begin bringing your plants outdoors to harden off. Instead of suddenly moving your plants outside into full-sun, you should adjust them gradually.

Read all about hardening off peppers here.

We recommend starting this process on a cloudy day, or in the shade. The plants are tender and the leaves are relatively weak, so they won’t handle direct sunlight very well (yet).

After a few days of outdoor shade, move the plants into the sun for 20-30 minutes. Over the course of 2 weeks or so, increase sun exposure until the plants can handle full sun.

Tip: Avoid mid-day sun for the first week of hardening off. Morning or evening sunlight is less intense and will help adjust the plants more gradually.

If your plants show signs of sun stress, like sun scald or drooping leaves, move the plants out of the sun to recover. Try again the next day.

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How to Water Scotch Bonnet Peppers

Watering your scotch bonnets will be a regular chore. As the plants are growing quickly, they will use a lot of water. However, over-watering can be a major issue for peppers.

Never over-water your scotch bonnet plants. The plant roots require drainage so that excess water can escape, allowing the roots to breathe. If water gets trapped in the root system, the roots can rot and die, causing serious damage to the plant.

Watering tips:

• For potted plants, place rocks above the drainage holes before filling with soil – this will make sure the holes never become plugged by compacted soil
• Always check the soil for dryness before watering – dig a finger 2-3 inches into the soil’s surface to check for dampness
• Keep an eye on the plants during very hot weather – peppers use much more water when it is hot!

Over-watering can cause curling leaves, yellow leaves, and can encourage disease. Under-watering, on the other hand, will lead to wilted leaves.

Learn more about properly watering peppers here.

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When To Pick Scotch Bonnet Peppers

As your plants begin to produce peppers, you should start getting excited for harvesting! All of your energy and hard work will pay off with fresh-picked scotch bonnet peppers. But how do you know when they should be picked?

Generally speaking, scotch bonnets should be picked when they have fully changed color. Typically, scotch bonnet peppers turn from a green color to red, orange, peach or brown.

With any C. chinense species pepper, we like to allow the pods to completely change color before picking them from the plant. This differs from jalapeños and bell peppers, which are often plucked early for more crunch.

As a scotch bonnet ripens, it will continue to develop better flavor (changing from slightly bitter to sweet and fruity) and will also get hotter. Capsaicin is generated continually as a pepper ripens, meaning more ripe peppers are typically hotter.

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Scotch Bonnet Scoville (Heat Level)

If you’re growing scotch bonnets, then I hope you like your food spicy! After all, these Jamaican peppers are seriously hot.

How how is a scotch bonnet? Scotch bonnets come in around 100,000-300,000 SHUs on the Scoville Scale, putting them in a similar heat range as the habanero pepper. This is serious heat, as each pepper is roughly 10-30x hotter than a jalapeño.

We find that home-grown peppers are usually hotter than those bought at the store. If you are used to buying scotch bonnets at the grocery store, be prepared for some added heat with your harvests.

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How To Use Scotch Bonnets

Once you start to harvest your ripe scotch bonnets, you’ll need a plan for how to use them. The harvests can often be overwhelming, especially with such spicy peppers. However, we have some ideas for you here:

• Make chicken stew. Scotch bonnets are used in the Caribbean to make spicy and flavorful stews, such as brown stew chicken. Easy to make, delightfully flavorful, and spicy – just the way we like our food.
• Make jerk seasoning. Another common use for these hot peppers is to make a classic jerk seasoning or marinade. Look up an authentic recipe, get your gloves on, and get cookin’!
• Make hot sauce. Scotch bonnets pair well with other sweet, tropical flavors. Get creative and play with fruits like mangoes, pineapple, coconut, papaya and lime. This is a great way to store peppers for a long time!
• Make salsa. Salsa is a wonderful snack – delicious on chips or laid over a fried egg for breakfast. Scotch bonnets will kick up the heat a notch, so just be sure you know your spice limits!
• Freeze them whole. Have some extra scotch bonnets that you don’t currently have a use for? Freeze them! It is the easiest way to preserve fresh peppers for later use.

There are many other ways to use your home-grown scotch bonnets. Basically any Caribbean dishes can utilize the peppers in some way, so be creative and find something that sounds tasty to you.

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Scotch Bonnet Questions

Lastly, I want to cover some miscellaneous questions about scotch bonnet peppers. These relate to the general process of growing scotch bonnet plants.

Should I pick off early flowers?

When your scotch bonnets are still indoors, we recommend picking early flower buds. Be careful not to damage leaves when you do this by allowing the flowers to grow large. Stop picking flowers after the plants move outdoors permanently and have been outside for 2-3 weeks.

How long do scotch bonnets take to grow?

Typically, we start to see fruits developing about 3 months after planting. Then, the pods may take another full month or so to fully ripen. It is a slow journey, but the end result is well worth it!

How long do scotch bonnet plants live?

Natively, scotch bonnets can live for years! In colder climates, peppers are grown as annual plants, dying in the early winter to the cold weather. However, in their native tropical climate, plants can live many years, often growing larger and more productive in their 2nd and 3rd years of life.

How many scotch bonnets per plant?

The size of your scotch bonnet yields will depend largely on two things: the size of the pot and the duration of your growing season. Simply put, the longer the season is and the larger the pot, the better your harvests will be. Generally, one scotch bonnet plant can produce 20 to 50+ ripe peppers!

What does an ideal scotch bonnet pepper look like?

Scotch bonnets are a prized pepper in Caribbean countries, and so the perfect pepper has been defined. Peppers from a single plant will produce many different looking peppers (phenotypes), but the ‘ideal’ shape has 4 lobes.

The pods should also be at least 1.5″ in width and have the “classic bonnet shape.” Don’t be discouraged if your fruits don’t have have a Grade A appearance, they should still taste fantastic!

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Read Next:

• More about growing peppers
• Pepper plant care tips
• Where to buy pepper seeds

I hope this article helps you learn how to grow scotch bonnet peppers from seed like a pro! We love scotch bonnets. They offer the perfect balance of fruity flavor and heat. Let us know if you have additional questions below.