Grown Habanero 'Chocolate Habanero'?

Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.

Habanero 'Chocolate Habanero' — Peppers

95-100days to harvest

14-28days to germinate

Z10–11USDA zones

Moderate to challengingdifficulty

HeirloomContainer friendly

Sowing

Start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Requires warm soil (70-80°F) and long growing season.

Cultivation

Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
Water: 1-2 inches per week, consistent moisture but well-drained
Soil: Well-drained sandy loam, tolerates poor soils
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8
Spacing: 24-36 inches
Height: 12-30 inches
Season: Warm season

Appearance & flavour

Colour: Rich chocolate brown to dark reddish-brown
Size: 1-2 inches long, 1.5 inches wide
Shape: Lantern-shaped with wrinkled skin, pendant
Flavour: Intensely hot (300,000-450,000 Scoville) with smoky, fruity, chocolate undertones

In the kitchen

Hot sauces, Caribbean cuisine, jerk seasonings, powder when dried

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests: Aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, pepper maggot
Diseases: Bacterial spot, anthracnose, powdery mildew
Resistance: Good natural resistance to many pepper diseases

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Zone	Start indoors	Transplant	Direct sow	Harvest
2	April – May	June – July	—	October – September
3	April	June – July	—	September – October
4	March – April	June	—	September – October
5	March	May – June	—	September – October
6	March	May – June	—	August – October
7	February – March	April – May	—	August – October
8	February	April – May	—	July – September
9	January	March – April	—	June – August
10	January	February – March	—	June – August
11	January	January – February	—	May – July
12	January	January – February	—	May – July
13	January	January – February	—	May – July

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 4 to avoid.

BasilRepels aphids, thrips, and hornworms while potentially enhancing pepper flavor

MarigoldDeters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds

OreganoRepels aphids and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture

TomatoSimilar growing requirements and can share space efficiently

ParsleyAttracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on aphids

CarrotsLoose soil from carrot growth improves drainage around pepper roots

NasturtiumActs as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

ChivesRepels aphids and may help deter spider mites

Avoid

Black WalnutProduces juglone which is toxic to peppers and stunts growth

FennelAllelopathic compounds inhibit pepper growth and development

KohlrabiCompetes for nutrients and may stunt pepper plant development

Apricot TreeCan harbor diseases that affect nightshade family plants

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g): 27
Protein (g): 1.66
Fat (g): 0.45
Carbohydrate (g): 5.35
Fibre (g): 3.4
Sugars (g): 1.95
Vitamin A (µg): 17
Vitamin C (mg): 82.7
Vitamin E (mg): 0.69
Vitamin K (µg): 9.5
Vitamin B6 (mg): 0.357
Folate (µg): 29
Calcium (mg): 14
Iron (mg): 0.46
Magnesium (mg): 17
Phosphorus (mg): 32
Potassium (mg): 256
Zinc (mg): 0.25
Selenium (µg): 0.3

← PreviousPoblano 'Mulato Isleno' Next →Sweet Pepper 'Gypsy'

Where to buy seed and equipment

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the peppers growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

Sowing

Cultivation

Appearance & flavour

In the kitchen

Pests, disease & resistance

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Companion planting

Avoid

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Where to buy seed and equipment

Grown Habanero 'Chocolate Habanero'?

Similar varieties