Basket Hot Pepper

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit works best for germination). Keep soil consistently moist and provide bright light once seedlings emerge.

Transplant outdoors after the last frost date has passed and nighttime temperatures reliably stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space transplants 18 inches apart in full sun.

Begin harvesting 60 days after transplanting. Pick peppers when they reach full size (about 1 inch across) and have turned from green to red for maximum heat and sweetness, though green peppers can be harvested earlier if preferred. Peppers will continue ripening on the plant, so stagger harvests throughout the season by pinching or snipping ripe peppers at the stem. The more you harvest, the more the plant produces.

With its naturally upright, compact growth habit, Basket Hot requires minimal pruning. Pinching back the growing tip when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall encourages branching and fuller shape, which increases pepper production. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing stems as they appear.