Tabasco Pepper Plant Care: How to Grow Tabasco Peppers

Tabasco peppers (Capsicum frutescens) are a type of chili pepper native to the Mexican state of Tabasco. In addition to complementing many Mexican dishes, Tabasco peppers are popular in the spicy Cajun cuisine of Louisiana. In addition to their intense heat level, Tabasco peppers give a smoky flavor to Tabasco sauce and other hot sauces. You can fairly easily prepare hot pepper sauce with fresh Tabasco peppers from your vegetable garden.

Tabasco peppers are spicier than bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, and Serrano peppers but less spicy than cayenne peppers and habanero peppers. Tabasco hot peppers can reach as high as 50,000 Scoville heat units on the Scoville scale, making them similar in heat to aji chili peppers. These heat units are determined by the amount of the chemical capsaicin that is present in the pepper.

Consider the basic steps required to plant Tabasco pepper seeds in your garden.

1. 1. Start your seeds indoors. About one month before the last frost of the winter season, place your seeds indoors in a tray of soil in a sunny spot. Several hours of direct sunlight per day are essential for germinating seeds.
2. 2. Watch for sprouting. Keep the tray’s soil moist and your Tabasco pepper seeds should germinate within two to four weeks of seed starting.
3. 3. Plant seedlings in a sunny location. Tabasco pepper plants require full sun to grow and thrive. These plants grow best in warm, mild climates like their native Mexico and cannot survive in places where temperatures dip below thirty degrees Fahrenheit. Wait until after the last frost and plant your seeds outdoors at the beginning of the growing season. If you live in a cloudy and cold climate, you can grow Tabasco peppers indoors in a container garden.

Consider these three easy tips to care for your hot pepper plants.

1. 1. Keep the soil moist. Tabasco pepper plants do best in consistently moist soil, so water these plants every other day. During dry spells, water every day if the sun zaps moisture from the soil.
2. 2. Include organic matter in your soil. Organic matter and soil temperatures are two of the most important factors to consider when you plant your Tabascos. Keep your pepper plants in a spot where the soil is consistently warm. Add a layer of mulch or compost for extra insulation and nutrients.
3. 3. Fertilize your peppers periodically. Feed your Tabasco pepper plants a vegetable fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Avoid overfertilizing or fertilizing during the off-season, which will lead to more leaf growth and less pepper production.

In general, Tabasco peppers will be ready for harvest within eighty days or three months of planting. Harvest your Tabasco hot peppers following these three basic steps.

1. 1. Observe the peppers’ color. Your Tabasco peppers will be ready to harvest when they turn green, though you may let them fully ripen on the vine to their signature red color. The fruit size should be roughly one to two inches in length.
2. 2. Carefully cut the stem with scissors. Use a pair of gardening shears or scissors to cut away the stem, taking care not to damage the delicate peppers.
3. 3. Eat them right away or store them for later use. For optimal freshness, eat your Tabasco peppers the same day that you harvest them. Otherwise, store Tabascos at room temperature for up to three days or in the produce drawer in your refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.