Question
Hey Mike!  I was wondering if you have any experience in growing hot peppers i.e. habaneros, jalapenos etc?  I live in E Tennessee and wonder when the best planting time would be, plant foods, soils and the like.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Also I plan on planting in pots and am very new to this!  Thanks Mike.

Ken

Answer
Ken, habaneros and jalapenos are members of the nightshade family.  This group also includes all other species of peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant.

I always recommend waiting until one week following your last expected frost to plant these vegetables outdoors.  They are very susceptible to light frosts, and will die if the temperature falls below freezing.

Growing them is very easy.  Just make sure you plant them in soil that is highly supplemented with organic materials such as compost, peat moss, aged maure, shredded leaves, and dried grass clippings.  

Do not overfertilize the plants, especially with fertilizers high in nitrogen.  Otherwise, you will get lush foliage, but very few peppers. I recommend using 3 tsp. of fish emulsion or sea kelp to a gallon of water once every 10 days.  These are organic fertilizers that will not harm beneficial insects nor burn the roots of the plants.  If you do decide to apply a chemical synthetic fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro or Peter's, make sure you get one that is high in phosphorus and potassium, two necessary nutrients for a high yield and good root development.  These two nutrients are the second and third numbers listed on the fertilizer container.  A good ratio is 5-10-10 or even 1-5-5.  Many companies sell products manufactured specifically for peppers and tomatoes.

Finally, do not overwater.  Peppers like the soil fairly dry.  Overwatering depletes the soil of nutrients and minerals, and can adversely affect production and growth.  If the leaves begin to yellow, that is a good indication that the plant is receiving too much water.

I hope this answered your question.  Good luck, and feel free to write again if you ever need assistance.

Regards,

Mike