Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion

Family: Solanaceae Superhot Pepper

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion to a garden.

A slow-blooming heat with a peachy glow—Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion ripens to soft apricot-peach tones that catch the light before the burn arrives.

The peppers are long and dramatically curved, with a crisp, lantern-like snap and a subtly fruity, floral edge that lingers as the intensity builds. Grow for bold fresh flavor bursts and for fiery sauces, salsas, and pickled accents where you want unmistakable ghost-pepper character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion

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Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 23rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 13th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 13th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 17th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 13th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 11th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Oct 6th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Oct 2nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 29th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 23rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 18th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Sep 8th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 30th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 21st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Aug 4th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jul 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	95
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	85
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This is a Capsicum chinense built for that delayed, peachy-aroma entry—use it like a spice, not a bulk pepper, and let the sweetness and floral top note lead before the ghost burn takes over. Its crisp, curved flesh roasts and blends beautifully, giving sauces and salsas a fruity first hit with a stubborn, heat-on-heat finish.

Best Uses

wear-it-on-the-tongue fresh slicing in tiny amounts (chips, hot honeyed sandwiches, taco finishing)
seeded-and-blended hot sauce with a peachy top note—then strained for clean burn
fire-roasted salsa where it softens into smoky fruit and long heat
quick pickles/brine so the fruitiness stays bright while the burn lingers

Flavor Profile

subtly peachy-fruity glow floral, ghost-pepper bloom crisp lantern-like snap heat that climbs slow before fully hitting

Kitchen Pairings

lime smoked paprika honey garlic white vinegar dark chocolate

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue commonly affects Capsicum chinense (Bhut Jolokia-type peppers) and how do I treat it?

Look out for blossom-end rot and fruit rot during hot, dry swings—these are often worsened by inconsistent watering and calcium uptake. Water evenly (especially once flowers set), keep mulch on the soil, and avoid letting the soil dry out between waterings; if fruits show black, sunken patches, remove affected fruit and correct moisture immediately. For recurring fungal issues like leaf spotting, improve airflow with wider spacing and remove infected leaves early to slow spread.

How often should I water Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum chinense) during the main growing phase?

During flowering and fruiting, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for watering about every 2–4 days depending on heat, with roughly 1–2 inches of water per week total. Check with your finger: the top 1 inch should feel slightly moist, not dry or waterlogged. If it rains, reduce watering; if you have heat waves, increase frequency to prevent drought stress that can drop flowers and cause uneven fruit development.

How can I tell when Jay’s Peach Ghost Scorpion (Capsicum chinense) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods have fully changed color to their mature shade (typically peach/orange with a deeper red-peach tone) and the skin looks glossy and taut. The peppers should be firm to the touch, with the expected length for your plant, and they usually need about 95 days from transplanting to reach maturity. If you wait for full color, heat and flavor peak; still harvest any firm, fully mature-looking fruit even if the last ones lag behind.