87 DAYS
Capsicum chinense
Meet the earliest-maturing habanero yet! Helios boasts a vigorous growth habit with excellent fruit set, producing loads of slightly sweet, incredibly hot and tasty peppers throughout the season. The medium-to-large fruit measure about 3 × 1.5 in., ripening from medium green to a rich, glowing orange.
Despite the heat, Helios delivers great flavour, perfect for fresh salsas, hot sauces, dehydrating, or adding serious fire to your favourite recipes. This fast, fiery, high-yielding habanero shines in Prairie gardens.
Size: Mature plants typically reach around 24 to 36 in. tall with a spread of 18 to 24 in.
Yield: High yield of peppers suitable for frequent harvesting.
Taste: Fruity sweetness coupled with intense heat, measuring up to 75,000 Scoville units.
How to use: Ideal for fresh use in salsas, sauces, or dried for added heat in dishes.
Planting tips: Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Sow seeds 1/4 in. deep, firm soil over seed, and keep them moist but not waterlogged. Aim for a soil temperature of 22°C for germination in 10 to 14 days.
Harvest tips: Pick peppers when they turn a vibrant orange for optimal flavour; frequent harvesting encourages further production.
